Announcements tool - how to kill the subcontractor spam and keep everyone connected

by Daniel on 30 May, 2008 in

Update 30th May - We've cancelled deployment of the FND Announce tool as the DWP are now setting up their own database. To go on the DWP database, you need to complete the Excel stencil attached to this post and e-mail it to sheffieldmayfieldcourt.flexiblenewdeal@dwp.gsi.gov.uk. The DWP's invitation letter for the database is here and some other ways to get yourself heard can be found here.

We've been working on a clever tool for both primes and subcontractors over the past two days, and could do with some feedback on whether people would find it useful.

The problem
The only way for potential primes and subcontractors to find each other right now is through the briefing attendees list published on the DWP's website. This is a fairly haphazard way of handling information, and is likely to lead to the same thing that happened with Pathways to Work: primes receiving 30 emails a day through a variety of sources, often completely inappropriate because somebody's mailed the entire list of attendees. This leads to confusion and badness.

The solution
Primes sign up to Districts that interest them. They can then post notices to potential subcontractors who are also signed up to the District. These notices are collated and sent to all signed-up subcontractors, who can manage their preferences and contact details to make sure the right person gets the right information at the right time.

Likewise, subcontractors can post notices to potential prime contractors in a District. These are also collated and sent to the signed-up primes, who can manage their preferences and contact details to make sure the right person gets the right information at the right time, as a single e-mail rather than 30 separate ones fired into various parts of the organisation.

Additionally, all of the notices will be kept on a website so that anyone can immediately see which primes and subcontractors have posted their interest in a contract. This means that information is persistent and will not get lost in an unfortunate inbox accident.

So, what do you think of this idea? I'll be talking with some primes over the next few days, and if enough of them are interested I can have it running on the Indus Delta website inside a week. As with everything else on the site, it would be entirely free, and organisations posting on the site would retain copyright on their announcements.

AttachmentSize
FND1.xls22 KB
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by src on 29 Apr, 2008

This is a very good idea! One this is badly needed

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This is a very good idea! One this is badly needed


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by MarkBagshaw on 1 May, 2008

Great idea. Sooner the better

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Great idea.  Sooner the better


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by Daniel on 7 May, 2008

We're holding off on this tool until ERSA get back to us following a meeting later this week.

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by Gareth Brydon on 8 May, 2008

I would like to echo what has already been said
This sounds like a god idea that would simplify the process of cnnecting prime ans sub contractors. Let's hope that ERSA support the idea and that it becomes a reality sooner rather than later
G

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I would like to echo what has already been said

This sounds like a god idea that would simplify the process of cnnecting prime ans sub contractors. Let's hope that ERSA support the idea and that it becomes a reality sooner rather than later

G


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by Synic on 8 May, 2008

Sounds OK but I think it may be more difficult to manage than you might think initially. Once the 'hair splitting' starts.........

But good luck. After all, something is better than nothing.

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Sounds OK but I think it may be more difficult to manage than you might think initially. Once the 'hair splitting' starts.........


But good luck. After all, something is better than nothing.


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by Daniel on 14 May, 2008

ERSA have had their meeting, so I'm going to try and get in touch shortly to see whether this tool would be useful to potential primes.

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by Daniel on 27 May, 2008

A big cheer to the DWP, who are setting up their own database of potential primes and subcontractors. If you've not received an invite e-mail, give them a shout at the address in the text below:

'Thank you for your interest in the recent Pre Qualification Questionnaire events for the flexible New Deal, held in April. As you know, following these events, the attendee’s contact details were published on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website.

To further develop this work, DWP is inviting you to complete the attached Networking Contact Sheet, which provides the opportunity for you to include information on the type of provision you deliver and your current delivery locations. This information will be used to create a networking data base. The data base will be published on the DWP website to help facilitate networking opportunities between potential Prime Contractors and Sub-contractors, including small and Third Sector organisations.

If you would like your organisations contact details to be included on this database, please complete the attached contact stencil and e-mail it to sheffieldmayfieldcourt.flexiblenewdeal@dwp.gsi.gov.uk New updated contact information is expected to be published every Friday until 7 November 2008.

Providers who supply contact information which is published on this website should note that this will not guarantee any future business or the award of a contract and that this is not an approval list or a guarantee of service quality.'

This makes the provision of an announcement tool on Indus Delta a moot point - we're here to do stuff the DWP don't, not to compete with them.

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A big cheer to the DWP, who are setting up their own database of potential primes and subcontractors. If you've not received an invite e-mail, give them a shout at the address in the text below:


'Thank you for your interest in the recent Pre Qualification Questionnaire events for the flexible New Deal, held in April.  As you know, following these events, the attendee’s contact details were published on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website. 


