4th May: Transition Institute’s Weekly Roundup!

Happy Friday all!

Here are some of the key stories relating to public sector spin-outs and new models of public services:

Monday 30^th:

• Cabinet Office – First central government mutual launched: MyCSP Ltd, the first ‘John Lewis style’ business created from a central government service.
• Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, writes for The Telegraph: Ending the state monopoly over public services – “The Coalition government is giving public sector workers real control over the services they provide.”
• Article by Jack Glonek in the Local Government Chronicle: Cross sector spin-outs can help councils buy for good.

Tuesday 1^st:

• PublicNet – Move to extend public service delivery by mutuals gets boost.
• Transition Institute’s blog – Social value commissioning: towards an effective implementation. Highlights from our latest piece of research (to be released shortly).
• Article by Clare Allan in the Guardian: How can it be right to profit from disability? – “Disability living allowance is being replaced with personal independence payment assessments, and private companies are queueing up to cash in”

Wednesday 2^nd:

• Peter Holbrook, CEO of Social Enterprise UK, comments on Clare Allan’s piece making the case for social enterprises in delivering public services; read his letter here.
• Civil Society Finance – Investment firm announces £1.3m grant to develop social impact bonds globally. Omidyar Network will fund Social Finance in the UK with around £493,436 over two years.

Thursday 3^rd:

• Allison Ogden-Newton, Transition Institute’s chair, writes for the Guardian Professional Social Enterprise Network on the London mayoral election: Boris or Ken: which of London’s Leviathans should social enterprise choose?
• Article by Steven Howell in the Guardian Professional Public Leaders Network: Let the local authority clamour for more devolved power begin – “After the elections, government in the big cities will undergo major change, while other areas look on with interest”
• Article by Richard Vize in the Guardian Professional Healthcare Network: Can managers create a devolved NHS?

Friday 4^th:

• Third Sector, Policy & Politics – Debate: Nick Hurd and Gareth Thomas. The Minister for Civil Society and his shadow go head-to-head on two years of coalition government.

Have a lovely weekend!