We bring together a team of professionals, who have both consultancy and operational experience of developing and managing attractions.  If you would like to find out more about the team who run the visitor attractions our sister company manages please click here (this takes you to our main website).

Kevin Brown BSc PG Dip, Managing Director
Kevin leads the consultancy in strategic planning and options appraisals.  Kevin has a sound knowledge of research based appraisal work in tourism, leisure and community development projects.  He has considerable experience in feasibility studies, business planning and exit strategies, agency and acquisitions. He also provides support for site appraisals, planning and Audience Development Plans.

Prior to joining Planning Solutions Consulting, Kevin worked for Fleury Manico, Chartered Surveyors, a specialist leisure company where he was Head of Research. Kevin led all the research based activities which formed an important aspect of valuation advice. He secured the firm’s inclusion on the Register of Expert Advisers for the Lottery Sports Fund and managed the in house research archives and data systems. Previously Kevin worked for four years at South East England Tourist Board managing the grant scheme (Section 4) for tourism development projects in the Region.

Michael Stickland FTS, Director
Mike is a director of Planning Solutions Consulting and managing director of Planning Solutions Limited (PSL). He founded PSL some 12 years ago and continues to head up the operational elements of the company’s business – including Conkers and a Harry Ramsden’s franchise in Brighton.

He continues to play a major role in a wide range of consultancy projects providing operational and financial advice for specialist developments, notably in relation to the day visitor attraction and holiday lodge sectors.

Mike has had a leading role in the development of Conkers in the Heart of National Forest. He has in-depth knowledge and operational experience of the tourist, leisure, catering, property, sport and recreation markets for over 40 years.  Mike also oversees the strategic development and operation of Harry Ramsden’s Brighton and the National Brewery Centre.

He also has a comprehensive background in operations mainly for Rank and Ladbroke Hotels, having been a site manager of a quality holiday village, Regional Director and Operations Director of 15 holiday resort venues. He latterly became a Board Director of Rank Holidays and Hotels Developments Ltd where he led the development of the Oasis Village holiday product in Cumbria which was subsequently acquired by Center Parcs.

Richard Linington BA (Hons) MA, Director of Research
Richard Linington is the director of research and has some 11 years of commercial experience in the tourism, regeneration and design sectors.  Richard has experience of working on complex projects where he has carried out research to identify and assess the most appropriate development solutions.

He carries out feasibility studies, prepares option appraisals, development strategies and business plans for a range of clients from the Forestry Commission through to Tourism South East, Wildlife Trusts and Regional Development Agencies. Richard also manages the marketing strategy for Conkers, a £16 million visitor attraction in the Heart of the National Forest.

Richard has a strong background in both primary and secondary research. Prior to joining Planning Solutions, he worked as a User Researcher and Usability Analyst at Razorfish, one of the UK’s leading digital consultancies and BMP DDB Needham, the multi-national advertising agency.

He also writes a successful blog on Research Methods.  Richard has a master’s degree in the sociology and anthropology of travel and tourism.

Clive Johnson BA Commercial Director
Clive has a wide commercial  and marketing remit across the three visitor attractions operated by the company.
 
Prior to joining Planning Solutions, Clive worked as a marketing consultant on projects including developing the marketing strategy and implementation to support thelaunch of a 4 star Holiday Village and Country Club on the Isle of Wight. 

He has also worked as the Director of Marketing and Visitor Services at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which is home to HMS Victory, The Mary Rose, Action Stations, HMS Warrior 1860 and the Royal Naval Museum.  His responsibility included defining and delivering the Communications, Marketing and Events strategies necessary to achieve the budgetary and vision objectives of the six separate organisations on site (four being charitable trusts) and direct management of the PR, Marketing Services, Events and Visitor centre functional reports.  He also lead a complete re-branding project that allowed the individual attractions to unite under one strong destination brand and he was responsible for financial performance analysis, budgetary planning and control. 

From May 2007- May 2008 he held a strategic planning consultancy role which included the long term marketing plan that underpinned the Mary Rose’s successful £20m Heritage Lottery Fund bid, the 2008 marketing plan and TV media strategy.