1. Black Country Observatory

2. Why have an Observatory?
Policy   
The area of research, info and intelligence was seen as critical to the future development of the BC and for this reason the Black Country Observatory was born 3 years ago. It was recognised that a number of strategies were taking place in the BC but that they were not evidence driven and there was no baseline in place so that these strategies couldn’t be monitored and evaluated to determine whether they were making a negative or positive impact.
It was also recognising that a lot of good research, data etc was available locally but that it wasn’t co-ordinated at a sub-regional level to give a BC picture and with the emergence of more sub-regional bodies e.g BCLSC, BCCBL this was essential.
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3. Delivery Policy Black Country Consortium Ltd. Structure
Study
Black Country
Knowledge Society
Black Country
Observatory
The BCO forms back of BCC Ltd which can be split into two main areas – policy covering the new BC Study which will lead to revised spatial plan for BC and European policy. Akin to that is BCT/I and Knowledge Society. Stakeholders have come together to form a 30 year vision for BC and form a BC regeneration framework, number of key strategies being developed for sub-region. The role of the Observatory role is to provide that evidence base and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of those strategies.
Black Country Tourism
Black Country Consortium
Delivery
Policy
Black Country
Investment
European
Policy
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4. Black Country Observatory Partners
City of
Wolverhampton
Council
Black Country LSC
Walsall
MBC
Dudley
MBC
ConneXions
The Observatory is based on concept of partnerships, by working together we can all achieve more than working in silos. We are funding by a wide range of public sector partners and have developed close working relationship with all partners since our inception.
Aims:
Prevent people re-inventing the wheel
Enable people to drill down - > and look across
Add Value
Learning from each other
Whole is greater than the sum of the parts
Evidence based policy
Using evidence to facilitate discussions
Ability to effectively evaluation policies
Black Country Observatory
Sandwell
MBC
BCCBL
University Of
Wolverhampton
Employment Service
Black Country
Colleges
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5. Creation of an easy to use knowledge system
Objective: “Develop a central ICT intelligence resource accessible locally by a wide range of partners through local web enabled access that will provide the intelligence to drive policy decisions in the Black Country.”
Goals:
Creation of an easy to use knowledge system
Ready access to key data and information
Browse and search facilities
Contextual information
Alternative table views
Easy links to other systems
One of key priority area was to develop the ability to assess the impact that our regeneration policies were having on the sub-region. To aid us in this we developed a indicator based monitoring and evaluation framework drawing on national sources and co-ordinating local sources enabling people to compare themselves locally, sub-regionally, regionally & nationally. We realised soon after inception that we needed a web-based knowledge mgm system to house this information Our objective and goals are set out in the slide. We went to public tender in January 2004 and appointed Nesstar to develop a system for us which we call ‘Black Country Knowledge’.
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6. Black Country Knowledge
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7. Indicator Based Monitoring & Evaluation Framework
GEOGRAPHIES
Europe UK WM BC RZ LA
Wards
N’hoods
This system is currently home to over 120 data-sets which are updated as soon as new data is realised. The data ia available from neighbourhood level upwards so that people can drill up and down and look across. The data is also available over a variety of themes to give a holistic approach.
THEMES
Economy
Learning
Environment
RES
Black Country
Knowledge
Health
Headline KE
People
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8. We customised the Nesstar system to incorporate our branding.
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9. This screenshot shows one of the indicators in the Economy theme - number companies by sector. As Nesstar will have explained it is possible to manipulate the table to give the data view you want. We have concentrated in the main on ‘nesstar data cubes’. We the new version of the system, Nesstar Light – the survey tool is integrated into our system so over time we will look to add more survey data to the system.
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10. This system have us the ability to add detailed metadata so that partners were aware of any health warnings etc.
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11. Q & A Would I choose the same system if I was starting again? Yes
Do people use it?
Yes frequently, around 1,000 people access the site each month and we receive around 50 telephone queries monthly.
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12. Other Developments Black Country Research Database Black Country Map
Black Country Barometers
To complement Black Country Knowledge we also developed:
Black Country Research Database
Black Country Map – a web based GIS system
From the evidence housed in Black Country Knowledge we write monthly Barometer reports which are used to stimulate policy debate.
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13. What Our Partners Have Said
“It is exactly what we need to stimulate a properly informed discussion on skills.” Professor John Brooks, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton
“I have used the Black Country Knowledge system to communicate our
Economic Strategy 2003/2004 and to assist in its review, 2004/ In
particular the barometer report has been used to inform the sub regional
economic context, along with the BC Employers Survey. It has also been
useful to highlight strategic policy documents which underpin the
policy/strategic context within a local, sub regional and regional
setting.”, James Gray, Policy Manager, Dudley MBC
“BCCBL has also used the economic information for the recent business
planning process, we found the site to be very user friendly and
informative.”, Carol Jackson, BCCBL
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14. Contact Details
If you would like any further information please
or Tel.:
Delma Dwight
Black Country Observatory Co-ordinator
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