L&R had numerous clients ranging from small voluntary trusts to large metropolitan authorities; from Liverpool F.C to Wembley Stadium; from Paris Sports Centres to the French Tourist Board from the Heritage Lottery Fund to the National Trust; and from the European Commission to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation. Often these were lengthy retentions.
Heritage Lottery Fund & Millennium Commission
Gerry Carver was a business planning, governance and operational management advisor to the Heritage Lottery Fund for 11 years, including the Cutty Sark Conservation Project over a seven year period. Prior to that he fulfilled a similar role for the Millennium Commission for 3 years.
Tourism and the Middle East Peace Process
L&R planned, organised and presented a Middle East Tourism Conference for over 100 European and Middle East tour operators and government officials from Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian National Authority. The event was held in Aqaba, Jordan in January 1995, shortly after the signing of the international peace treaty in 1994. This was part of the European Commission’s contribution to the multi- lateral international Peace Process at that time.
Middle East-Mediterranean Travel & Tourism Association European Division – for the European Commission
Following on from the Aqaba Conference, as part of the peace process, L&R developed a European Division of the Middle East – Mediterranean Travel & Tourism Association. This contract involved the establishment of a European Office, the development of a pan-European database of potential members and an extensive programme of marketing across the continent. The project involved liaison with the Ministries of Tourism and European National Tourist Offices of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Palestinian Authority, Cyprus, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. Promotional seminars were also organised and presented in Brussels, London, Madrid, Milan, Copenhagen and Frankfurt.
EC Caribbean LOME Programme: Caribbean Tourism Organisation Project
L&R visited and assessed the effectiveness of participation of Caribbean countries in European Travel Trade Shows. Surveys and appraisals were made of 6 major European shows – WTM London, ITB Berlin, BIT Milan, TUR Gothenburg, Holiday World Dublin and Reisen 2000 Hamburg, together with CTO Chapter events in Zurich, Hamburg and London.
The Somme Battlefields and Memorials
In conjunction with L&R France an assessment was made of the experience and service on the Somme Circuit of Remembrance, visited by over 200,000 annual British visitors to the Battlefields. L&R assisted a working party to improve the overall quality of the visit and its promotion. L&R’s recommendations were enthusiastically implemented. Subsequently the operation of the new Thiepval Visitor Centre was reviewed for INTERREG. In conjunction with TTC International a review was also undertaken of the operation of the Ulster Tower at Thiepval for the Northern Ireland Government.
http://en.historial.org/Battlefields-of-the-Somme/Circuit-of-remembrance
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/somme/museum-thiepval-visitor-centre.htm
Liverpool Football Club and Liverpool City Council – Proposed New Stadium
L&R was retained over a 7-year period. Firstly this covered business and operational plans for the Vernon Sangster Sports Centre and Anfield Youth Club. The former was demolished to create a site for a new LFC stadium and the Youth Club redeveloped as Anfield Sports & Community Centre (ASCC), with Barclays Space for Sport funding.
L&R then assisted with the planning of community elements within the stadium. When the Stadium scheme did not proceed L&R led an assessment and awarding process for the £5M of ERDF money allocated originally to the Stadium. 4 schemes were awarded development funds, including ASCC. Later in 2015 ASSC received funding from LFC and City Council for further development to create a major sports centre and a base for the football club’s Foundation.
Liverpool FC news story
Northern Ireland
Working extensively in Northern Ireland, L&R undertook a number of key projects:
• ‘Lagan Lookout’: a 3-year contract to plan the opening and manage the European Commission supported visitor centre beside the Lagan Weir in the centre of Belfast
• Laganside Events Strategy – prepared for the Development Corporation
• Review of Belfast’s European Capital of Culture Bid – for the Northern Ireland Government Office
• Strabane Sport & Recreation Strategy
• Review of Coleraine Football Club Ground & Development Scheme for Rugby Avenue – Coleraine BC
London Eye
Gerry gave early advice to the architects and developers, Marks Barfield, on the Eye’s operation and facilitated the first meeting between executives of British Airways (the original sponsors of the Eye) and David Marks.
Transmanche Strategic Marketing Plan
L&R International worked together with L&R France and the officers of Kent County Council and Nord Pas de Calais CRT to produce a joint strategic marketing plan. The Plan built on the decade of collaboration between the two organisations since the advent of the Channel Tunnel, with a focus on common interests, tourism ‘products’ and markets.
Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Cultural Strategies
Tandridge Leisure Strategy; Surrey Sports Strategy, East Sussex Sports Strategy; Strabane Recreation Strategy; West Sussex Sports Strategy; Isle of Wight Cultural Strategy; Wokingham Leisure Strategy
Devonshire Park, Eastbourne Seafront and the Towner Gallery
Retained for 8 years for a series of major projects. L&R undertook: –
• Planning and co-ordination of procurement processes for Borough catering facilities, the Sovereign Centre, Devonshire Park theatres and Princes Park
• Review of all catering arrangements for public, staff and players at the Eastbourne International Tennis Tournament
• The planning and leadership of the opening of the new Towner Gallery over a 6 month period, including management team advice and staff training.
http://www.townereastbourne.org.uk
Catterick Leisure Centre
This £21m Centre, opened in July 2009, is at the heart of an extensive and developing Army “Super Garrison”. L&R was retained by the Ministry of Defence as leisure management advisors to the project for six years to act for the client in facility and business planning, operator procurement and equipment strategy through to opening.
http://www.catterickleisurecentre.com/
Leventhorpe Leisure Centre – Leventhorpe Academy
L&R undertook a concept and market appraisal, negotiated a S106 Agreement with Sport England, provided facility, business planning, operator procurement and equipment purchasing for this new Leisure Centre for 4 years up to opening in 2011.
http://www.leventhorpeleisure.co.uk/
Matej Bel University & Slovak Tourism
A continuing partnership has been operating since 1994 with Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. L&R has worked with the University on a range of projects including a European Tourism Training Programme, which also included Bulgaria and Poland, and Tourism Seminars in conjunction with the Slovak Tourist Board. The Slovak partnership continues and in 2013 Gerry Carver visited and made tourism presentations to degree and masters students.
http://www.umb.sk/
Look & Sea Centre, Littlehampton, West Sussex
L&R provided a 5-year pro bono service to Littlehampton’s Look & Sea Centre. L&R’s team planned and developed a new “Littlehampton Experience” exhibition and Riverside Trail with a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Efforts ranged from the historical research and text to overseeing design, production and installation. L&R organised the official opening by the Duke of Norfolk in September 2010.
http://www.lookandsea.co.uk/
Daimler Green, Coventry
The planning over a 5-year period, then the interim operational management for 2 years, of a community playing field and community centre, and the establishment of a community recreation trust to take on ownership. This was developed as part of a Regional Development Agency ‘urban village’ on the former Jaguar car factory site in Radford, Coventry.
Royal Albert Hall
A management development programme for directors and managers was implemented over a 3-year period. It included the planning and presentation of a full ‘day-in the life of RAH’ experience for all staff.
http://www.royalalberthall.com
L&R International New Zealand – research and planning projects included
• Christchurch’s Post-Earthquake Renewal Study for Sport & Recreation in the Avon River Corridor
• Dunedin Botanic Garden
• Long-term plan to manage erosion at Ocean Beach, Dunedin
• Dunedin Ice Stadium
