Neil Shaw

Neil Shaw is Venture Group’s Wellington based research consultant, having joined us in 2010. Neil previously worked at Ekosgen, a specialist economic development and regeneration consultancy in the UK, where he was an Associate Director and lead consultant in the company’s Learning and Skills sector team. In addition to a degree in Business Administration, Neil is a full member of the UK Insititute of Business Counselling and holds the UK Institute of Leadership and Management’s Leadership Excellence award.

Neil has over 20 years experience of project management and project advice in the UK. This includes directing a national young entrepreneurs’ programme and undertaking significant research and evaluation studies combining quantitative and qualitative research for Government Departments, the Learning and Skills Council, the network of Sector Skills Councils, Regional Development Agencies and the TUC.

Neil’s particular strengths are in supporting the evidence based development of interventions - undertaking formative evaluations and facilitating the development of ongoing initiatives. His projects have included policy and programme development of skills initiatives, formative and summative evaluations of skills and enterprise initiatives and support to public sector agencies during the implementation of new skills interventions.

interest areas:

• adult vocational skills and apprenticeships
• employer engagement in skills development
• initiatives to encourage lifelong learning
• the formation and growth of small businesses
• capacity/capability building in small businesses and not for profit organisations

work strengths:

• project management
• qualitative research
• linking strategic and operational goals to develop projects
• facilitating innovative thinking and approaches