Fusion21 plays host to ‘Big Society’ mandarins

Procurement consortium Fusion21 has been in talks with Whitehall mandarins to explore what the company can do to contribute towards fulfilling the ‘Big Society’ mission to tackle deprivation.

The Prime Minister David Cameron launched his Government’s ‘Big Society’ project in Liverpool, which is one of the four ‘test beds’. The others selected to pilot initiatives are Windsor and Maidenhead, the Eden Valley in Cumbria and Sutton in London. These are the areas that will be able to apply for the first tranche of funding from the so-called Big Society bank, which is to be funded using cash from dormant banks accounts and private sector investment.

“There is a big opportunity for government, the public sector and social enterprise to work together and help deliver big society, whilst creating jobs and using public money more efficiently,” said Chris Murray, chair of Fusion21.

“[We have] demonstrated that this is possible through an innovative procurement model. During tough times the question for anyone spending public money should not be why use a social enterprise route for procurement, rather it should be why are you not using this route, when it can create efficiencies and then reinvest money into services delivery that would otherwise disappear as profits.”

Fusion21 was selected for a visit by Whitehall decision-makers for the Top 200 Project, part of the Big Society and Deprived Neighbourhoods project commissioned by Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell. The group from Whitehall visited the organisation, based in Huyton, Liverpool, to learn more about Fusion21, and also took the opportunity to speak to trainees and others helped into employment by the organisation.

The Top 200 project aims to work with communities, external partners, and across Whitehall in an effort to understand how the Government needs to respond to meet the challenges in overcoming deprivation.

“We have been partnering with Fusion21 for several years now and the procurement model has delivered great value for money for social landlords,” said Dead Rogers, of local building firm Frank Rogers Construction. “We are able to provide this because we know there will be consistent demand. Regular reviews mean we are always looking for ways to be more competitive. We are happy to take on high quality trainees and help to sustain the neighbourhoods where we work.”