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

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

3. 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

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

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

6. Providers not included in any Work Programme bids

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

8. 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

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

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

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

12. Providers included in Work Programme bids

13. 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

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

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

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

17. 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

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

19. 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