Micro Enterprises and Putting People First in

Wokingham

James BurgessCommissioning and Development ManagerMike StillmanPPF Commissioning Project Officer

Why Micro Enterprises?

• Market Development a key objective of Wokingham’s PPF transformation Project

• OptionsExisting providers offering new servicesNew providers offering the same kinds of

serviceNew providers offering new types of service

Existing Providers

• Mostly medium and large scale

• Mostly fairly conservative

• Block contracts for traditional services

• Many self funders

• Focused on “critical needs”

New Providers

• Need more variety but not easy for new providers to set up.

• Small scale providers could be way forward as they can be flexible and innovative

• NAAPS micro enterprises project offered support to investigate this as an achievable and low risk way forward.

How did we do it?

• Met with Angela Catley – NAAPS Head of Projects who is providing consultancy support

• Set up Micro Enterprises mini-project• Obtained staff resource to manage the project• Set aside £15,000 for start up grants• Visited NAAPS pilot site in Oldham• Held awareness events for stakeholders and

potential providers• Set target of 5 new providers by April 2010

What has worked?• Involvement of NAAPS

• Expertise and support. • Learning from their pilots. • Opportunity to meet micro-providers in Oldham• Credibility of project – one of first outside pilots

• Grants • Key to generating interest. • Gave a high profile to the project as a way to

support to local businesses during down turn.• Real impact on market place

Challenges

• Lots of effort required to publicise project.• Most interest from newly set up enterprises

rather than from potential providers.• Time and expertise needed to help businesses

develop.• Council processes in relation to commissioning

and contracting not friendly for small businesses.• Area of well paid high employment. Means fewer

risk takers, and income expectations are high.

Who have we helped?

• Three low level home care providers

• A new footcare service

In the pipeline

• A service supporting older asian women

• A further low level domestic support service

What else have we done?• Unit costing to allow people with personal budgets

to get accurate costs of in house services.• Contracts for 2 external brokerage providers.• Developing budget management options –

Individual Service Funds and Managed Service Funds.

• Supporting People Personal Budget pilot.• Signposting service.

What else are we working on?

• User guide to budget management options and safe commissioning.

• Accreditation of brokers.

• Exploration of possible “prevention brokerage” service.

Contacts

James BurgessCommissioning and Development Manager

james.burgess@wokingham.gov.uk

Tel: 0118 974 6235

Mike StillmanPPF Commissioning Project Officer

mike.stillman@wokingham.gov.uk

Tel: 0118 908 8225