Some of our clients

Harris Academy

In 2008 the Academy contracted Focus to conduct an external audit to assess how far it was meeting its regulatory and statutory obligations and to assess the evidence to support its belief that it was “making its learners happy and healthy, safe and sound, giving them a top class education and helping them to stay on track”. The audit covered the range and breadth of both the internal and external services the Academy delivers in support of its partnerships, particularly those with the local community.

Health Partnerships in Russia

Focus was contracted to conduct an EU/TACIS project that took place from 1998-2000, pioneering health awareness programmes in five regions, utilising partnerships with the emerging NGO sector and local communities.

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)

Focus undertook work for the HLF to identify access issues for Black and ethnic minority communities and organisations in relation to HLF funds, and to identify strategies for addressing issues of race equality and diversity both internally and externally. As part of this work, we identified and interviewed a cross-section sample of over 20 BEM arts and heritage organisations in the sector, of which the HLF had previously either been unaware or found difficult to access.

Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)

Focus carried out a review of key strategic documentation including equality, diversity and human resource statements and policies. This review was undertaken in parallel with a series of confidential one-to-one semi-structured interviews with senior managers, key human resources personnel and minority ethnic employees. Focus, in collaboration with HEFCE, was successful in producing a Race Equality Scheme which we believe to be an exemplar for a sector-wide organisation.

HM Prison Service (HMPS)

Focus was commissioned in 2000 to carry out a race equality audit for HMPS. This placed particular emphasis on research into existing HMPS measures on diversity training, recruitment marketing, and selection, retention and promotion of ethnic minority personnel. Our final reports included specific recommendations on training interventions and marketing strategies, aimed at promoting an inclusive service.

Home Office

Drawing on the conclusions of the Macpherson Inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence, and the consequent commitment to make the police force representative of the people it serves and to improve service delivery, the Home Office is undertaking a major programme of police reform intended to better meet the policing needs of an increasingly diverse UK society. Focus was contracted in 2005 to target potential applicants from minority ethnic groups who are underrepresented in the service, promoting ethnic minority access to police careers by building wider stakeholder and community relations and partnerships, and by utilising the community partnership approach to enhance awareness of the police force as a potential employer.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)

This large-scale equality and diversity training project aims to deliver all encompassing training to the entire Directorate (14,000 people) over three years. It involves a number of bespoke designed elements, including a foundation course which will be delivered to every person within the IND; a programme tailored for middle managers on how to best utilise their diversifying workforce; and a senior manager programme aimed at assisting them to steer their organisation through the 21st century.

KPMG, Deloitte Touche, BerlinConsult, SODETEG (France), Benavent (Spain), Euroconsult (Greece) and Kenza (South Africa)

Focus has been a lead partner or consortium member in several international contracts carried out with the above partners and over 20 other major consultancies.

Learning & Skills Council (LSC)

The LSC, as part of its EQUAL programme, commissioned Focus Consultancy in 2006 to design and conduct a study to establish the feasibility of a professional body for LSC Equality and Diversity Practitioners in the UK. The core objective of the study was to establish whether there was an identifiable and justifiable need for setting up such an association and to identify the essential competencies for practice in this area.

Legal Services Commission

Focus Consultancy was commissioned in 2008 to conduct an independent audit of the Commission’s performance in meeting the requirements of the Equality Standards for Local Government (ESLG).

Logica

As part of a collaborative project with Validium, Focus was contracted in 2006 to design and deliver a programme aimed at increasing the effectiveness of staff management across the UK, enhancing LogicaCMG's ability to operate as an integrated service business across multiple cultures and locations.

London Borough of Lambeth

In 2003 the Chief Executive of Focus Consultancy acted as Chair of the Inquiry Panel into allegations of racism amongst the management of the London Community Alarms Service (LCAS), a security service for the elderly and housebound provided by the London Borough of Lambeth. The Public Inquiry looked into service delivery, staff management and allegations of racism within LCAS with a view to identifying the causes of any failures or poor performance and identifying the extent to which race was a factor.

L'Oreal

In close cooperation with the client, in 2006 Focus designed, and is currently delivering diversity development programmes (‘The Beauty of Difference’) to more than 5,000 managers at L’Oreal, the world leader in the field of cosmetics. All training has been conducted in local languages where possible, and extends across Europe and Israel.