Clients and projects

Project examples

Chevin Housing Group

Chevin is a large housing organisation that operates in over 20 local authority areas in England. MDA Global has developed a number of HR initiatives with the organisation, one of which was to run a Management Trainee programme, along with an evaluation and assessment of the approach being taken. We have also been involved in developing and running an Assessment Centre; providing managers HR training on staff management responsibilities and good practice; advising on an approach to succession planning, and running comprehensive training on diversity and equality across the organisation.

ICI

Initially with our partner DLA Piper, MDA Global developed and ran a series of programmes, first for the board, then for managers, on Dignity at Work, and equality and diversity, for several companies within the ICI group. Courses included exploring the business case for diversity and equality, discrimination law and liability for discrimination and harassment, all within the context of ICI’s policies for promoting and managing diversity across the company.

The Legal Services Commission (LSC)

The LSC provides funding for legal aid schemes in England and Wales. As part of a re-structuring and efficiency initiative, the LSC was considering new approaches to the way it contracted criminal legal aid practices.The LSC was concerned, however, by the potential impact this might have on small solicitors’ practices, especially those run by black and minority ethnic (BME) solicitors, and by the risk of an adverse effect on access to justice for their clients. MDA Global were commissioned to assess what the impact was likely to be in practice. The research project included carrying out desk research, conducting detailed interviews, and running focus groups at a number of locations. Our report, along with its findings and recommendations, has had a significant impact on subsequent decisions made by LSC in this area.

PCU (Pentecostal Credit Union)

PCU is the largest credit union in the UK, and continues to grow as an important provider of a range of services for credit users. As part of the organisation’s 25-year anniversary celebrations, MDA Global were commissioned to carry out a research project looking at its early days and subsequent history, and evaluating its work as it grew over the years. An important part of the project was aimed at drawing out lessons for similar organisations, so that they could benefit from the experience and success factors at PCU. A report and summary were produced and launched at a large event in London, and the work has been used as a model for other credit unions across Europe, and in continuing work with agencies such as the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

University College London (UCL)

MDA Global have worked with UCL, one of the world’s leading universities, to assess a range of training needs, and and to deliver a number of programmes for various departments in the University, on diversity and other HR issues.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

NCVO is the leading representative and campaigning voice for the voluntary and charitable sector. Following a comprehensive audit and review of the organisation by MDA Global, and the development of a diversity and equality strategy, we went on to research and develop a good practice guide for the sector as a whole. This provides background information, practical advice and case studies on how to incorporate diversity as part of a voluntary organisation’s day-to-day work. The approach is flexible so that it can take account of the varied sizes and roles of different organisations.

Supplier Diversity Europe Forum

This is a pioneering initiative that promotes supplier diversity in Europe. MDA Global worked with the European agency MPG, based in Brussels, to develop a number of initiatives in some of the core international companies involved in this Forum, including IBM, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Bristol Myers Squibb, Credit Suisse First Boston and Goldman Sachs. The aim, initially targeting the UK, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and France, was to develop practical tools, and good practice that could be replicated in other European countries.

Communities Scotland (now the Scottish Government Housing and Regeneration Directorate)

MDA Global carried out an evaluation for Communities Scotland of Positive Action in Housing (PAiH) in respect of their campaigning and advisory work across Scotland. We were commissioned to measure the impact of their work on their key client groups, which included refugees, asylum seekers, and BME communities. Subsequent work for Communities Scotland has included an exploration of the potential market for training and development services in Scotland, and advising PAiH on developing income-generation programmes in this context.

Ford Credit Europe Bank

This is part of the Ford Motor Group. MDA Global, initially with DLA Piper, developed and ran a series of training and briefing courses on HR issues for managers across the organisation.

The Italian Community in Bedford

Bedford is home to one of the largest Italian communities in the UK. MDA Global carried out research for representatives of the Italian community and a range of local agencies, to explore and assess the needs and aspirations of people of Italian descent in the area, especially the older population. Our work examined the history of settlement by Italians in the area over the last seventy years, and a key component involved obtaining the views and perspectives of older Italians about life in Bedford. The research was summarised in a publication, which is being used to build the case for developing an ‘Italian Centre’ in Bedford, and to support fundraising for the project as well as for a range of services for older Italians, including the building of a sheltered housing scheme.

Mediation and investigation: avoiding expensive tribunal cases

Tribunal cases are expensive, and often lead to negative publicity. We specialise in independently investigating cases of alleged discrimination, grievances, disciplinaries, and similar matters, and often find solutions to apparently intractable problems. For obvious reasons we cannot provide names, but we have carried out investigations for a significant number of large private, public, and not-for-profit sector organisations over such issues as allegations of sexual harassment, racial discrimination, bullying and unfair dismissal. In some cases for example, we have played the role of an impartial broker between an employer and a group of employees whose work relationships have broken down. In others, we have identified important issues concerning bullying, and in some cases we have determined facts that have helped support an employer in a tribunal case.