Naomi Sampson

Risky business: Developing T3SCplus

Presentation overview:

About Tameside and

T3SC

Our history of income

generation

Key questions we

asked ourselves

Planned vs. organic

growth

Culture change

Where are we now?

Next stepts

Important principles /

lessons learnt

About Tameside and T3SC

Part of greater Manchester city region

Population 220,000

• 51st most deprived area in England

„Established‟ VCS relatively small

T3SC 10 years old in 2011

• Income £800,000, 20 staff

• Good relationships with sector and partners

• Traditionally done some „low key‟ income generation

Income generation and T3SC

2008 (?) increasingly asked:

• “do you know a consultant who can.....”

• “could T3SC do....”

Board aware of „impending financial doom‟

• Lots of eggs in same basket

• Target to diversify income

Formed income generation sub group

• Board and staff involvement

Some key questions for us

What are we good at?

What assets have we got?

What do people want to buy?

What could we do that could be profitable?

How would it fit with our mission, aims and

values?

How much financial risk do we want?

Marketing: why T3SCplus?

Strong awareness of T3SC „brand‟ across

greater Manchester

Plus = “in addition to”

Helps demonstrate that activity is on top of

„core‟ offering

• Helps us to differentiate what is „free‟

„CORE‟

SERVICE

Generic infrastructure

services

„Free‟ to frontline groups

in Tameside

„ADDED

VALUE‟

SERVICES

DEVELOPING ORGANISATIONS

Governance reviews Strategic and Business planning ‘Fit for Purpose’ reviews Performance Coaching

CIVIC PARTICPATION

Participatory events Improving 3rdSector ‘Voice’

GRANT SCHEME

DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT

Participatory Budgeting Scheme evaluations

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY Obligations and ‘in practice’

Organic or planned growth?

Planned growth

• Positive:

– Clear strategy / goal

– Easier to see what

success looks like

• Negative:

– Higher start up cost

– Higher financial risk

Organic growth

• Positive:

– Can try different ideas

out / flex

– Lower financial risk

• Negative:

– No focal point

Organic or planned growth?

• T3SCplus grown organically

– No clear brand or strategy until this year

– Low levels of investment

• No start up cost

• No dedicated staffing

• Marketing cost = £500

Culture change - internally Expectations within staff team

• “everyone can do something”

We‟re charging: can we meet the quality

expectation?

We‟re asked our view / expertise – it‟s okay

to ask about payment!

Financial systems and processes

Growing skills

Culture change - externally

Honesty with frontline organisations

Ensuring we still meet our mission

One size doesn‟t fit all – flexibility

Alternatives ways to „pay‟ for services

Money, money money (a-ha) Income generation target factored into

budget

– But its not real money „til we‟ve secured it

– Risk if not achieved – deficit position / reserves

What is the real cost?

Cashflow is king

– Agree payment profiles with clients

– Invoice promptly

Where are we now?

• 2011/12 generated £55,000

• Variety of products delivered

– Business planning / „Fit for Purpose‟ reviews

– „Building third sector engagement‟ for 2 LAs

– Grant programme development / grant management

– Bespoke training delivery

• equality and diversity; sustainable funding

• Growing market

• Clearer about pricing model

Next steps for T3SCplus

Plans to make T3SCplus a stand alone

trading arm (linked to our merger)

– CIC model

– Introduction of new products

Uncertainties over size of market

- But have target to grow income generation target to 20%

by September 2013

More strategic/ planned approach

Important principles for us / lessons learnt

Fit with mission, aims and values

Core offering remains free at point of access

„Pay what you can afford‟

• T3SCplus for Tameside VCS orgs

Not always about „money‟ – other ways of

doing business e.g. sharing

Important principles for us / lessons learnt

Bringing people with us

• Staff and stakeholders

Happy clients best form of advertising

Work with associates you trust

Understand your costs

Be aware of your competition and your USP

Contact details

Naomi Sampson

Tameside Third Sector Coalition

(soon to be Community and Voluntary Action Tameside – CVAT)

Website: www.t3sc.org

Tel: 0161 339 4985

E-mail: naomi.sampson@t3sc.org