Voluntary sector involvement in the Work Programme Dave Simmonds OBE Chief Executive Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion

Survey Online survey during March of TSEN member networks An open survey to provide a snapshot 217 organisations responded Of which ....

A good spread across England 51% supported over 250 people annually In the past 12 months how many workless people have you supported? Base = 197 A good spread across England

Have you been included as a sub-contractor in any bid for the Work Programme? Base = 217

Successful and unsuccessful organisations by size (Large = over 250)

Providers not included in any Work Programme bids

Did you express an interest to be a sub-contractor to a bidder for the Work programme? Base = 64

The 38% that decided not to express an interest in the Work Programme, gave a variety of reasons as to why, including..... Lack of awareness or understanding of procedures No capacity to undertake work Found the process too complicated Participating through other bodies

How many bidders were you in discussion with? Base = 30 A few turned down bidders, but most (80%) were not included by bidders

Did any bidders turn you down? Base = 30 83% felt they had not been given an adequate explanation

What does not being included in any bid mean for the future of your organisation? Base=33

Providers included in Work Programme bids

Sub-contractors sought to be included in more bids than they were.... Base 1 = 111 Base 2 = 107 84.5% approached bidders, only 15.5% were approached

Did you think the amount of information you were asked to provide to be included in the bid was: Base = 109

What were your financial negotiations with bidders like? In the end did you feel that you negotiated a good deal? Base 1 = 108 Base 2 - 105 High risk = 46%, Challenging but OK = 45%, comfortable risk = 9%

Overall do you think you had enough financial information from bidders? Base = 150

Majority (72%) hoping to attract ESF later this year 56% thought that bidders were not open enough Were the processes used by bidders to select open and transparent? Base = 150 Majority (72%) hoping to attract ESF later this year

Summarise how the process of establishing the Work Programme has been so far Base = 151

Lessons Probably higher participation than some had been fearing, but smaller organisations lost out There is a high level of concern about transparency and finances Prime contractors (individually and collectively): Improve any future processes for EOIs Increase the amount and clarity of financial information Work to improve supply-chain relationships Sub-contractors: Make clear their expectations of primes Still a significant performance challenge – frying pan to fire? Managing the financial risk