Research and Innovation Services works with people and for organizations.
RIS was conceived as a virtual company, operating in conjunction with a range of different people as circumstances demanded. We avoid using the word consultants, so RIS has worked with other independent workers, often self employed, and working from fixed and mobile bases as voice and data networks have developed. Of course face to face contact has been and remains a primary source of contact, but a virtual presence has nevertheless proved important too. The primary contacts came from a career in library work, followed by the establishment of a rural resource centre as a voluntary project. Through these, Jane Berry and Simon Berry, and Kevin Harris, then of the Community Development Foundation, became regular colleagues. And also teachers. Social reporter David Wilcox continues to keep us all ahead of the game, constantly re-inventing new ways of telling old truths. With him has been Drew Mackie with his boyish enthusiasm for meaningful games. |
Rob Campbell was a another partner working with government funded community technology projects. Rob had been one of a number of people who were creating pioneer IT resource and learning centres. Others were such as the late Sam Swabey in Plymouth, Margaret Robson of Shipley College and Alison Swiszczowski and the staff at Windhill community centre, Shipley. Two other projects and their staff developed sustainable enterprises: Alston CyberMoor, and Suffolk Online; these, and many other people across the country trying to bring about real community benefits, have had some input from RIS - and all have given as much in return.
We have also worked closely with the now defunct Community Development Foundation of which Martin Dudley was an Associate. Hall Aitken Associates (through Jeremy Wyatt) has employed our services and proved to have a stimulating and exacting approach to research. Mike West at DfES was a flexible manager who assisted community projects and met his political masters' objectives too. More on our clients here. |