Focused on bringing out ‘quick wins’ and encouraging ‘best practice’, the project review provides you with an independent review of your project highlighting areas where improvement can take place.
Using 100 questions and the Red, Amber, Green (RAG) rating methodology, the aim of this review is to put you and your project in a position where a formal audit does not become a ‘burden and a fear’, but a ‘hurdle’ that can be well cleared’.
WHY WILL THIS BENEFIT YOU?
- European funding is a complex area and ensuring a project is delivered well, but in a compliant manner where the majority of project costs are recovered is a difficult balancing act.
- Managing and claiming European funding is unlike other accounting processes and is a specialist area. Often projects and organisations are not aware there are any issues until a formal audit from the regional or European governing bodies take place. At this point it is often too late and leads to the organisation running the project having to pay back considerable sums of money.
- European funding can bring great benefits if managed correctly, however if it is not then it can lead an organisation to financial difficulty. The purpose of this review as the outline suggests is to put your organisation in a position where an audit becomes a ‘hurdle’ that can be well cleared’ and where you can maximise the benefit from running a project that has European funding.
WHAT WILL THE REVIEW INVOLVE?
The review will:
- Involve a combination of a project documentation appraisal and discussion with your key project staff during a onsite visit.
- Look at 3 main areas; project management; finance & claims; corporate governance and engagement, asking approximately 100 questions.
- Result in a summary report that highlights areas where; you are excelling and are of best practise quality (G – Green); systems and processes are adequate but could be improved (A – Amber); immediate action is required, otherwise your project will run into difficulties (R – Red).
- Recommend ways in which your project can be improved and where best practise can be drawn out.
Note: while we can help you implement these improvements, this is not within the scope of this service.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FROM YOU?
- Prior to the review visit we will require a copy of your project business plan and funding bid / application to be sent through to us for analysis. This will then enable us to understand your project. All information will be kept confidential.
- In preparation for the visit itself we would require you to ‘make ready’ some information including your latest project meeting records, financial claim & supporting information.
- An opportunity to meet your key project staff for 2-3 hours and spend a day at your offices accessing appropriate information relating to your project.
TIMESCALES
- The overall timescales for completing a review will depend on being able to arrange a convenient time with you to meet. However from the completion of the review visit, a completed report will be sent to you within 10 working days.
For more information please contact us using the details on the right hand side of this page.