| Keeping Afloat |
| Background |
Keeping Afloat was a project jointly funded by Hastings Borough Council, SEEDA and the Department for the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and sought to improve the sustainability and viability of the town’s
fishing fleets. Hastings has one of the country’s longest established fleets, and is one of very few where the
boats are launched from the beach in the absence of a harbour.
|
| Our Role |
CSC were commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the project, and identify its achievements in supporting
the fleet, the fish market and a number of nearby visitor attractions that are themed on the sea and Hastings’
fishing heritage. CSC has many years’ experience of undertaking programme and project-level evaluations,
and makes a point that all evaluations should not only review what has taken place, but should also make
constructive recommendations for safeguarding these achievements in future.
On this occasion, we were also able to offer much local knowledge, as our consultant lives near Hastings, and
knows the Stade fishing area well.
|
| Delivery |
In undertaking this evaluation, CSC employed the following methodology:
• Desk top reviews of the information justifying the original application
• Analysis of expenditure, output and milestone achievements
• One to one interviews with key players from the Council, the fishing and tourism industries, Sussex
Police and the local regeneration partnership amongst others
The outcome of this commission was a detailed report that showed that capital investments to the fish market,
and securing Marine Stewardship Council quality accreditations, had enabled the fleet to take advantage in an
upturn in the retail market. As a result, they were poised to benefit from higher unit prices, as a result of being
able to diversify their marketing to include better quality supermarket and restaurant buyers. Our report also
made a number of recommendations concerning work to diversify marketing and to capture synergies
between the fishing and tourism sectors.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Key Facts |
| Key Facts |
CLIENT:
Hastings Borough Council
LOCATION:
Hastings Stade
DURATION:
Six weeks
|
|
|
|
| Services Used: |
• Analysis
• Key player interviews
• Evaluation
• Report
|
|
|
PROJECT LEAD:
David Axford
CSC Consultant
|
|
|
|
