About the Mutuals Information Service
The Mutuals Information Service Website is for anyone interested in setting up or finding out more about public service mutuals. Mutualisation gives committed public sector workers the autonomy to do what they do best, providing the freedom to innovate and improve their services.
The Mutuals Information Service Hotline provides professional support to new and developing mutuals so they can overcome the barriers to growth.
A public service mutual is an organisation which has left the public sector (also known as ‘spinning out’) but continues to deliver public services. Mutuals are organisations in which employee control plays a significant role in their operation.
There are many forms of mutual - you might think of major employee-owned businesses like John Lewis or building societies such as Nationwide which are fully or majority owned by their members. But mutuals can also be co-operatives or social enterprises.
For more information, find out How to set up a Mutual or read our selection of inspiring Case Studies.
Public service mutuals
Public service mutuals are playing a vital role in reforming public services. They empower employees to redesign services around the needs of their users and communities, driving innovation and increasing productivity. Already about £1 billion worth of community healthcare services are delivered by public service mutuals, and the number of mutuals and the range of services they deliver are both growing rapidly.
Cabinet Office defines a public service mutual as an organisation which has spun out of the public sector, continues to deliver public services (under contract) and has a high degree of employee control.
Cabinet Office is encouraging and supporting the establishment of public service mutuals:
- There is support available from the Mutual Support Programme, a £10m programme that comprises a website, dedicated telephone hotline and the funds. Please visit the Mutuals Information Service website and follow us on Twitter at @mutualsgovuk for more information.
- The Government is rolling out new ‘Rights to Provide’ across public services, so that employees can request or bid to take over the services they deliver.
- The Mutuals Taskforce, chaired by Professor Julian Le Grand, launched its report ‘Public Service Mutuals – the Next Steps’in June 2012. The Report sets out the case for mutuals, the significant progress achieved to date and a set of recommendations for progressing the agenda.
- The Mutuals Team is taking a particular focus on some specific areas where there is great potential for employees to form public service mutuals - local authority services including adult and children’s social care and social work, fire services and probation services. We would particularly like to hear from anyone – employees, service commissioners or chief executives - interested in setting up mutuals in these service areas or who wants to engage with our work.
- Cabinet Office committed in its Business Plan for 2012-2015 to “Develop and publish a forward look of emerging public service mutuals across England.” This pipeline includes around 100 established and developing projects, such as the Mutual Pathfinders, that either meet, or are working towards the Cabinet Office’s definition of a public service mutual.
If you are part of an emerging or established public service mutual, are interested in receiving mentoring or in becoming a mentor to a fledgling mutual, or for any other queries, do please get in touch at mutualsteamcorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk.
How to set up a Mutual?
The following pages are intended to assist anyone who is seeking to set up a public service mutual, helping to turn your vision into a reality.
While each journey will be different, there are a number of common steps. This guide breaks them down into the five stages below. This is not to suggest that they are necessarily distinct or should be approached as a strict sequence – inevitably, you will have to manage multiple tasks and revise your thinking as your organisation develops
This guide is by no means definitive or exhaustive, but will hopefully provide a useful starting point. Moreover, one of the key aims is to signpost all of the additional support that is available.
For people interested in spinning out through the Right to Provide,
further information and guidance can also be found here.
To be able to operate successfully, your business might need to acquire assets or capital equipment. These assets may include office furniture, computer equipment or service equipment.
It is essential to have a realistic, working business plan when you're starting up a business.
A business plan is a written document that describes a business, its objectives, its strategies, the market it is in and its financial forecasts. It has many functions, from securing external funding to measuring success within your business.
This 2009 guide sets out the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, (commonly known as the TUPE regulations.) It is not a legal document.
A practical guide written by the the Social Enterprise Coalition for those public sector staff who are thinking about spinning out into a mutual or setting up a social enterprise.
This document produced by the Government Actuary's Department is a broad overview of some of the things to be considered under the Fair Deal for Pensions.
It also contains links to further information and contact email address for more detailed questions.
This guide aims to provide a "high level ‘roadmap’ for the journey from public to employee ownership", and also features a short glossary of key terms.
This guide has been compiled by a number of bodies:
The Baxi Partnership
BACK OFFICE SUPPORT
Co-operative Admin Solutions CIC (part of the Community Empowerment Group) offer a range of low cost "back office" support services, including payroll, so that you can concentrate upon your core activities. You can down load a catalogue of their services and the current price list from http://www.empower.coop/admin/admin.htm
Commissioning
On 26th July 2012 Francis Maude, Minister for Cabinet Office, wrote to local authority Chief Executives and elected leaders to raise awareness of the opportunities to spin out services as public service mutuals, and the support available. The Mutuals Team is keen to hear from local authorities considering or developing mutuals. You can contact us at mutualsteamcorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk
This report from the independent Mutuals Taskforce reinforces the case for mutuals delivering public services, outlines the significant progress made to date and set outs recommendations to bolster a rapid expansion of mutuals.
This paper presents the conclusions of Department of Health and Cabinet Office's action research project to assist social enterprises and commissioners to understand better the wider impacts of service delivery and quantify the value in monetary terms.
The paper sets out the huge amount that has been achieved in the eight months since the publication of the Open Public Service (OPS) White Paper in summer 2011, and focuses on the next stages.
Written by the Social Enterprise Coalition, this guide is designed to dispel some common misconceptions that surround the public sector procurement/commissioning processes.
- Read more about Working with the Public Sector: Busting the Myths – a guide for social enterprises and contracting bodies on procurement and commissioning for social value
Legal
Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has welcomed Graeme Nuttall’s independent Review of Employee Ownership
This guide aims to provide a "high level ‘roadmap’ for the journey from public to employee ownership", and also features a short glossary of key terms.
This guide has been compiled by a number of bodies.
Mutuals Taskforce Publication
This report from the independent Mutuals Taskforce reinforces the case for mutuals delivering public services, outlines the significant progress made to date and set outs recommendations to bolster a rapid expansion of mutuals.
This briefing paper sets out the case for public service mutuals, drawing on evidence from across the public and private sector, including internationally.
Procurement
This report from the independent Mutuals Taskforce reinforces the case for mutuals delivering public services, outlines the significant progress made to date and set outs recommendations to bolster a rapid expansion of mutuals.
This document written by Stephen Allott, the Crown Representative for Small & Medium Enterprises, is a list of helpful observations based on the successful bids from SMEs for Government contracts.
A year ago the Prime Minister and the Minister for Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, launched a package of radical measures to increase opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Written by the Social Enterprise Coalition, this guide is designed to dispel some common misconceptions that surround the public sector procurement/commissioning processes.
This paper looks at high level procurement options in relation to the creation of new Public Service Mutuals.It is not legal or commercial advice.
Stakeholder communications
The Cabinet Office is setting up a Mutuals Ambassadors Programme designed to drive forward the creation and growth of mutuals on the ground.
We want to find 20 of the most inspiring individuals in the public service mutual movement - we need people who are proactive and committed.
Written by Social Enterprise UK, this is a guide aimed at those working in local authorities who are interested in social enterprise.
It has practical advice on how teams in local authorities can work engage with social enterprises for the benefit of local communities.
This guide, produced by IPA, aims to provide a brief overview of engagement and show how partnership, information and consultation, representation and voice relate to engagement.
Tax
A summary of measures in the 2012 Budget that impact on the Public Service Mutuals agenda.
This booklet, created by HMRC, contains advice specifically for those setting up a new business. It also has a number of links and contact numbers for those with more specific queries or in need of further tax advice.
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It is essential to have a realistic, working business plan when you're starting up a business.
A business plan is a written document that describes a business, its objectives, its strategies, the market it is in and its financial forecasts. It has many functions, from securing external funding to measuring success within your business.
This guide, created by the Department of Health, has a number of helpful hints for those wishing to start their journey under the Right to Provide.
TUPE
This 2009 guide sets out the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, (commonly known as the TUPE regulations.) It is not a legal document.
Thinking of creating a new Co-operative or Mutual?
Converting a private enterprise into a Co-operative or Mutual?
Owner of a private business considering gifting or selling the enterprise to your workforce so that it can continue?
The Community Empowerment Group offer specialist support.
Community Empowerment Ltd
Co-operative Service Solutions CIC
Co-operative Education Solutions CIC
Co-operative Admin Solutions CIC
portal page:
www.empower.coop
