CompeteFor - Success Story - "Action Action"

Case Study by: COMPETEFOR

Action Acton, the West London based charity and social enterprise, uses CompeteFor to access opportunities listed by the London Development Agency (LDA) and other funders. They were recently awarded a contract to deliver the Personal Best programme in the London Borough of Ealing. Action Acton has over 30 staff and volunteers based in six centres focused on supporting community and economic regeneration in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow and surrounding West London boroughs.

They work in partnership with other charities and private and public sector bodies to support disadvantaged and unemployed individuals into education, training and employment. Action Acton signed up to CompeteFor when they heard that the LDA and Greater London Authority would be using it to advertise future procurement and funding opportunities. John Blackmore, CEO, explains, ‘We’ve found the whole system to be very positive. The registration process is straightforward and if you struggle, help is clearly available.

In particular we find the email alerts incredibly useful.’ Any business that has published its business profile on CompeteFor can elect to receive email alerts when relevant contracts appear on the system. It was through these alerts that Action Acton discovered the LDA was inviting expressions of interest to expand delivery of a volunteer training programme. Action Acton was chosen to deliver the second round of Personal Best projects in West London.

They provided information, advice and guidance support and training for 200 unemployed participants helping them gain new skills in preparation for volunteering in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, participating in work experience and accessing jobs. John says, ‘We’re very supportive of CompeteFor and appreciate the transparency it brings to the procurement process. We’ve been very successful with the system having won one contract and been short-listed for others, so we always recommend to our local businesses that they register. In fact, we like it so much we’re in the process of incorporating it into our own procurement processes!’.