Business Development

 The Business Development team was re-established in June 2012 with central government funding as part of the West London Collaborating for Change (C4C) programme. The objective of this eighteen month programme is to help the local voluntary and community sector (VCS) to become more resilient and sustainable and less reliant on grant funding. The primary focus of the new team is to develop and implement two Collaborating for Change (C4C) projects across the five boroughs within the West London programme: Hillingdon, Hounslow, Ealing, Harrow and Brent.

 
The West London VCS Business Support Hub project is to design and implement a service to provide support services for frontline voluntary and community organisations. The specific services are still being developed, but might include IT advice and support, joint purchasing, support with funding bids and commissioning tenders, community research, HR services and Finance or Accounting services. The ongoing services will be delivered by a new Social Enterprise. The project is currently in a planning and preparation phase with the first phase of services expected to be available from October 2012.

The second project is the West London VCS ‘Globals and Locals’ project. This project will significantly increase the support that West London voluntary and community organisations receive from businesses, especially non-cash support such as pro bono services, use of facilities and equipment etc. This project is also currently in a planning and preparation phase with new partnerships being brokered from October 2012. A major event linking the business sector with the community and voluntary sector is being planned for late November or early December 2012.

In addition to these two major projects, the Business Development team is engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, networks and partnerships to ensure that Hillingdon voluntary and community organisations have ample opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, all the new opportunities that are available, especially the other West London projects within the Collaborating for Change (C4C) programme.

Email C4C@HAVS.org.uk or call 01895 442722.