Michael Mckernan Email & Phone Number

Glasgow, Gb

Barrhead, Scotland, United Kingdom

Currently Economic Development & Inclusive Growth Manager with a focus on: People - helping people aged 16 and over in East Renfrewshire improve their skills to get ready for work and find jobs. Place - working with a wide range of partners to help develop and improve our town centres and neighbourhoods across East Renfrewshire and to make them more attractive, accessible and active as set out in the Scottish Government's town centre action plan.Business - working with a wide range of partners such as East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce and the 3 Business Improvement Districts in Barrhead, Clarkston and Giffnock to support businesses to access good quality business advice and support, affordable workspace, business finance and public sector procurement contracts.Strategy development and implementation: East Renfrewshire Economic Development Strategy, Economic Recovery Plan, Local Child Poverty Action Report, East Renfrewshire Employability Strategy and Town Centre/Neighbourhood Action Plans.

Glasgow, United Kingdom

MPM EU Consultants specialises in assisting a wide range of clients access funding from European Union and National operational programmes as well as supporting the development and project management of grant/loan funded projects.We have over 16 years relevant professional experience, specialising in the monitoring, evaluation and financial management of projects and Programmes funded by European Structural Funds, including ERDF, ESF and loan funding. We have also developed and delivered a wide range of training toolkits to strengthen the institutional capacity of Managing Authorities and project sponsors in relation to programming, preparation for the 2014-2020 programming period, financial instruments, audit activities, state aid and public procurement compliance, both in Scotland and in other EU Member States. Range of services• explore the different EU funding programmes to see which fits best for your organisation • project development covering all aspects of the project planning cycle including project planning, business planning, financial management, eligibility, monitoring and evaluation ensuring that both local, national and EU objectives are satisfied • partnership working • support you throughout all stages of the application process, ensuring that all national and EU regulations are met • preparation and submission of interim reports and claims • preparation for Article 13/60b checks and other audit related activity • programme management • interactive training on a wide range of topics including, financial management, state aid and public procurement compliance, financial instruments, smart cities • We are also available to work on EuropeAid opportunities

Business Development with dedicated remit to help grow Deloitte's European Structural Funds practice across Europe.• Implemented and drove a structured bid management process to deliver competitive tenders;• Covered all parts of business development: identification of opportunities, business intelligence and networking, identification of consortium partners, preparation of expressions of interest, tender proposal preparation including planning, logical framework, time plans, search for and contracting of key experts, drafting of rationale and strategy, financial proposal and layout;• Understanding and managing client expectations and requirements.• Developed a wide range of training toolkits such as Financial Instruments, Verification of Structural Funds projects, Using Structural Funds for Smart Cities, Performing Ex-Ante Evaluations• Provided briefings on operational and policy matters relating to Cohesion Policy and Structural Funds.• Represented company at external events

Senior Project Executive: Worked on LUPS 2007-2013 ERDF & ESF Operational Programmes specialising in audits and on-the-spot verifications. Provision of advice to beneficaries on all aspects of Structural Funds Programming and compliance issues. Developed and implemented accredited training modules, trained Mananging Authority and Intermediate Body staff in management verifications and compliance. As part of ESEP Global, consultancy arm of ESEP, was employed as Key Expert in European Structural Funds as part of the Romanian Ministry of the Environment Programme (Technical Assistance). Financial and audit reform training; Management of Structural Funds training; Project Development and Strategy training; Monitoring and Verification training, review of operational procedures.Responsible for scanning contract opportunities and was part of succesful bid writing team for national and EuropeAid contracts.

10 years of professional knowledge and experience in managing and delivering European Structural Funds Programmes (2000-2006, 1997-1999, 1994-1996 Objective 2 Programmes and URBAN I & II Community Initiatives) and related economic development/regeneration activitiesTheoretical and practical knowledge regarding Structural Funds concepts and regulations, project development, implementation and management10 years experience of delivering interactive Structural Funds training to public administration staff in Scotland, Romania and Hungary10 years experience of Developing Structural Funds training modules for public administrators and stakeholder groups 10 years experience of preparation of funding manuals, good practice guides and project case studies for project managers and government ministriesSuccessful programme management of the Clyde Waterfront URBAN II Programme and Western Scotland Objective 2 Programme (Priority 2 – Developing the region as a Competitive Location) which includes community and physical regeneration projects Responsible for economic development/regeneration project development, project appraisal and assisting public sector agencies and community groups in successfully securing over £100 million European grants for economic development activitiesExpert in State aid, Public Procurement. Horizontal Themes, Financial auditing, Verification Checks Develop, co-ordinate and implement various strategies for the local area through the provision of advice and guidance on all aspects of European fundingOrganise production of management information and manage the performance of public and community sector applicants.

Provided support to four pilot counties in Romania to develop necessary systems, tools and policies for effective operation of their specialised units. Preparation of bespoke training modules and delivery of training to the four pilot counties on elaboration of ERDF applications and internal project monitoring requirements of approved Structural Funds projects. Also responsible for preparation of application form, guidance notes and scoring criteria for selection of pilot counties.

Responsible for design and delivery of bespoke training programmes specifically for eight Local Authorities in Romania on Structural Funds Local Policy Alignment for Structural Funds training and preparation.

Short Term Expert on Twinning contract between between Hungary and the United Kingdom. Developed and delivered a series of Structural Funds training modules to Government ministries on: Programme Management Processes; How to Ensure Projects Succeed; Preparing for N+2 targets; Financial Management; Measure Effectiveness of Programme management; Project Risk Assessment; How to Evaluate Projects and Programmes

Post Graduate Diploma, Local Economic Development (With Distinction)

Subjects studied: - Project Appraisal and Evaluation; - Introduction to Local Economic Development; - Human Resource Development: Training.

European Studies Ma, Eu Politics, French, Spanish, International Terrorism, 2:1

European Studies MA (Honours) (with French and Spanish)

Spanish, French, International Terrorism, Politics

French, Spanish, Politics, Economics