A group led by RNUK Ltd’s CEO, Simon Berry, developed their bid to run the £1.2 million Innovation Exchange for the Office of the Third Sector, in the open and online for everyone to see and contribute to at www.innovationexchange.net
This is an innovation in its on right and is the first time this has been done. It is in stark contrast to the traditional ‘cloak and dagger’ approach to bid preparation.
When asked if this approach had been any easier, Simon Berry said “Yes. Normally you have to come up with all ideas yourself. Doing it this way is not only more rewarding but you get to ‘meet’ new people with amazing contributions to make. The result is a much more considered and thought through proposal.
“And it doesn’t stop here. Although the bid has now been submitted we are continuing to develop our ideas and thinking online. In essence the embryo of the Innovation Exchange has already been formed.”
More than 500 people read the different elements of the bid as it developed and around 90 contributions were made and incorporated into the final bid.
This three year Innovation Exchange Programme aims to support innovation in the delivery of public services by the Third Sector in partnership with Government.
The bid partners are: RNUK Ltd, Delib Ltd, nfp 2.0, Partnerships Online, UnLtd and Warwick Business School. Contributors included Policy Unplugged, Sheffield Hallam University, National Rural Exchange, Common Purpose, Team Rubber, Work Empowerment Foundation, Unique Social Enterprise, Matrix Research & Consultancy, Switch On Shropshire, Local Level and others.
Successful contracts will be awarded in June 2007. We’ll keep you posted.
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