Pre Project

During Project

After the Project

• Recognise an opportunity/need/issue (will come from people directly involved – farmers/growers/community group)
• Identify is it possible/feasible are there the resources available?
• Get clarity about what it is you want to find out, why you are doing it and what the ideal outcome would be (get a group of potentially affected/like minded group together to confirm it is something you should proceed with) – need people within networks that know they can do something about it
• Build an effective team with skills in a range of areas (surround yourself with people who can make it work)
• Find out if it has been done before (through networks or info searches or an SFF advisor)
• Clarify everyone's expectations/confirm inputs/IP issues
• Identify admin support/project management services and where you will go for those
• Research the topic to increase your knowledge and to know what approach to take
• Identify a budget
• Establish a method appropriate to what you want to find out
• Project plan – activities, who is doing them, dates
• Clarify roles and responsibilities
• Remain open to lateral perspectives and other opportunities
• Identify possible constraints
• Identify an a passionate team who are prepared to contribute to the project (will include farmers/growers)

• Celebrate – you got the money!!
• Secure the funding – get your contract signed
• Be prepared for the work to change
• Get on and do the work
• Confirm contractors/science providers
• Keep trust in the team – to keep the team strong (communicate)
• Ensure people have ownership at all stages (keep people involved and contributing, recognise input).
• Make sure communication is transparent – welcome exchanges
• Don’t be frightened to ask for help or guidance
• Appreciate the in kind the contribution
• Keep everyone up to date
• Make sure things stay on track – don’t get carried away
• Monitor the budget closely
• Do some sensitivity analysis – risk management
• Keep in mind the outcome (outputs are a means to that end)
• Communicate widely when appropriate (media etc). Read everything twice before it goes out – make it a condition of printing an article
• Make life easy for your SFF advisor – provide reporting and requests for payment on time
• Find out what templates/guidelines there are for reporting

• Assessment exercise – how effective were you? (e.g. independent external assessment or survey of participants/stakeholders)
• Have established outcomes that will be ongoing (ensure information developed is readily available on an ongoing basis)
• Establish a process to keep info alive and up to date
• Celebrate/have a party – invite your SFF advisor
• Evaluate the methodology – did you choose the right means of tech transfer? Evaluate technical side of the project
• What are the new things you now need to know? Identify new project opportunities
• Identify things you could do better
• Seek feedback from SFF
• Try and find an opportunity to assess project impact a few years out
• Report to interested people/wider stakeholders (e.g. local MP)
• Make recommendations to industry
• (NB many of these things will happen as part of the project)
• Seek new funding