To further develop this work, DWP is inviting you to complete the attached Networking Contact Sheet, which provides the opportunity for you to include information on the type of provision you deliver and your current delivery locations. This information will be used to create a networking data base.  The data base will be published on the DWP website to help facilitate networking opportunities between potential Prime Contractors and Sub-contractors, including small and Third Sector organisations.


If you would like your organisations contact details to be included on this database, please complete the attached contact stencil and e-mail it to sheffieldmayfieldcourt.flexiblenewdeal@dwp.gsi.gov.uk New updated contact information is expected to be published every Friday until 7 November 2008.      


Providers who supply contact information which is published on this website should note that this will not guarantee any future business or the award of a contract and that this is not an approval list or a guarantee of service quality.'


This makes the provision of an announcement tool on Indus Delta a moot point - we're here to do stuff the DWP don't, not to compete with them.


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by Jo Greenfield on 27 May, 2008

We are part of North LIncolnshire Council and currently offer the workstep programme. Please can you consider ourselves being included on the website..

Many Thanks
Jo-Anne

Development Officer

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We are part of North LIncolnshire Council and currently offer the workstep programme.  Please can you consider ourselves being included on the website..


Many Thanks

Jo-Anne


Development Officer


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by Daniel on 27 May, 2008

Hi Jo,
You'll need to contact the DWP directly using the e-mail link in the comment above. They'll be happy to send you the form you need, which you should complete and send back to them.
Cheers,
Daniel

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You'll need to
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Hi Jo,

You'll need to contact the DWP directly using the e-mail link in the comment above. They'll be happy to send you the form you need, which you should complete and send back to them.

Cheers,

Daniel


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by Gareth Brydon on 28 May, 2008

Hello there
I'm probably missing somewthing which is obvious to everybody else but i cannot locate the aforementioned attached stencil for completion and return to DWP in Sheffield

Please point me in the right direction

Also how does this affect or contribute to the 'speed dating' events for prime and sub contractors being planned by DWP for June?

My instinct on the latter is that every little helps but absolute clarity would be appreciated

Regards
Gareth

Gareth bRydon
Divisional Manager - Outreach
Royal National College for the Blind
Hereford
01432 376318

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Hello there

I'm probably missing somewthing which is obvious to everybody else but i cannot locate the aforementioned attached stencil for completion and return to DWP in Sheffield


Please point me in the right direction


Also how does this affect or contribute to the 'speed dating' events for prime and sub contractors being planned by DWP for June?


My instinct on the latter is that every little helps but absolute clarity would be appreciated


Regards

Gareth 


Gareth bRydon

Divisional Manager - Outreach

Royal National College for the Blind

Hereford

01432 376318


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by src on 29 May, 2008

I would like this information for the stencil and is theer any details re 'speed dating' for prime and subs I am feeling a bit lonly and looking for new friends!!!!!

all the best Steve

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all the best Steve


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by Daniel on 30 May, 2008

Hallo,

I probably wasn't as clear as I could have been. Let's try again.

  1. To go on the DWP database, you need to e-mail sheffieldmayfieldcourt.flexiblenewdeal@dwp.gsi.gov.uk and ask them to send you the stencil.
  2. The third sector partnership database I was referring to is for London only, at http://www.lvstc.org.uk/partnership_portal.php - However, they don't seem to have a database for flexible New Deal, strangely.
  3. The speed dating is due to happen at the welfare-to-work conference on 25th/26th June in Birmingham. I believe you need to be a delegate to attend the event, which is embarrassingly expensive.
  4. Finally, it seems the DWP have given an organisation called Tendering for Care some funding to run workshops for third sector organisations in June. You can find their webpage here.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you'd like any more guidance on this...

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I probably wasn't as
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Hallo,


I probably wasn't as clear as I could have been. Let's try again.


    

  1. To go on the DWP database, you need to e-mail sheffieldmayfieldcourt.flexiblenewdeal@dwp.gsi.gov.uk and ask them to send you the stencil.

    2. 

  2. The third sector partnership database I was referring to is for London only, at http://www.lvstc.org.uk/partnership_portal.php - However, they don't seem to have a database for flexible New Deal, strangely.

    3. 

  3. The speed dating is due to happen at the welfare-to-work conference on 25th/26th June in Birmingham. I believe you need to be a delegate to attend the event, which is embarrassingly expensive.

    4. 

  4. Finally, it seems the DWP have given an organisation called Tendering for Care some funding to run workshops for third sector organisations in June. You can find their webpage here.

    5. 



Hope that helps. Let me know if you'd like any more guidance on this...


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