Since the start of the Business Broker pilot programme, a number of other areas have employed business brokers or are looking to set up similar projects to better engage businesses in Local Strategic Partnerships and neighbourhood renewal. This page is designed to provide more information about brokerage, particularly for areas who are looking to develop similar projects.
The Business Broker model that was tested through the Business Broker Pilot programme is based on the premise that without making business engagement somebody's job, effective private sector involvement in neighbourhood renewal and Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) will not work.
The setting up of LSPs as partnerships between all sectors - public, private, community and voluntary - recognised the role that each sector has to play in building healthy local economies and communities. However, there are often very real barriers to private sector involvement including the diversity of the sector, a real lack of time and resource (particularly among small businesses) and a distrust of public sector bureaucracy.
Business broker characteristics & roles
Brokers exact work programmes will vary depending both on the local circumstances (e.g. nature of the business community, history of business involvement etc.) and their funding. However, characteristics that business brokers tend to share include:
- A strategic focus with all activities designed to support LSP priorities as set out in Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies
- Direct link to the LSP (in the majority of cases - often with brokers seen as part of the 'staff team')
- A non-programme driven approach - they signpost to existing programmes and initiatives wherever possible rather than directly run programmes themselves (the aim is to avoid duplication wherever possible)
Similarly the role played by brokers vary, but include:
- partnership support and capacity building
- promotion and information dissemination
- support for partnership consultation
matching businesses and community organisations/partnerships in practical mutually beneficial ways
Development support for potential employers
The Partnership Academy is committed to promoting and disseminating good practice on engaging businesses in cross-sector partnership working. It has developed an Employer's Toolkit containing practical guidance on how to get started, budget planning, funding funding, sample job descriptions etc.
Partnership Academy staff are also able to provide one-to-one development support to areas. For an initial discussion or for a copy of the Employer's Toolkit please contact Susan Hinchcliffe, Partnership Academy Manager partnershipacademy@bitc.org.uk or tel: 020 7566 8650.
Funding for brokers
Brokers are, and can be, funded from a range of sources. The available sources will vary by area (area based funding streams) and to a lesser extent be dependent on the employing organisation (e.g. non-charitable organisations may find it difficult to secure funding from charitable trusts or grant-making foundations).
Current funding sources include: local Neighbourhood Renewal Funding; European Funds (Objective 1 & 2); Learning & Skills Councils; Local Authorities; New Deal for Communities; and local businesses.
