Futurebuilders England is seeking feedback on three new products it is thinking about launching as part of its ongoing commitment to help develop market power in the third sector.
The £215m investment fund is conducting an online survey to gather opinions about the potential new products – a Management Development Fund, a Quasi-Equity Fund and a Partnership Fund.
All three funds are intended to help develop the capacity of third sector organisations to compete for, win and deliver public sector contracts and were designed in response to the sector’s needs.
If established, a Management Development Fund would offer loans of between £50,000 – £100,000, providing match-funding to enable bold organisations to be able to afford to employ high caliber staff to improve their organisations.
A Quasi-Equity Fund would provide investments of working capital, of which a portion would be repayable as a patient capital loan and a portion would be issued as ‘equity’ – repayable only after certain income/performance thresholds were met.
A Partnership Fund would offer mixed investment packages to encourage organisations to think innovatively about new ways of working together to create efficiencies and improve the delivery of public services – such as agreeing mergers, or considering consolidation projects or strategic alliances.
The online survey, which can be completed at the Futurebuilders website, consists of a few simple questions, with the opportunity to provide comment on each of the potential new products.
Gill Nunn, Market Development Director at Futurebuilders England said: “We think these three products respond to some of the key needs of the sector in the current market place, but we want to make sure the sector agrees. That is why we are actively seeking feedback by conducting a survey. We want third sector organistions to tell us what they think about these potential new products – what is good about them, what could be improved, and ultimately whether they think the products would help strengthen their ability to win and deliver contracts.”
To find out more about the potential new products and to complete the online survey, visit the Futurebuilders website at www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk
