3SC - Third Sector Consortia Management LLP

Eastside in partnership with Social Investment Business, and other partners, developed 3SC - a consortia for the third sector - www.3sc.org.

The purpose was to create a contracting model that could help third sector organisations to bid for and deliver contracts in the new commissioning environment. 3SC is a direct response to the government agenda to move to longer and larger contracts, and therefore priortise private sector firms over third sector ones.

The Eastside team helped to develop 3SC and project manage its set-up phase. This included engaging partners, setting up legal structure and governance, raising funding, bidding for contracts and building an operational team.

In its first year, 3sc was awarded contracts from Department of Works and Pension worth £25m and now has become one of the largest deliverers of new jobs under the Future Jobs Fund scheme. 3SC's membership has grown to around 600 organisations, mixing large third sector players with local community-based providers.

Eastside has now taken a step back as 3SC has recruited its own permanent staffing. Eastside retains a share in 3SC and is a member of the Board.

To read more detail on Eastside MD Richard Litchfield's '3SC story', click here.