Our size, level and range of experience mean that BIG has undoubted expertise in grant-making. Nevertheless, we often contract with or make grants to other organisations to undertake at least part of our grant-making (through Trusts, award partners and portfolio programmes).
We are interested in reviewing and consolidating our understanding of the benefits that outsourcing of this sort brings to us, to partners who take on this type or grant-making, and to the groups that are ultimately funded.
In 2011 we commissioned a partnership between the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) and Sheffield Hallam University and Baker Tilly to consider:
- whether and how outsourcing helps us to reach those most in need more effectively;
- how outsourcing can enhance and support learning; and
- how we can best make decisions about outsourcing grant-making, balancing such issues as cost, reach and risk.
Among other findings, the report from the study notes that:
- costs of outsourcing programmes may often be higher, for a number of reasons. But over time, BIG has improved its approach to costing and planning such programmes.
- partners in outsourcing may often offer specialist expertise or access to networks that BIG lacks
- managing relationships with partners is a crucial factor for success
- decisions about whether to outsource are not simple and rely on consideration of a range of factors.
The report makes a number of recommendations, notably about the importance of carefully considering a number of critical areas in deciding whether to outsource, about the central importance of developing and maintaining good relationships with partners, and about ensuring that staff working with outsourced programmes (particularly Trusts) receive better training in the nature of working agreements and responsibilities.
The study also involved the development of a piece of software to help guide project teams through consideration of whether to outsource new programmes.
Please contact us if you have any comments or questions.