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Micro Enterprises and Putting People First in Wokingham. James Burgess Commissioning and Development Manager Mike Stillman PPF Commissioning Project Officer. Why Micro Enterprises?. Market Development a key objective of Wokingham’s PPF transformation Project Options
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Micro Enterprises and Putting People First in Wokingham James Burgess Commissioning and Development Manager Mike Stillman PPF Commissioning Project Officer
WhyMicro Enterprises? • Market Development a key objective of Wokingham’s PPF transformation Project • Options • Existing providers offering new services • New providers offering the same kinds of service • New providers offering new types of service
Existing Providers • Mostly medium and large scale • Mostly fairly conservative • Block contracts for traditional services • Many self funders • Focused on “critical needs”
New Providers • Need more variety but not easy for new providers to set up. • Small scale providers could be way forward as they can be flexible and innovative • NAAPS micro enterprises project offered support to investigate this as an achievable and low risk way forward.
How did we do it? • Met with Angela Catley – NAAPS Head of Projects who is providing consultancy support • Set up Micro Enterprises mini-project • Obtained staff resource to manage the project • Set aside £15,000 for start up grants • Visited NAAPS pilot site in Oldham • Held awareness events for stakeholders and potential providers • Set target of 5 new providers by April 2010
What has worked? • Involvement of NAAPS • Expertise and support. • Learning from their pilots. • Opportunity to meet micro-providers in Oldham • Credibility of project – one of first outside pilots • Grants • Key to generating interest. • Gave a high profile to the project as a way to support to local businesses during down turn. • Real impact on market place
Challenges • Lots of effort required to publicise project. • Most interest from newly set up enterprises rather than from potential providers. • Time and expertise needed to help businesses develop. • Council processes in relation to commissioning and contracting not friendly for small businesses. • Area of well paid high employment. Means fewer risk takers, and income expectations are high.
Who have we helped? • Three low level home care providers • A new footcare service In the pipeline • A service supporting older asian women • A further low level domestic support service
What else have we done? • Unit costing to allow people with personal budgets to get accurate costs of in house services. • Contracts for 2 external brokerage providers. • Developing budget management options – Individual Service Funds and Managed Service Funds. • Supporting People Personal Budget pilot. • Signposting service.
What else are we working on? • User guide to budget management options and safe commissioning. • Accreditation of brokers. • Exploration of possible “prevention brokerage” service.
Contacts James Burgess Commissioning and Development Manager james.burgess@wokingham.gov.uk Tel: 0118 974 6235 Mike Stillman PPF Commissioning Project Officer mike.stillman@wokingham.gov.uk Tel: 0118 908 8225