Transparency: rambling questions (Part 2: event advert)

Following up on the previous thread: http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/reg/blog-display.do?id=7661290&userId=1367291

I thought I would let people know of a forthcoming conference on these matters:

The Future of Transparency in Local Government

Tuesday 7th December 2010
Westminster Studio, London SW1

The link is here: http://www.neilstewartassociates.com/sa268/index.php

I was invited to make a few comments about event whilst it was in the planning stage - which I did (and turned my comments into the previous blog post...) - which the conference producer found helpful. She has now asked me to be part of the panel on that day - at the end of the morning. 

Do come along if you can - and I will be sure to read through everyone's contributions from the previous discussion thread - if I get the time - I will plug this forum too!

Creative thinking about income generation

One of the more popular posts on my small creative ideas blog is about income generation - people often stumble across from a google search, it seems. (The original post is here: http://smallcreativeideas.blogspot.com/2009/04/thinking-about-income-generation.html if you want to go there)

Meanwhile - it seemed to me - given these austere times that people might have interest in reading this post here too:

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Below is a list of 'resource types' that all voluntary and public services have in some way. I have used the whimsical (and probably not very ethical) example of what a local church might do to generate income - to illustrate these resource types. I hasten to add that I am not advocating any of these methods at all! (One of the first rules of income generation is that whatever you do - has to accord with your ethical principles and legal parameters.)  

• Staff - Knowledge & Creativity (Vicar offers counselling to local businesses)
• Staff - Staff time (Choir Sings for Local Radio to create Christmas jingles)
• Staff - As potential customers  (Send a list of parishioners to religious publisher)
• Staff - Non work expertise (Church Warden's model making expertise to sell to local firm of architects)
• Information - Patterns of performance & results.(Send popular hymns chosen for services to music publishers)
• Information - About individual clients / users etc. (Send names of babies Christened to the local branch of Mothercare)
• Physical Assets - Buildings (Use the Church steeple for a mobile phone mast)
• Physical Assets - General Equipment (Loan church hall chairs to local hotel for big events)
• Physical Assets - Specialist Equipment (Charge for access to register of births and deaths to people researching family trees)
• Stakeholders - As potential customers (Church Commissioners to offer ethical financial advice)
• Stakeholders - As potential sponsors or supporters (Local Firms advertising in church newsletter)
• Stakeholders - As potential partners (advertise local education evening adult ed classes)
• Profile - ‘Brand’ reputation (Give stamp of approval to a pine furniture manufacturer)
• Profile - Access to media and public (Charge for inserts in the newsletter such as pizza delivery businesses)
• Systems and services - Software (Sell petty cash system to local shops)
• Systems and services - Expertise in how things are done (Sell skills at organising large events (the fete) to local businesses wanting celebrations)
• Systems and services - ‘Piggy backing’ existing services (Arrange to tie up marriage services with local dressmaker)
• Waste  ...is someone else’s supply...? (Church space on weekdays use for a Local nursery) 

Further information (although some of this may be out of date now): 

• http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4130667 (Guidance on income generation for theNHS)
• http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/finance-and-business-planning/income_generation.pdf(Guidance for the police)
• http://www.derby.ac.uk/bdu/consultancy-income-generation-intellectual-property (Example guidance for higher education)
• http://www.renaissanceeastmidlands.org.uk/our_work/sustainability/income_1.html (Example for themuseums and galleries)
• http://www.dea.org.uk/sub-562910 (a source of guidance for the voluntary sector)
• http://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/webimages/managing-the-service/cfa/strategyresources-meetings-data/pdf-125-2007-01-25-10%20-%20Income%20and%20Charging%20Consultation%20by%20the%20DCLG.pdf (example from the fire & rescue service)
• http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/generalpower2 (Guidance for local government)

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Overall, I do think that all public and third sector organisations ought to have a coherent and active income generation strategy at all times - but especially now. I used to run workshops on this subject when I was at OPM - would anyone be interested in my putting on another one? (Please drop me a line or say here, if you would like this. Thanks.)

Pro Bono Group established on Linked In

Together with a colleague (Marion Cole), we have established a group for experienced public sector consultants (including researchers, advisers, coaches, facilitators etc.) who wish to offer some pro bono help to public and third sector organisations during these austere times. 

The purpose of the group is exchange ideas, enquiries, opportunities and mutual support. 

The group is co-facilitated by myself & Marion Cole and is centred around Milton Keynes / Buckinghamshire. People from surrounding counties are most welcome. Indeed some have joined from further afield. 

The group has gained 35 members in less than a month.

Here is a link to the group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=3542050&trk=anet_ug_grppro (but you will need to be a member of linked in - which is free)

I am posting details here for two reasons:

1) to see if any consultants / researchers etc would like to join: you are most welcome

2) to see if anyone would like some pro bono support: My plan is to write to people in the public services in MK / Bucks / Beds / Northants / Oxon / Berks at some point soon (although I don't have a ready made mailing list...) - but in the mean time - I thought I would get the offer 'out there' for people to respond as they wish. If you are a potential client - please feel free to join the group - and post your request as a discussion thread. Or if you wish - browse the list of members and approach people directly. (There is a great deal of talent already in the 30 members signed up)