Our Impact 2018-19
To celebrate our tenth birthday we have launched our 2018-19 impact report, celebrating the successes we have achieved over the last year and looking back at those achieved since our inception in 2009.
“Crowdfunding: a viable alternative for financing public sector infrastructure?
At a time when public sector finances are under ever-increasing pressure, crowdfunding has the potential to offer a new model of finance via an investment-based business model that generates social, environmental and economic returns.
A cross sector team lead by the University of Leeds, and in partnership with Abundance Investments and Local Partnerships, researched the viability of crowdfunding as an alternative source for funding public sector infrastructure. A report was published in April 2019, concluding that the public sector is yet to make the most of the opportunities offered by crowdfunding, and is yet to realise the financial and non-financial benefits it has been shown to generate.
Key findings of the report, which draws from an assessment of six case study projects examining the suitability of crowdfunding for the public sector, are that it:
- helps to overcome existing knowledge barriers with respect to crowdfunding
- provides a decision-making tool to demystify the process of utilising crowdfunding as a public body
- shows how crowdfunding can be utilised to create new forms of civic engagement with local residents and service users
- presents a new Community Municipal Bond structure
An overview of the research and its outcomes can be found here. Local Authorities are invited to a launch event on 18 June in Leeds, hosted by the University of Leeds, Local Partnerships and Abundance Investment. To register interest please visit financingforsociety.eventbrite.co.uk
For more information please contact Rosie.Pearson@local.gov.uk.
Delivering Waste Efficiencies in the South East
The eighth regional review undertaken by Local Partnerships has now been published. The report focuses on efficiencies achieved in waste and resource management by local authorities in the South East of England.
The report samples from 34 local authority case studies and focuses on key areas of innovation across the South East, highlighting savings of over £21.5m per annum.
Commercialisation
Commercialisation practices are on the rise, and their adoption across local government is swiftly becoming an imperative.
How do you ensure successful commercialisation and good practice in your council? How do you identify, nurture and manage potential commercial opportunities? How do you engender healthy commercial behaviours between leaders, staff and stakeholders, from the top down?
Councils seeking to innovate, establish corporate behaviours and good governance in their organisations can benefit from support to help become risk aware, not risk averse.
We ran a series of series of three webinars exploring:
- How to develop a commercial culture and corporate approach
- How to successfully launch a commercial venture
- How to manage risks and legal issues surrounding the process
If you were unable to join us, please click on the webinar recording you would like to access.
Or contact David Crowe or Julie McEver for more information.
1. Develop a commercial culture and corporate approach
2. Successfully launch a commercial venture
3. Manage risks and
legal issues
Making the Case
As budgets are being set for 2019/20, and with a new Spending Review, Brexit and funding changes on the horizon, securing the resources and investment for your future plans, now, will be a key priority.
As calls are firmed up, how do you express the merit of your proposals in a manner that will maximise their chances of success?
The second “Making the Case” webinar ran on Thursday 24 January.Martin Forbes, Strategic Director, talked through the critical aspects that can help you put forward the case for your funding persuasively, specifically looking at how to:
1. set out the benefits in a robust and convincing manner
2. ensure that full costs and implications of your proposal are factored into the affordability assessment
3. build confidence around delivery and achievement of objectives
Brexit – the practicalities for your supply chain
With 29 March 2019 only a few months away, we have developed a EU Exit Commercial Impact Assessment. This toolkit helps you assess your contracts and procurement activity for the impact of Brexit and then supports you in developing plans to mitigate areas of risk. Using a phased approach, the toolkit ensures you prioritise those contracts most impacted, taking into account key factors such as workforce, lead times, grants and currency considerations.
We ran free 30 minute webinars throughout November and December 2018 explaining the toolkit in more detail. If you were unable to join us, please click here for a recording of a webinar run on 6 November 2018. If you would like more information regarding the webinars or the EU Exit Toolkit, please email Adam Yardley.
We are working with clients to accelerate the assessment process and form robust plans to mitigate risk. Please contact Joran Mendel if you would like to discuss how we can help you.
RT @TamFinkelstein Delighted that two Defra teams have been shortlisted for Civil Service Awards in the Commercial and Project Delivery Excellence categories. @NeilHornbyDefra and the fisheries team, @EinavBen and the commercial team. Recognition for all our work on EU exit #CSAwards https://t.co/Uz7tkTPRNZ
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