This is the first stage of setting up a voluntary-sector consortium.
Good planning and discussion of key issues at this stage will lay a solid foundation for a successful consortium.
The key outcomes for this stage are:
- establishment that conditions are right for a consortium to be of value
- agreement in principle to form a consortium
- a list of founding organisations
- complete initial market analysis to scope out contract opportunities
- concerns logged and risks discussed
- the first draft of vision, mission and values (to be firmed up later in the process)
- a one-year development plan has been worked out and adopted.
At this stage you can hold a one-day workshop for interested organisations, which should go through the above outcomes.
Successful voluntary sector consortia have generally had:
- commitment from commissioners to engage with the new entity
- robust market analysis and line of sight to actual contract opportunities that are on the horizon, ideally at least a year away
- a core group of organisations willing to devote time and financial resource
- individuals with delegated decision-making authority driving forward the development
- external funding and business development support
- a culture of collaboration and willingness to take risk
- strong commitment from chairs and trustees of member organisations.