GALLU MID TERM REVIEW

on the 26th of July at The Castle Hotel, Neath

 

Gallu Steering Group Action Points

 

Attendance – Gary Davies, Chris Osborne, Diana James, Tim Giles Lowri Edwards, Lisa Johnston, Michelle Evans.

 

  • 11am – Quantitative section – Feedback/Evaluation

 

  • TG suggested that the beneficiary target for each county is re visited due to the 83 businesses that still needed to BE engaged with in Carmarthenshire to satisfy the bid.  This was discussed and DJ suggested looking at this in December before contacting WEFO for a change to the project.
  • CO asked if Gallu could get a copy of a bank statement from the four HR accounts in each area to see how much money was in them and also to ensure that the Tourism Swansea and NPT Tourism accounts were merged alongside the merger of the tourist associations. GALLU TEAM
  • CO asked how many TTFW exemplar businesses took part as mentors in Gallu courses, LJ highlighted that one exemplar business had taken part to date.  CO stated that Gallu did not given sufficient notice to the exempler businesses which would go some way towards identifying the reason behind this.  LJ stated that this would be taken into consideration.
  • CO highlighted that there was a lot of money to spend in the next ten months and Gallu could set up more expensive courses/seminars or set up a selection of follow on courses at various levels.  CO stated the importance of not just concentrating on a few businesses.
  • GD stated that Gallu needs to ensure that what they do from now to August 06 is a building block for post August.  They need to ensure that the things that are set up can be sustained after August 06. GD also requested permission to put to his board that he funds Gallu for a further 7 months until March 2007. Permission was given. GD stated that they need to look at a contingency plan post August 2006 to ensure the project continues to at least March 2007. 
  • GD suggested trying to find out how much the attendee’s value the courses.  CO suggested asking on the Appraisal form how much people would be willing to pay for the courses.  This can then be used to measure the businesses perception of the worth of the courses. It was decided to include a section in the appraisal form for the next six months asking how much the trade would pay for the course they had attended. GALLU TEAM

 

  • 12.00 Qualitative Section – Feedback/Evaluation
 
  • LJ highlighted what the team had learnt from the trade over the past 12 months, GD suggested looking at the research already carried out by the RTP to see if the trends were similar. LJ
  • TG stated that we also needed to look as how the trade could fund Gallu.
  • CO suggested building in some kind of benchmarking process for Gallu by having evidence of what it has done to benefit the trade e.g profit, decrease in staff turnover.  GD also agreed.  It was suggested to produce a form asking various questions to the trade to find out if Gallu is making a difference to the tourism industry in South West Wales; this could be posted and e-mailed. GD suggested looking at the research carried out by the RTP and TG suggested looking at the programme TG has to send out on-line questionnaires. CO suggested including the below in the questionnaire sent to the trade: ‘In addition to taking part in Gallu have you taken part in any other formal learning.  Would you be in interested in taking part?’ GALLU
  • GD also stated that a 3-5 year business plan of what Gallu would like to achieve needs to be produced.  CO stated that this needed to tie in with People1st Strategy. GALLU/GD/CO/DJ
  • GD stated that a meeting needs to be arranged between Gallu and the chief executive or development officer of each Tourist Association to find out their plans for the next 12 months and agree roles and responsibilities to ensure there is no duplication between the roles of Gallu and the TA.  CO stated that it is important to know before hand what you are trying to achieve. LJ
  • CO suggested ME and LE actioning the points discussed in the meeting by the next Steering Group meeting on the 16th of August as Lisa is away for two weeks. ME/LE
  • CO suggested sharing any new developments in the Gallu programme duties after August 06.

 

  • 14.00 – Panel Consultation – Feedback

Attendance – Phil Drakeford, Barbara Priest, Beth Thompson,

Maureen Prentice, Tim Giles, Diana James, Chris Osborne,

Lisa Johnston, Michelle Evans, Lowri Edwards.

Apologies - Geriant Bowern, Lynne Jones, Tony McGetrick

 

  • MP stated that in future it would be a good idea to carry out IT courses at various levels such as the e-mail course at beginners, intermediate and advanced.  LE stated that she was aware of this and has actioned it for future workshops. LE
  • MP also highlighted that some businesses have requested training in the evening as they have no time in the day.  LE stated that this was fine and LJ highlighted that is what Gallu was about, setting up training at times to suit the trade. LE
  • It was highlighted in the meeting that there is a need to focus more on environmental issues in the future as stated in the bid.  MP stated that there is a need for a meeting with PLANED and Arena Network to see where there is a gap in provision.  TG stated that it may be statutory for businesses to be level 2 Green Dragon before they can be graded.
  • TG stated that the ICT Mot currently being organised in Carmarthenshire would be fundamental for businesses.
  • Customer Care was another area Gallu wanted to concentrate on in the future.  MP stated that businesses do not like Welcome Host. CO suggested a training course with role playing so the trade could see examples of things not to do and good service. MP suggested a Welcome Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea Bay stamp.  It was agreed to try and arrange an evening covering Customer care with actors.  Action – Contact Local Theatres e.g Gini Vobe -  MASC, Peter Doran – TORCH Theatre, Theatre Forum Cymru. GALLU TEAM
  • Customer Care and Employee Rights and Responsibilities were seen as the most important issues for Gallu to concentrate on.
  • MP stated that the trade days are going really well and are beneficial to businesses.  TG suggested producing a sign or poster for the trade highlighting that their staff can help plan your day as they have been on the following trade days.
  • It was decided that Gallu would concentrate on the following for the next 12 months:-
    • Heritage
    • Special Dietary Requests
    • Welsh Arts
    • Customer Care
    • HRD Recruitment and retention
    • IT
    • Trade Days
    • Related Workshops
  • Future Planning - PD suggested that in Ireland they approach their local MEP directly regarding funding and this may be something we could do here.  It was also suggested contacting the West Wales European Centre in Trinity College (Neville or Rhian) to ask regarding future finding. STEERING GROUP
  • MP stated that in Pembrokeshire and everywhere it is difficult to find somewhere for a snack or meal between 3 and 6pm in a restaurant/pub etc.  Is there a course/seminar that could be arranged with a celebrity chef to show simple nutritious dishes that bar staff can make without having to use the kitchen. LJ stated that this something Gallu can look into. GALLU