Releasing funds from the mutual support programme

The Mutuals Support Programme (MSP) is complemented by the Mutuals Information Service (MIS) which PA delivers on behalf of the Cabinet Office. MIS serves as the first point of contact for organisations and individuals interested in delivering public services through a mutual organisation. These types of organisation, such as employee-led mutuals, co-operatives, social enterprises or mutual joint ventures, form a cornerstone of the UK government’s drive for economic growth; it has set an aspiration for one million employees to be in public-sector mutuals by 2015.

PA administers the triage process which directs users to appropriate guidance and support, and manages the overall delivery of the service and leads a consortium comprising the Employee Ownership Association, Co-operatives UK, Social Enterprise UK, Baxi Partnership and the Office for Public Management. The members of the consortium have extensive expertise in supporting and advising services that are seeking to mutualise.