This presentation was part of the Big Assist Conference. Caron Marie Bembrick (Sheffield TLI Programme Coordinator) put on a marketisation workshop. Find out more about NCVO events: http://www.ncvo.org.uk/training-and-events

1. www.fusesheffield.org.uk
Caron Marie Bembrick
Sheffield TLI Programme Coordinator
1

2. www.fusesheffield.org.uk 2

3. • 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
www.fusesheffield.org.uk 3

4. 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.
www.fusesheffield.org.uk 4

5. Process
www.fusesheffield.org.uk 5

6. 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
www.fusesheffield.org.uk 6

7. 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?
www.fusesheffield.org.uk 7

8. Thank you
www.fusesheffield.org.uk 8

9. Hostedby:
Fundedby:
The changing infrastructure landscape
an unsettled state and an uncertain future
Rob Macmillan
Third Sector Research Centre
University of Birmingham

10. 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

11. 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?

12. 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)