Jonathan Bland, E3M – launching the ‘Procurement to Partnership’ online Toolkit

Jonathan Bland, Managing Director E3M

The response to Covid-19 highlighted the importance of social enterprises and the wider social sector in communities across the country, and in some areas has led to innovative new models of partnership. However, all too often, innovation and meeting the needs of people and communities is held back by a rigid application of procurement rules, where process takes over from purpose.

Discussions amongst members of our E3M Bold Commissioners’ and Social Enterprise Leaders’ Clubs last year (via Zoom, of course!) highlighted how positive examples of innovation partnerships, such as those developed by fellow CCIN members Oldham and Plymouth Councils, together with the expertise of our E3M partners, could form the basis of a resource to help bring together public authorities, purpose-aligned partners and social investors to deliver real social value. The result is From Procurement to Partnership: a Practical Toolkit For Commissioners, which aims to provide a step-by-step guide to realising purpose-alignment and making it work for local communities.

It is available now, so please do explore it, and it is designed to be a dynamic resource, so please sign up where prompted to receive updates as new content is added and/or associated events are planned.

The toolkit was announced with a webinar, a recording of which is available to view here.

 

Jonathan Bland
Managing Director
E3M

[email protected]

@JonathanSBI