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MCA passes milestone in its rapid growth throughout the FE sector
Malcolm Cooper MCA's Managing Director says he is delighted to report that MCA recently passed a milestone in its continuing success story when a recent client became the 50th College with which MCA had carried out a major project. He added that in addition he was able to include the LSC at both National and Regional level and DEL in Northern Ireland as clients
He said that he felt that MCA were unique in the sector because all of the Associates have held senior positions in Colleges and are able to offer very practical skills when delivering our full range of consultancy services to our clients. When Colleges are looking to improve their performance or may be are considering an Improvement Plan or require merger advice we can utilise these skills to benefit our clients. Also if a College is looking for an Interim Principal, an MIS manager, a VP Finance or any other senior position for which they need something more than just another interim/consultant they are more frequently turning to us to tap into our unique skills base.
Ring or a chat or email and find out why we have become the FE sectors first choice for quality interim or consultancy support.
email malcolmc@mcacoopers.com
Mobile 07950931389
MCA Cooper Associates hold private dinner for AOC guests
For the second year running a number of leading individuals involved in Further Education attended a private dinner held by MCA Coopers at the exclusive Hotel Du Vin in Birmingham during the recent AOC Conference. The guests, drawn from across the sector, included Principals, Senior Managers and sector administrators who exchanged views on the many opportunities arising in FE and how colleges might rise to the challenges facing them.
This was just part of the major presence MCA Coopers had at the three day Conference where many existing clients dropped by for a chat and a number of new clients discussed MCA's involvement in their future projects.
Skelmersdale and Newcastle merger
Very few people working in the FE sector will not be aware of the merger last year between these two very different colleges but they would not have expected the outcome of the recent OFSTED inspection of Skelmersdale when it was rated as "outstanding" by the inspectors. Whilst the impressive turnaround was due to Newcastles' Principal Jackie Fisher and her team it was stated by Ofsted that "The merger has been handled exceptionally well".
MCA Coopers are therefore proud to have played a part both prior and post merger as advisers to the Skelmersdale College Corporation.
MCA Cooper Associates at the annual AOC Conference
We are looking forward to meeting our many friends who take time out to visit us on our stand at the annual conference. We will be easy to find as for the 5th year running we have booked the same prominent stand at the entrance and exit to the individual seminar rooms. The team will be on hand to discuss and advise on any of the wide ranging FE issues now facing the sector.
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MCA Cooper Associates and AOC seminar a great success
Over 50 delegates enrolled for the AOC and MCA Coopers seminar held in Manchester. The morning session on Management Reporting was delivered by Peter Darwen & Brian Godbold from Darwen Financial Management Ltd and the afternoon session on The LSC’s Approach to Financial Intervention from 2008 was delivered by Malcolm Cooper & Neil Reed of MCA Cooper Associates.
Delegates showed keen interest in both subjects and with a cross section of Principals, VPs, Directors of Finance and Financial Controllers the subject matter was seen to be highly relevant to the running of a college in the currently rapidly changing environment FE is experiencing.
Those attending received a copy of the LSC’s document:-
Identifying and Managing Underperformance – published 14 January 2008
Its contents were outlined and major issues and potential problems identified
MCA Coopers contributed to the writing of this document and copies can be obtained either from the LSC’s web site or by ringing MCA Coopers on 07950931389 or 01226767628
MCA Cooper Associates to take part in seminars on new LSC Intervention Policy
The AOC are holding a series of seminars which combine a morning session on Management Reporting and an afternoon session on the new LSC intervention Policy for Colleges whose financial performance is deteriorating.
Colleges should note this will be of interest to any College whose finances have deteriorated and not just those either in, or about to be in, Recovery. The session will also deal with the new Financial Notice to Improve which the LSC have started issuing.
Morning: Management Reporting
Delivered by Peter Darwen & Brian Godbold from Darwen Financial Management Ltd.
