Click here to download a PDF of the draft paper.

Scaling up your business: expansion models for spin-outs

The Transition Institute is delighted to present a new Starting Point Paper on the theme of Scaling up your business: expansion models for spin-outs (draft), authored by Dan Gregory.

A spin-out is an organisation that has transitioned out of a public sector body to become an independent public service provider, often under an initial contract with their parent authority.

So far, much of the attention of policymakers has been focused on the transitional journey to independent provision (exploring TUPE transfer and procurement issues, for example). But whilst the journey of setting up a viable social business can be challenging and treacherous, transition is merely a prequel to the longer-term vision of building a sustainable business delivering improved public services.

Whilst adapting to their new found independence and facing up to a more commercial environment, many ambitious spin-outs will be focused on the potential for business growth. This paper focuses on a range of models for scaling up and expansion, drawing lessons from strategies adopted by existing spin-outs. In doing so, it aims to further share the available evidence and experience of the potential benefits of the spin-out model, informed and grounded by real-world examples across a range of sectors.

Note: This is a revised, further developed version of the draft paper circulated and discussed at our fourth spin out camp event, which took place in Northampton on the 26th July. You can read the event press release here.

You can also contribute to this paper by leaving your thoughts, comments and spin-out experiences in the box below: