Other partners in the European-funded programme included the Plus Group and the Riverside Group.
The aim of the initiative has been to help third sector organisations identify possible growth areas, and to provide support to help them take advantage of these new opportunities. Organisations that have benefited from the MSPV have included social enterprises providing services that benefit the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profits for owners and shareholders.
The initiative has also supported community groups and voluntary organisations wishing to move away from grant dependency and to focus more on income generation.
The support available from the initiative has included networking events at which members were able to meet key public sector buyers, training tailored to the specific needs of the sector and support to help organisations become ‘tender ready’.
Other MSPV services included help with the development of consortium arrangements enabling organisations to join forces to bid for major contracts, one-to-one business development advice and support and the creation of a new Confederation of Social Entrepreneurship for Merseyside.
