BML313: Rural Tourism

Assessment Guidance for Leader Expression of Interest Application and Podcast 2014

SEMALDr Andrew Clegg

Rural Tourism

Assessment Component 1: Grant Application - Presentation to Leader Project Selection Panel

Funding ApplicationAs part of this assessment you will be required to assume the role of a rural enterprise or rural-based organisation, and make an application presentation to the Three Harbours and Coastal Plan Leader Group for monies to support the development of a new rural tourism enterprise. As part of the application process, you will have to develop a clear business plan, and demonstrate how the new enterprise/project will benefit the local economy, using the objectives of the Leader Programme as a reference point. The application should also demonstrate how the enterprise will take advantage of the local rural environment, and clearly articulate its intended market. Students will present their applications to representatives from the Three Harbours and Coastal Plan project selection panel, and subsequently defend their application in a Q&A session.

Your business plan must be based on either of the two scenarios provided below:

Scenario 1:

You are the owner of a 1,200 acre dairy farm in Chichester Harbour, with a working herd of approximately 400 cattle. Given the increasing financial pressures in the farming sector, you have decided to diversify into an alternative farm enterprise - which will run alongside the existing farm operations, and take advantage of existing farm assets, including a favourable location, and numerous outbuildings that would be suitable for conversion - depending on achieving the required planning permission. More importantly, you also have the required funds to support diversification activity and intend to use this as the basis of a grant application to the Leader Programme.

The Task:

Your task is to identify a potential business activity that the farm could develop, for example food processing or self-catering accommodation, and develop a suitable business plan to support your application to Leader.

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Scenario 2:

Working with different organisations on the Manhood Peninsula, Visit Chichester has secured approximately £15,000 to develop a Peninsula Tourism Project (PTP) on the Manhood Peninsula, and intends to use this initial funding as the basis of a grant application to the Leader programme. Using the Manhood Peninsula Destination Management Plan as a reference point the aim of the PTP is to add value to the visitor experience on the Manhood Peninsula, and maximise opportunities for rural tourism through appropriate product development and marketing, with a particular focus on nature-based tourism.

The Task:

Your task is to draw up outline plan for the Peninsula Tourism Project, identifying potential areas of development and marketing activity, based on the identification and critical assessment of the principal nature-based and heritage tourism resources in and around the Manhood Peninsula. Your application should consider practical and innovative opportunities presented by the local landscape to enhance the overall visitor experience and to ‘add value’ to the existing tourism resource (e.g. Geocaching).

The Application Process:

When preparing your application, you should first read through the Leader Project guidelines (available via Moodle), to make sure your intended project aligns itself to the objectives of the Leader Programme.

The Structure of the Presentation:

You presentation must address each of the following application requirements fully:

1. Name of the project

2. Describe the project - what do you plan to do? Who is your intended market?

3. What are the project start and end dates?

4. How does the project fit with your existing business or capitalise on the local area?

5. Summarise why the project is needed. How will it benefit your business or the local area, what would happen if the project did not go ahead, what would happen if you did not receive grant aid?

6. Describe how this project will deliver wider benefits to other businesses or communities in your area. You might consider

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them under the headings of Economic, Social and Environmental.

7. How you see the project impacting in the local economy?

8. Your project must contribute towards at least 1 of the 4 priority themes identified in the Three Harbours and Coastal Plain Local Development Strategy (LDS). Please briefly describe which of these themes your project fits and how. Further information and a copy of the LDS is available on our website www.westsussex.gov.uk/rdpeleader.

9. Will your project compete with other similar enterprises in a 10 mile radius, and if so what do you estimate will be the impact of your project on these other businesses? This must be addressed realistically because if it is identified that this has not been adequately addressed the application will be rejected (applicable to business applicants only).

10. If this project involves collaboration please explain the nature of the collaboration and give the names and addresses of your collaborators. You must also indicate the type of businesses operated by the collaborators.

11. What risks have you identified that might affect the success of the project and how will you mitigate against them?

Students should make an individual contribution of approximately 10 minutes (40% equivalent). A group of 4 students should aim for a presentation of approximately 35 to 40 minutes. The subsequent defence of the grant application and your responses to Q&As from the panel will also be included in the assessment grade and is reflected in the respective assessment weighting.

Assessment Criteria:

• Ability to work to guidelines and instructions outlined in the grant/funding application

• Structure and delivery of the presentation in relation to grant/funding application

• Depth and knowledge of the supporting evidence to support and justify grant/funding application

• Ability to convey information accurately and succinctly• The use and quality of visual aids

Support and AssistanceI will meet groups throughout the semester to discuss their applications, and there will also be a briefing meeting from the Leader co-ordinators at West Sussex County Council who will advise on what they look for in a good application.

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Assessment Component 2: Podcast

PodcastYou have been commissioned by DEFRA to produce a short series of podcasts that demonstrate best practice in terms of sustainable rural tourism development. Podcasts should highlight specific examples of rural tourism (e.g. food tourism/farm diversification/walking/cycling/market towns/managing protected landscapes etc), making reference to live case studies from the rural tourism economy.

Your Task:

DEFRA would like to produce a series of individual podcasts focusing on indicative areas such as:

1. Best Practice - Farm Diversification and Accommodation

2. Best Practice - Farm Diversification - Food

3. Best Practice - Managing Tourism in Protected Landscapes

4. Best Practice - Rural Tourism Businesses

5. Best Practice - Developing Tourism in Market Towns

Each podcast should:

• Provide an introduction to the topic and a level of external contextualisation, for examples factors influencing development current pressures etc

• Make reference to and showcase examples of best practice - at this point the podcast should include live video footage of the case study or case studies in question, including interviews with key figures responsible

Production and Assistance

As part of the module you will be given full support in the use of video equipment and guidance on video production. There is no fixed format for the overall podcast and you are asked to be creative and innovative in terms of your overall presentation. The podcast must not simply be a PowerPoint movie, and I expect to see live video footage that can be intersected with PowerPoint elements. You may also wish to have a presenter introducing the Podcast (think Countryfile). I do expect you to get out and about collecting examples, and this can come from the local area or further afield depending on the focus of your podcast. I can make recommendations and provide suitable contacts.

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I would like you to work in groups of two and you should aim to produce a podcast of between 10-14 minutes (60% equivalency) in length. The podcasts should be submitted by 1pm on Friday 19th December.

Note: This is a new form of assessment and I will endeavour to provide as much assistance as I can. I would also like to think it is a bit innovative and that you enjoy putting it together.

Assessment Criteria

• Ability to work to production and content/investigative guidelines outlined in a consultancy brief

• Evidence of appropriate case studies and reference to the academic literature to support the consultancy brief

• Clear, logical and progressive structure • Clarity of commentary in terms conciseness, coherence and

criticality• Quality of editorial content and overall design elements

Key dates for your diary: The grant funding application presentations will take place on

Monday 15th December. Exact details will be published nearer the time. A copy of your PowerPoint and any supporting notes should also be submitted in hard copy and electronically. Please ensure that student numbers are clearly marked on all submitted documentation.

The podcast should be submitted by 1pm on Friday 19th December.

In the event that you fail this module, the reassessment will consist of a 3,500 word research essay.

The assessment criteria for research essay are: Ability to carry out a subsequent investigation, using available

sources and relevant approaches Ability to produce a high quality report which is well structured,

exhibits cogent and critical arguments, conforms to a high standard of literary (and numeracy if relevant), and displays good referencing skills

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