(image) Helen, Kirsty and Chris are the backbone of KKP's extensive Strategic Framework team - each acknowledged for their distinctive skills, knowledge and aptitudes across a variety of disciplines.

Helen Jones - Consultant

Helen graduated from the University of Stirling in 2006 with a BA Honours in Psychology and Sports Studies that incorporated units in sport management, research methods and exercise and sport physiology. Following an initial spell working for another practice in the sector, she has been with KKP since 2008.

A fundamental contributor to a range of KKP's portfolio, Helen delivers much of the consultation with stakeholders, clubs and community representatives. She is highly regarded for quickly getting to grips with key issues and hitting the ground running, laying strong foundations for the latter stages of each study.

Among her key strengths as a consultant are her comprehensive knowledge of PPG17, expertise in the use of Sport England tools (Active People Diagnostics and Active Places Power), strong attention to detail, an analytical outlook and extensive local knowledge of Scotland. In addition to her client-facing activity, these attributes make Helen very strong in desk research and data analysis; the backbone for many projects.

Her forays into the research field include being part of the team working for the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) to review currently available data on women and girls' participation in sport and physical activity in the North West region. More recently, Helen has been collating and extracting findings from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's national Taking Part survey, working closely with senior staff and data processors at KKP's partner for this assignment; the University of Central Lancashire.

Kirsty Freely - Consultant

Kirsty is approaching her ten-year milestone at KKP. Since 2001 she has worked her way through a hierarchy of positions and accumulated impressive knowledge and awareness across a wide variety of disciplines, making her one of KKP's most experienced consultants.

She is proficient in project management, research and delivering plans and is particularly highly regarded for her expertise in playing pitch strategies; a fact that her tally of almost 30 company commissions testifies to.

A key strength is Kirsty's communication skills; she is at adept interacting with, and delivering projects for, a range of people in a variety of settings, from parish councils and youth groups through to senior industry figures. Renowned for her thoroughness and attention to detail, she has been instrumental in the development and improvement of KKP's working practices to ensure that high survey and consultation response rates are achieved.

Self-motivated and keen to pursue her personal career development, Kirsty's interest extends beyond the workplace, having recently been appointed Secretary for the Radcliffe and Bury South Sports Forum. In this role, amongst a range of tasks, she will assist in the development of local amateur sport and physical activity, help to support and promote the Bury Sports Awards and work on initiatives to increase participation in sports activity in the area.

Chris MacFarlane - Consultant

Chris has both a degree and post-graduate diploma in town planning, which, when coupled with his work experience provides both the practical and theoretical skills to perfectly complement the open space team. Whilst working for the Company he is also managing to work towards achieving Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

He joined KKP in 2009 from Groundwork where he was heavily involved in the creation and delivery of an 18-month strategy for a community nature site. Prior to this, he worked on regional spatial planning supporting the preparation and process of a public examination for the draft North West Regional Spatial Strategy.

Running alongside his understated but comprehensive consultation and field work approach, Chris has extended the way in which KKP utilises its GIS systems and process to enhance and underpin analysis, consultation and site identification. He has, for example, applied this to a recent community green space improvement plan and he is evaluating whether and how PPG17 principles can be most effectively applied to cultural strategies.

Presently, Chris is working on an Open Space PAN65 compliant Audit of Open Space for Dumfries and Galloway Council and KKP's full PPG17 audit and strategy for Wokingham in Berkshire.

Helen, Kirsty and Chris are part of KKP's team of consultants that is collectively recognised by Sport England within its Strategic Planning Framework for Sport. KKP's single agency, strategic planning expertise in this field is confirmed by its inclusion on approved contractor lists for needs assessment, playing pitch strategies and sport specific facility strategies

These dependable and skilled consultants are fundamental to our capacity to deliver large, comprehensive assignments, demonstrating the skill set that extends right through the organisation and upholding KKP's reputation for delivering high quality service.