Following the completion of a research project to explore the labour market and education landscape in West Sussex, Chichester College and Central Sussex College appointed Prowse & Co. to prepare a new Commercial Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement Plan for their proposed merger.

Taking a key role on the College’s Merger Transition Team, Prowse MD Joanne Rogers worked with the leadership group of both Further Education organisations to develop a robust business case for the merger.  Activities included stakeholder research; student focus groups; economic research and a public consultation, all within a challenging timescale set by Government.

The Merger was subsequently approved by the Department for Education and the Prowse team has continued to provide consultancy advice for the new executive team, as it brings together operational and academic employees with the responsibility to educate and train around 25,000 students every year.