Work Matters: Management focus - Let the building begin

We're now in month two of our nursery start-up on behalf of our client, Bethesda Ministries. Building work on the derelict site has commenced and the contractors are making good progress, definitely helped by the mild weather. Maybe I shouldn't speak too soon, otherwise I'll be encouraging blizzards. Anyway, it will be exciting to meet the architects, Paul Henry Associates, at our next site visit in a few weeks' time.

Meanwhile, the Childcare Consultancy team has been busy back in the office, reviewing budgets, business plans and timetables for the project. It's important that agree key deliverables and milestones from the outset so that everyone involved has a clear understanding of responsibilities and expectations.

Right now our main focus is getting to grips with all the paperwork. This is 'phase one', according to my colourful project chart, which delegates most of the operational policies and procedures to my boss, Laura. It's only fair - she is an expert at this, and has left me behind while she goes to deliver training in Dubai!

I think I'll also leave completing the registration documents for the local authority and Ofsted until she's back in a few days' time.

Meanwhile, I'll be taking lead responsibility for marketing the nursery and co-ordinating PR and launch events. Naturally, our client is keen to generate a high level of awareness of the setting prior to opening and is hoping to fill all places as soon as we open. My initial feeling is that this would be an ambitious target and difficult to guarantee; parents are unlikely to commit to booking a place for their child before they've seen the nursery up and running.

But then, I'm all for a challenge. Bethesda Ministrieus does have an active congregation who will be eagerly awaiting news of our open days. And it does depend on the size of the marketing budget, which may need to be tweaked.

I'll do a little more research before our next meeting. A feasibility study on the area had already been conducted before the client committed to the site, but I'm going to contact the local Children's Information Service to request updated figures on current childcare provision in the borough. I also want to get a feel for demographics, such as the number of families living locally, and will source data on incomes of households and transportation links.

- Derek Hayes is senior consultant/trainer at the Childcare Consultancy. For information e-mail info@childcareconsult.co.uk.