VCSEs have never been more important to service delivery and the opportunities arising from being part of contracts.
Many VCSEs already deliver outsourced services and are widely recognised as being both innovative and enterprising. However, despite having strong knowledge of their client groups and markets, VCSEs are regularly excluded from applying for regional and national contract bids due to their capacity.
So the National Consortium of Social Enterprises (NCSE) has been created in response to the demand from the public service commissioner market to have more social enterprises in supply chains so making it easier for commissioners to contract from social enterprises.
With over 700 VCSEs around England already having done so, this unique national consortium – free for VCSEs and for local consortia to sign up to – is gaining strength in diversity of service type and location. This then maximises the number of bids which they can be potentially alerted to.
The NCSE aims to:
- Increase the prospects for social enterprises seeking to win public sector business;
- Support the growth of a social enterprise employment market that improves the potential and increases the opportunities for marginalised individuals and groups to access real, sustainable jobs.
The NCSE is funded by NOMS CFO and ESF and is managed by Social Firms UK, Social Enterprise UK and 3SC in partnership and VCSEs can sign up at 3sc/ncse-sign-up.
Please contact Philippa Harris, Projects Officer, Social Firms UK 01737 231363 or at ncse@3sc.org with any enquiries.
