The Support Package

The support will take existing providers through a series of steps and will include, as and when appropriate for each provider;

• Getting to know your business, your involvement in the business and your desired outcomes;
• An independent and fair valuation of your business and specialist tax advice undertaken by a suitably experienced accountancy firm.
• Further details about the four “permitted models” and support to consider the most suitable for your circumstances;
• Explore the feasibility of and financing options for a proposed re-establishment of your business model and purchase of your assets by a “new” social enterprise;
• A route map of how you might re-establish your business as your chosen model;
• Advice, guidance and training on governance matters such as board recruitment, policies and procedures, stakeholder engagement and future sustainability;
• Support to register / re-establish as your chosen legal form if you wish toproceed.

From our previous experience of running a pilot project with a small number of providers, we are fully aware that each business will face individual and specific challenges, and our approach will be to work with you to help overcome these and find solutions.

We will also have direct access to Welsh Government and CIW which will enable us to raise specific questions, confidentially, to help give
us clarity on matters currently unknown to us all.

Confidentiality and Reporting to Welsh Government

Since the project is funded by Welsh Government, we will be required to submit quarterly progress reports to show the extent to which the funding purposes and outcomes of the project are being achieved and reasons for any shortfall.

The outcomes that we are required to report against are:

• No of enquiries
• No of businesses supported to look at re-establishment options
• No of jobs safeguarded
• No of businesses completing re-establishment

We will also be required to:

• Include case studies of the support provided but case studies will be
  anonymised in a way that individual businesses cannot be identified.
  However, if you do go on to successfully re-establish your business as
  one of the approved models, then we would likely want to name you in
  a case study without providing commercially sensitive information. We
  would discuss and agree the content with you.
• Generically, specify key challenges faced by the supply chain and
  partners.
• Report direct feedback from clients regarding the support provided.
  Again this can be anonymised.

Any commercially sensitive information you share with us will be dealt with
and held in accordance with GDPR .

On a Final Note

Our purpose is not to “push” anyone down a route that is not feasible or appealing to owners. We aim to provide meaningful support and advice for participants on the programme that are seriously considering re-establishing as a “not-for-profit” model and who want to better understand their individual options and the barriers that need to be overcome. Ultimately, we hope to be able to work alongside partners such as Welsh Government, 4Cs and CIW to avoid losing good businesses in Wales who provide stable and positive outcomes for children.

It is unchartered territory for us all and we will do our best to help navigate the challenges if this is of interest to you. If you would like to hear from us or have further questions about the support programme, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us: rhys.williams@cwmpas.coop / branwen.ellis@cwmpas.coop