The BIG Assist Conference - Marketisation Workshop by Caron Bembrick (FUSE).

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www.fusesheffield.org.uk

Caron Marie Bembrick

Sheffield TLI Programme Coordinator

2www.fusesheffield.org.uk

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• Organisation contact details

• Legal structure

• Where they work

• Who they work with

• Why they require FUSE funding and how the funding will help the organisation

• Income level

Fund contribution towards the cost of FUSE providers’ services:

• 90% (£0-£50k)

• 80% (£51-150k)

• 70% (£151-250k)

• 50% (£251k+)

• Maximum allowed per organisation is £750

• Remaining amount and VAT to be paid for by the CSO

Eligibility


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Provider Accreditation

Ensure providers possess a track record of delivering high quality infrastructure services

and implement a commitment to customer focus and equality and diversity in service

design and delivery.


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Process


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Results So Far

Since its launch in January 2013

• 134 applications

• Majority of applicants have lower income or high income (few in between)

• For some CSOs the fund has been only a small part of purchasing with some

organisations spending more than the contribution required

• Some CSOs have prioritised choice because of VAT implications

• Multiple take-up of services (e.g. HR, legal and finance for due diligence/mergers)

• Cross-agency purchasing e.g. training from SYFAB and VAS

• Key types – children and young people provision. Cohort of citizen’s advice centres

• Deprived neighbourhoods


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Challenges for the Provider

• Displacement of existing income

• Pricing

• Clarity of provision and fitting into the service directory – where does the holistic

capacity building service sit?

• Some CSOs still require assistance with understanding their needs – is this provider led?

• Some providers do not fit the directory mould

• Duplication

• Capacity

• Can individual providers claim to deliver a service if they signpost or bring in expertise?


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Thank you


Ho

sted

by:

Fu

nd

ed b

y:

The changing infrastructure landscapean unsettled state and an uncertain future

Rob MacmillanThird Sector Research Centre

University of Birmingham

http://www.bctrust.org.uk/

The ‘unsettlement’….of infrastructure

1. changing demands and challenges facing frontline organisations – tailored support for a competitive environment?

2. withdrawal of central state support for national and local infrastructure – ‘de-coupling’

3. income generation and a changing geography of infrastructure; TLI as unfinished business from ChangeUp? – ‘reconfiguration’

4. changing delivery mechanisms - on-line support; peer to peer learning; pro-bono; community organising; prime contracting; ‘fiscal sponsorship’, incubation and shelter

5. ‘demand-led’ approaches - market making in infrastructure?

6. rethinking functions and staffing of infrastructure organisations - hollowing out

Implications – challenges and opportunities• ‘Customers’

o what support do we need, or want? (and do we know?) o do we want to shop for it, and if so how do we choose?o how will we know if it is any good?

• ‘Suppliers’o how do we reach ‘customers’? how do they know about us?o what is our business model and organisational structure?o what niche can we occupy in relation to other providers?o how do we set and adjust our prices?

• ‘Market makers’o is there a viable market for chargeable support services? o how far should it be ‘managed’ or left open? o how is quality understood and assured? o what support is available for new, smaller or marginalised groups? o what about ‘voice’ and advocacy?

In small groups….

Discuss

• What are you doing or planning to do about the changes we’ve been discussing?

• What experience can you share with each other?

• What are the dilemmas and challenges in selling services, and how can you overcome them?

Identify one or two key questions or dilemmas to feedback to the group as a whole.

(roughly 25 minutes)

The BIG Assist Conference - Marketisation Workshop by Caron Bembrick (FUSE).

Business