Testimonials

Bespoke Projects and Our Approach

“As Create approached its 19th anniversary in 2022, we commissioned Partnership First to undertake an independent organisational evaluation. We wanted an objective assessment of our partnership working, delivery mechanism and impact. Alastair devised and conducted an original survey for key stakeholders; undertook in-depth interviews; brought his breadth of experience to analysing the results; and wrote a detailed report. Throughout the process, he demonstrated clear communication, honest feedback, rigor and creativity. And we are over-the-moon with the results”

Founding Chief Executive – Create

“Jean and Alastair easily translated my requests into a project and kept me informed throughout. They have helped me research a new potential business idea and given me lot of information, analysis and some strong recommendations about how to translate this into a new business service. I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again in the future”

Director – The Evaluator

“Thank you both so much for this morning. I think we all got an enormous amount from it and it has helped start our thinking around partnerships and the approach we want to take. It was a really useful session and the right length and pace... you hav e given us the tools with which to develop something that could really help us - and the groups - work effectively together.”

Senior Grants & Communication Manager – John Lyon's Charity

“Alastair is extremely professional, visionary and brilliant at articulating aims and objectives”

Head of Fundraising – Royal Albert Hall

“Jean is an inspirational leader, supporting schools to engage with a diverse music offer and to recognise the value of quality music education and its impact across the curriculum”

Education Advisor – Local Authority

“Jean and Alastair are open, friendly and genuinely interested in people’s views and experiences"

Teacher – Bousfield School

“Partnership First were organised, friendly and open about their approach”

Amnesty International UK

“We are impressed with the professionalism of the Partnership First team and the whole package of support”

Head – Tri-borough Music Hub

Evaluation

“We are delighted to be working with Partnership First who will be evaluating Bang the Drum 2016. We are impressed by their immense knowledge and experience of the sector, their flexibility in meeting the demands of the project and creativeness in obtaining the required results.”

Musical Director – Inspire-works

“Thank you for your amazing work on this evaluation and for producing such a thorough report. We would definitely like to work with Partnership First in the future!”

Musical Director – Inspire-works

“The Royal Albert Hall, Royal College of Music and Tri-borough Music Hub have engaged Partnership First to act as the independent and objective evaluators of our large-scale 2-year project working with a range of stakeholders. Having this aspect of the project looked after with a professional external company allows us to focus on the work of offering the very best music education activity for our pupils, schools, and workforce.”

Head – Tri-borough Music Hub

“I am impressed with the thoroughness of the work they [Partnership First] undertook in honestly evaluating the project and seeking the views of all participants and stakeholders. Partnership First took the time to introduce themselves to teachers at the in itial INSET. This made the online surveys much less impersonal and they took an active interest in everyone’s experience.”

Music Teacher, Bousfield

“Partnership First has a wealth of experience and knowledge in how to make sure that the work you are a part of is reaching the people it is aiming to benefit. This has helped to guide our approach, using feedback and evaluation as a means to improve, as opposed to simply measure, our outcomes. Throughout the project’s stages, their communication, clarity and honest feedback has played a central role in its evolution. ”

Creative Producer – Chickenshed Kensington and Chelsea

“The Report has been well received by everyone, and now we are looking at ways of using the report across lots of areas of our work.”

Dreams of Freedom – Chickenshed

“Having an external evaluator on the project is a great asset, ensuring that monitoring and evaluation is considered throughout the planning and delivery of the project.”

Education Officer - Amnesty International UK

Consultancy

“Working with Partnership First has helped contribute to our strategic approach to managing partnership working. The team are knowledgeable, supportive and professional, offering expert advice that makes a difference.”

Head – Tri-borough Music Hub

Initial Partners’ Assessment

“The Tri-borough Music Hub uses Partnership First to lead an initial assessment process for organisations who are interested in working in partnership with us. This ensures an independent and objective first point of contact which quality assures the approach from a wide range of potential new partnerships. It allows the TBMH to focus its work with partners that best fit our own Strategic Priorities and tally with our vision.”

Head – Tri-borough Music Hub