Case Study: Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington low carbon energy engagement project

The project 

Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (ECW) is an economic development organisation with a vision to be the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK. 

One of their key focus areas is the development of the region as a low carbon energy hub and, as part of this work, they wanted to gain a clear understanding of how people felt about the low carbon projects being undertaken in the region.  

Our role 

C3 teamed up with Social, a North West-based communications consultancy, to support ECW on a focus group and engagement project, gathering the views of people who live and work in the region. 

Saranne’s role on the project was to design and facilitate a series of online focus groups with different groups of stakeholders, including young people, local residents and businesses.  

The conversations were varied and constructive, with feedback gathered to inform a final report to the client, designed to shape their future communications with local communities.  

One of the key themes that emerged was a lack of understanding among stakeholders of the breadth and depth of the ambition in the region and the many benefits the development of low carbon energy projects could bring. 

Challenges 

This was a highly targeted engagement project in a confined geographic area, which provided some challenge in ensuring all key stakeholder groups were adequately considered. 

Saranne drew on her extensive community engagement experience to deliver an engagement programme which reached the right people in the right way. 

"This was a really interesting project, both in terms of the broad objectives to be achieved and working in partnership with another consultancy, which was a first for us.  

“Early clarity on our relative roles and responsibilities was absolutely critical and enabled us to deliver a high quality outcome for the client on limited budget.”

Saranne