Afternoon: The LSC’s Approach to Financial Intervention from 2008
Delivered by Malcolm Cooper & Neil Reed of MCA Cooper Associates
Details are shown below or can be obtained from the document
Briefing:- Consultancy & Training 01/08
OR DIRECT TO
Georgina Benjamin or Fiona MacKenzie
Training & Consultancy Services
AoC Management Services
2-5 Stedham Place (off New Oxford Street)
London, WC1A 1HU
DATES AND LOCATION
Tuesday 4 March 2008, Birmingham
Thursday 24 April 2008, London
Tuesday 20 May 2008, Manchester
We look forward to seeing you there
MCA Cooper Associates holds Associates Conference
Associates met for a day long update and get together in the delightful surroundings of Brooksby Melton College just before Christmas. Several topical presentations took place as well as some lively discussion over the many challenges which surround the FE sector at the present time.
MCA Cooper Associates experiences best ever AOC Conference
Malcolm Cooper Managing Director of MCA Cooper Associates was very happy to admit that the 2007 AOC Conference left he, and his team, exhausted after a very busy 3 days in which a record number of delegates were welcomed to the MCA stand. He went on to say that he felt after the expansion MCA Cooper Associates experienced during 2007 things were looking good for 2008.
With the team now offering an increased range of services which now, in addition to the full range of financial services previously offered, include Curriculum Management and Planning, MIS Management, and Interim Principals, it was not surprising so much interest was generated.
Malcolm wanted to thank all those who came to the stand to talk to the team and hoped they would be back next year to the conference, where once again MCA would have the now familiar stand at the entrance to the conference halls.
College Looks Forward to Exciting Future
MCA Cooper Associates are proud to be providing advice to Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College on their future direction. After considering approaches from a number of prospective partners the College have agreed to join with Newcastle College to form not only the biggest FE college in the country but also the first college spanning more than one LSC region. There are many issues to be addressed but the Colleges now face an exciting future.
"The College produced a Recovery Plan and Prospectus for merger guided by MCA Cooper Associates and now stands on the brink of an exciting merger to secure FE provision which fully serve our local communities in West Lancashire."
David Neville Deputy Principal - Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College
Cooper Associates Working with the LSC
MCA Cooper Associates are pleased to have been appointed by the LSC to advise them on the future treatment of financially failing colleges.
"This is recognition of how far we have come in the last five years and how highly the work we have done with colleges is regarded in the sector. We feel privileged to be able to shape the future of the Learning and Skills sector in this way."
Malcolm Cooper Managing Director - MCA Cooper Associates
MCA Cooper Associates Continues to Grow
MCA Cooper Associates continues to expand its area of operation. Our growth has been organic and has been built on an insistence on quality of service. We are now interested in hearing from any professionals with experience of the FE sector who would be interested in an exciting, lucrative future where they will control their own destiny whilst making a telling contribution to our Company and the Learning & Skills sector.
Please use "Request Callback " above to contact us
Assistance With Recruitment of Senior College Managers
Why not let us help recruit your senior team. We have extensive experience in the sector and all of our team have held senior positions in industry and the FE sector, we can therefore use our experience to ensure that an appropriate candidate is found for your College. A variety of techniques will be tailored to make sure the whole process runs as smoothly as possible and there is ample scope for candidates and college governors and personnel to get to know each other and to make what is always a difficult decision on both sides.
"It is essential that colleges make the right decision with such appointments. Merely trawling a database of names is no longer appropriate," adds Mr Cooper. "The jobs market in FE is volatile and we adopt an approach designed to ensure that we are able to present the most suitable candidates to client colleges. Our specialists have done these jobs themselves and so know what is required."
ARIES College Solutions
The Company is proud to be Founder Members of ARIES College Solutions which is an association of independent professional advisers to FE colleges. ARIES can provide a range of solutions covering all the key areas in which a college may require help and advice.
"We felt there was a need to offer colleges an alternative" says Neil Reed, Senior Associate Director of MCA Cooper Associates. "We have had a remarkable response from colleges who have complimented the association on the range and quality of advice which is available."
Why not visit ARIES at www.ariescollegesolutions.org
We can help. Ring Malcolm Cooper now on 12226 767628