Five Vital Lessons: Working with Business

	Could you achieve more in partnerships involving business and the public sector?
	Do you or your partners ever get frustrated by partnership working?
	Do you want tools and approaches which will help you resolve difficulties you face?

This guide spells out five vital lessons for working such partnerships for economic development partnerships. It draws on wide experience, including case study projects in Kent, Somerset and Coventry & Warwickshire. The project, carried out with the support of the Department for Education and Employment, sought to capture and apply best practice.

In each case the partners wanted more value from their combined efforts: a greater impact on jobs, competitiveness and the local economy.

The partnerships featured included business sector/ cluster groups, regeneration partnerships and advisory bodies. Together they offer common themes and lessons -- often hard won -- about what does and what does not work.

Effective engagement of the private sector is crucial.
Without it, much that is needed is lost: the voice of the customer, different ways of looking at the world, resources, expertise, support and influence…

Why focus now?
Private sector involvement is a big issue for Regional Development Agencies, local authorities, the new Local Learning and Skills Councils and local partnerships for regeneration and learning.

	what are the keys to success in involving the private sector?
	how can all parties ensure the best possible return on the time, energy and resources they contribute to partnership?

This guide - available on CD ROM and the internet - will help you tackle obstacles more effectively. The object is partnership working with less pain and more gain.

Five Vital Lessons
Successful partnership doesn't just happen. Astute partners know that the conditions for real partnership need to be fostered, that attention needs to be paid to the "how" of partnership as well as the "what".

The 5 Vital Lessons

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