Jeff Peel of Quadriga Consulting will be attending the Microsoft Connected Policing Framework seminars at the ACPO-APA 2008 Conference and Exhibition in Liverpool, UK on the 25th and 26th June 2008. Quadriga has undertaken several projects focusing on law enforcement software markets. 

Microsoft will be delivering a series of seminars with its partners on a wide range of Policing technology related topics. Guest speakers and  partners include 2e2, Boldon James, ESRI, E-Sponder, GoPro, Infusion, Norfolk Constabulary, Twisted Pair and Unisys.

The Microsoft Connected Policing Framework is the result of work between Microsoft its partners and many public safety and law enforcement organisations to build solutions, technologies and services that assist in integrated and collaborative policing to combat crime and assist with citizen safety.

A report will be available from this site after Jeff’s visit.

Partnership offers strong sector focused project management and access to international fieldwork resources…

London March 25, 2008– Quadriga Consulting Ltd and Blauw Research today announced a partnership that will allow IT and Telecoms firms a unique international project management resource for global research assignments. 

Quadriga Consulting Ltd is well known as a tech-focused research-enabled consultancy practice.  The company focuses on the IT and Telecoms sector with a range of clients from early stage, venture funded companies to international hardware and software firms.  Quadriga has particular expertise in complex international qualitative and quantitative assignments focusing on enterprise software, telecommunications products/software, computer hardware and digital content segments.  

According to Jeffrey Peel , MD of Quadriga Consulting, “this represents a major step forward for ICT players that need both specialist sector expertise and international data collection resources across multiple markets.  Many so-called international agencies try to offer turnkey international research capability but typically that means farming data collection out to local agencies that have no overt sector understanding.  What we offer is end-to-end management of the process, while never losing sight of the business and research objectives.”

Jonathan Wheeler, MD of Blauw UK, agrees, “the ICT sector is very demanding in terms of international capability.  Many MR and marketing managers in tech firms get very frustrated that they can’t find agencies that can offer a full understanding of their product management challenges at the same time as offering an international data collection ability.  We can offer both.  The result is easier, more responsive project management and a focus on the findings rather than the process.”

We are delighted to announce that Ruth McNeil has joined the Board of Quadriga Consulting Ltd as a Non-Executive Director.  

Ruth McNeil is a highly respected market researcher with particular experience in the business to business sector.  She works for a range of private and public sector clients across a range of different subjects both in the UK and internationally. She is a non-Executive Director at Quadriga Consulting and works with us on international assignments based out of London.  She runs her own research practice based in London.

For fifteen years Ruth worked at Research International as deputy managing director of RI Specialist Units (where Jeff Peel was also a Director) and was a main board director of RI. Ruth left Research International in August 2000 and has since worked with clients on practical business and services issues, strategic planning, branding research, customer relationship management, concept development, market optimisation and other areas.

Ruth plays an active role in the wider research industry, for two years having been one of the Market Research Society Awards Judges for the annual MRS conference. Ruth is a member of the BIG Conference Committee and the conference Programme Committee (BIG is the annual specialist Business to Business researchers conference). She convenes the MRS “International Research” training course and is a frequent speaker on market research issues at conferences in the UK and USA.

Ruth has a degree in Languages from Durham University and is a Fellow of the Market Research Society.  She has also written an excellent book on B2B Market Research (see Books). 

By Jeffrey Peel - At the CBI Conference in London a couple of weeks ago, I got the opportunity to ask the Chancellor about his plans to introduce lower corporation tax rates in the regions. 

This is a subject that interests me, of course, because I pay corporation tax and my business is based in a region with vast public sector dependency and a relatively stunted commercial sector.  It always seems to be a particularly nasty tax to business-people.  After all, we take risk, set up our own businesses with our own money, pay income tax on our earnings, and then have to pay tax on any profit we make.  In this respect it really works against enterprise and risk-taking.  It also stifles investment.

Anyway, the question I asked is one that will interest business people in the so-called “less advantaged” UK regions such as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. 

I asked if Mr Darling had any plans to introduce a lower, preferential, rate for these regions.  He said no…in a politician’s usual, roundabout, way.  As for Northern Ireland, he made clear that the issue of tax was being considered by Sir David Varney - and we’re all awaiting his report (if not with bated breath). 

However, the Chancellor’s answer was laden with negativity - he hinted heavily that a special corporation tax rate for NI would work against other UK regions and would be very tricky to administer. 

I tend to agree - despite the fact Northern Ireland shares a land border with a country with a much lower CT rate. 

The answer begs another question though…which is when will corporation tax in the UK be reduced to the same level as RoI?  Because that, rather than fiddling with regional CT rates, is what we need - right across the whole of the UK.