Why is net:gain funded nationally, when its focus is on regional and local service delivery?

net:gain operates as a social franchise, to stimulate the market for ICT services in the non-profit sector. The central team are funded by Capacitybuilders to develop, provide and support the franchise model, with materials and support provided at the national level. This gives considerable cost saving and efficiency, and lowers the risk and the overhead of developing lots of different local models.

However, the net:gain model is flexible to allow for local variation, and actively encourages centres to work with local partners (especially ChangeUp consortia) to make sure that net:gain delegates know about and use all of the support available to them.

The national team also promotes exchange of experience, and quality assurance, among the centres, and disseminates delegate success and acheivement at a national level.

The national profile also helps to lever in extra funding and support: for example, from Ufi Ltd, which funds the development of the centres (over £450,000 to date); and from partners, such as Charity Technology Trust.