The Golden Thread
Robin Miller-Stott
Working with Towns, we have seen exciting TIPs developed setting out ambitious plans for Towns that will benefit communities for years to come.
One thing that remains important, and learning lessons from Cohort 1 TIPs, is the ‘Golden Thread’ – an approach which aims to ensure alignment across the key components of a strategy - but why is this so important?
We have previously produced a blog about the Top Tips for TIPs. Listed below are the areas that Towns could further explore when developing their TIPs, and how a Golden Thread can help stitch them all together:
TIPs must set out their evidence of need – this should address the challenges and threats facing the town. This includes market failures as well as the impacts COVID-19 have had on the Town. TIPs should not be wholly negative, though. Without ignoring challenges towns face, using new and existing data -- including the Towns Fund Data Dashboard - TIPs can set the strengthens and opportunities the TIP will support and build on.
Synergies with other local, regional and national policy – the Golden Thread should also consider how your TIP’s ambition supports other current and emerging local policy (such as spatial, economic, and transport plans), regional policy (LEP strategies and Local Industrial Strategy) and national policy (Industrial Strategy, 25 Year Environmental Plans, etc.). The more TIP linkages are brought out with wider policy, the more powerful the case for investment. Additionally, the TIP may be a part of the plans for the Town – it may complement an on-going masterplan, or other bids and business cases that are already underway.
Evidence is not just data; it is driven by the voices of the community – the engagement process of the TIP is so important. It should strengthen and complement the evidence of need but also a collective feeling that the community has helped shape the vision for the Town. The Golden Thread will be strengthened if the voices of the community, who will ultimately benefit from investment, are highlighted.
Vision Statement – this short, punchy paragraph is such an important part of the Golden Thread in setting the direction of the TIP and the proposed interventions. Building on the evidence, the Vision Statement sets the objectives / themes for the TIP, which will then support how schemes are identified and prioritised. My personal key test for a Vision – does it pass the tweet test (can you fit it in 280 characters)?
Exploring the Theory of Change – the Theory of Change is intended to ensure the objectives, outcomes, outputs, and inputs are all considered and brought together in one place. It is not intended to be an overly complex process, rather one that demonstrates the Golden Thread between all the elements of the TIP, and identify where there may be gaps. Importantly this should identify where there are synergies and complementary interventions in the TIP, and forms a key requirement of Part 2.
Project prioritisation – there are many interesting, varied projects emerging through the TIP process. But, the Golden Thread must ensure that these projects have a clear link back to the vision and evidence of need.
Intervention Summaries – Once the compelling case for investment in Part 1 of the TIP is set out, it is important the Golden Thread continues in to Part 2. You should make sure all the great evidence is brought out in the pro forma, ensuring there is clear demonstrable reason why the project has been put forward for funding.
Looking forward to the next stage, this Golden Thread will get even longer. When developing the business cases for the projects, there must continue to be a strong link back to the TIP, as this will be important when considering the benefits realisation of the investment in years to come.
Throughout the TIP development (both Parts 1 and 2), constantly challenge yourself about the importance of the Golden Thread. Can every section of the TIP show a demonstratable link all the way back to the evidence of need and the vision for the Town. If the answer is yes, then hopefully you are on to delivering a successful TIP!