Claire Baxter

Fusion21 is a social enterprise that promotes public procurement as a means to save money and create social outcomes. Working nationally, Fusion21 links spending programmes across numerous organisations, to the creation of training opportunities and sustainable jobs for local people. As well as generating social value this model improves efficiency in the procurement process and generates significant cash savings. By using a small part of the savings generated through the procurement process, Fusion21 are able to fully fund their training and employment programmes ensuring that the model is not reliant on public funding and is wholly self sustaining. Since 2002 they have gained national recognition for their collaborative approach; delivering c£50m savings through the procurement process, creating over 1000 permanent jobs, and generating an estimated financial benefit in excess of c£32m; through regular paid work and reductions in benefit claims. Their aim is to help create the conditions where it is easier to deliver efficiency savings, to control costs, create jobs, train people and share best practice. They work by collaborating with social landlords, residents, local agencies, contractors and suppliers to deliver a wide range of programmes, skills training courses and commissioned consultancy projects. Fusion21 is a social enterprise that invests any surplus back into the delivery of social outcomes and creation of social value across the country. Their model has gained widespread aclaim and has been recognised in the following awards: Winning the first ever Housing Corporation Gold Award for 'Innovation In Procurement' 2006. Winner of Women in Construction Awards 2008 'Best Training Scheme'. Winner of Women in Construction Awards 2009 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. Winner of the HCA Awards 2010 'Investing in Skills'. Winner of the Regeneration & Renewal Awards 2011 ' Boosting A Local Economy'. Winner of the GO Procurement Awards 2013 'Procurement Innovation'. They work by collaborating with clients, residents, contractors and suppliers to deliver a wide range of planned maintenance programmes, skills training courses and commissioned consultancy projects.