Partnership Working with the Private Sector

Tony ChurchillBusiness Connector

Business in the Community

Becky BrownPartnership Development Officer

WBC/WVA

Partnership Working with the Private Sector

• Involvement with local 3rd sector organisation

• How connection was made • Planning• Considerations• Benefits for both parties • Next steps – 4 breakout groups

Partnership Working with the Private Sector

Identifying Opportunities?

• How?• Who?• What ?• Where? • When?• Why? ….having a clear

goal!!

Group Feedback – Identifying Opportunities

• Invite organisations to be part of your Board

• Talk to businesses and build networks

• Find out what skills are available

• Speak to larger charities who can refer people with skills to help out

• Difficulties in getting people to understand your aims/who you are working with

• Which or who in the orgnaisation should charities contact in business/private sector

Partnership Working with the Private Sector

Identifying Barriers?

• Resources• Finance• Skills• H&S• Environment• Buy in

Group Feedback – Identifying Barriers

• Face to face conversation rather than IT as this can limit communication

• Time limitations – outside working hours

• Identifying mutual benefits – what’s in it for me? (Not box ticking)

• How do you do it? Who do you contact? Need to go to the right people so you are not being passed from pillar to post and ensure a single point of contact

• Realist approach from charity on the relationship – know when to walk away if it is not suitable for you and know where you stand

• Financial capacity/sustainability – might not have all the resources

• Co-ordination/compromise

• Speak in plain English, make no assumptions and value everyone

Partnership Working with the Private Sector

Managing a Project?

• Planning• Skills• Risks• Resources• Contingencies• Welfare facilities

Group Feedback – Managing a Project

• Bring together key people at an initial meeting and appoint a key contact

• Develop a formal, structured plan with timescales

• Networking – connections

• Identify and utilise individual skills and identify equipment and volunteers needed

• Commitment needed from the business whilst ensuring mutual benefit and trust

• Ensure there is a backup plan

• Ensure risk assessments are carried out – health and safety, insurance etc.

• Ensure basic needs are covered, e.g. food and water

Partnership Working with the Private Sector

Maintaining Partnerships?

• Keeping dialogue open• Promote the experience• Evaluation and impact• Planning future opportunities• Honesty and integrity

Group Feedback – Maintaining Partnerships

• Broader awareness across both organisations can enrich the partnership - Offer skills development back to the supporters

• Networking events or similar - company to host – link to CSR agendas

• Invest time and patience and develop trust – see it as a friendship

• Channel communication through one contact

• Respect – recognise benefit and longevity using case studies and impact

• Honest appreciation of mutual interest

• Clarity of what the organisation needs – cohesion with agreed strategy (not the basis of it)

Partnership Working with the Private Sector

Business Connector – WarringtonTony Churchill07775 631902Tony.churchill@uuplc.co.uk