1. JANE BECKFORD – TESTIMONIAL- July 2015
I had the pleasure of being Jane’s line manager from May 2007-Dec 2012. During that time Jane
displayed all the qualities of an outstanding senior manager and project manager.
Forward Thinker and Visionary
Jane was the Senior manager in my team, which encompassed a wide range of services within the
Directorate for Children and Young People. Throughout that time Jane showed an in-depth
understanding of the internal and external drivers of change (e.g. LCC policy changes and budget
constraints/opportunities; government policy changes and strategies; technological opportunities etc)
and how her services and those of others within my Group could best prepare and respond to those
changes. Jane is truly visionary and has an innate ability to understand the likely future
organisational landscape and to plan ahead. This is essential if services or products are to remain
relevant, have value and for them to maximise the opportunities that may be available. Jane is able
to see the wider picture and position services/products accordingly, she has an ability to see what is
possible. Jane is a creative thinker who can translate a vision and ideas into tangible outcomes for
services/products.
Mentor and Manager of People
Jane created and led an extremely successful team that delivered a high quality service and gained
national awards, external recognition and her work was constantly a source of internal pride. In
creating and developing the LCC Schools Portal (an electronic communication system between
schools and the County Council).
Jane had to create a team with a wide range of technical and business and people skills. Jane
created a culture within the team that placed the needs of the customer at the heart of what the team
did; that was based on a commitment to quality, continuous improvement, learning from service users
and a personal accountability and responsibility from each member of the team. The skills needed
within the team changed as the technical capabilities of the Schools Portal developed, the facilities on
the Portal grew and as School and LCC services learned how to make best use of the Portal. This
required all the team had to undertake continual professional development and to learn new skills.
Jane led that process through individual mentoring and coaching and the appraisal process.
Jane led by example, gaining formal qualifications in project management and a master’s in business
management as well as developing a wide range of ICT skills and culminating in her successfully
completing her Masters alongside her day to day roles. Jane has the ability to take people with her
and to encourage and enable them to challenge and develop themselves to their maximum.
Project Catalyst and Project Manager
Jane has a wealth of experience as a project catalyst (someone who can understand an opportunity
or idea and see its wider potential and opportunities) and as a successful project manager. During the
five year period in my Group, Jane transformed the way in which the County Council and schools
communicated and how information was gathered, stored, retrieved and used. She changed for the
better the relationship between the Council and the 650 schools in Lancashire. Long before anyone
else, Jane identified the opportunities and benefits that electronic communication would bring, for
both schools and the Council. She then led the task of translating the vision into the reality and
making the most of those opportunities. This transformation took place in the face of considerable
opposition from many schools and services who lacked Jane’s vision and who were wedded to the
then existing communication and information gathering arrangements. In order to succeed Jane had
to change their understanding and perceptions by demonstrating and proving over time that the Portal
would deliver an improved service for them.

2. As project manager Jane led on the many IT and service based improvement projects that enhanced
the capability of the Portal; managed the roll-out of the enhanced system within all 650 schools and
for thousands of LCC users; managed a huge training and awareness raising programme for users in
schools and LCC; gained internal and external funding to meet the staffing costs, costs of the IT
development, training costs and roll-out of the service; managed the relationship with schools and
LCC service users, including gaining and responding to feedback; and managed the phasing of each
service development. Schools in Lancashire have a huge trust and following for ideas and projects
work which Jane initiates.
The success of the schools portal project is evidenced by the positive feedback by schools and LCC
users; the multimillion pound savings achieved through the adoption of e-communication and data
management; the recognition by central government and other Local Authorities that LCC is a
national leader and an exemplar of good practice in its communications with schools; the receipt of
national business awards and internal recognition events. This level of success is directly attributable
to Jane’s ability to understand the opportunities an idea, product or technical development presents,
to translate that into clear outcomes and to successfully manage the process to achieve those
outcomes. Jane can create a vision and turn that into a reality. Importantly Jane has the
commitment and resilience to overcome obstacles and opposition and is brave enough to challenge
existing thinking. Jane is a powerful and persuasive communicator who can change perceptions and
get people on board. Jane makes great things happen.
Conclusion
I suggest you spend 10 minutes in Jane’s company and you will start to get a flavour of how she can
help you identify your potential or the potential of the idea/service/product and then help you reach
that potential.
Frank Gore
Business Services Manager
Directorate for Children and Young People
Lancashire County Council