1. Why it makes a difference being
a mutual
23 June 2012
Helen Milner
CEO - Online Centres Foundation
slideshare.net/helenmilner

2. Online Centres Foundation
OCF is a staff-owned mutual and social
enterprise
We deliver public value and all surplus
generated is re-invested in our social aims,
ensured through an asset lock
OCF delivers the contract to support the UK
online centres network

3. Our vision
To deliver large scale social action in
thousands of local communities so
that everyone can take part in a fully
networked nation

4. Our values

5. A national organisation
We lead, coordinate and support a national network of
4,300 local venues
We provide:
• A learning website for people new to the internet
• A web-searchable database of 4,300 community
venues, available as an API and widget
• National campaigns and support to local events
• Training webinars/grants for volunteers & staff
• Some grants to c. 500 centres & outreach activity
• National partnerships with media and others

6. Pubs A barn
Community centres and events
Cafes
… and churches, libraries, mosques, youth groups, mobile
3,800 Community Partners + 500 Access Points

7. Local partners do
this:

8. A “Bigger Life”

9. The internet makes you happier than
money
The BCS research found that:
‘IT has a direct positive impact on life
satisfaction, even when controlling for
income and other factors known to be
important in determining well-being’
Source: The Information Dividend: Why IT
makes you ‘happier’, BCS, The Chartered
Institute for IT by Trajectory Partnership,
September 2010

10. Everyday use is exploding: a bigger divide
Percentage UK population use of the internet
Source: ONS up to Q3 2011

11. 88% people feel more confident
79% think they are more independent
after they have got help to use the
internet
UK online centres progression survey
Oct – Dec 2011

13. The question is not how can we use
technology …..
… it’s what do we want to achieve
and how can technology help us to
achieve it?

14. 1m online* for £30m: Saving £157m
*Through UK online centres, April 2010 – July 2012
1 April 2010 – 17 June 2012
1 April 2010 – 27 April
2012

15. Local
+ Technology
+ Scale

16. lots of provisos, beta launch July 2012
Expanding our
deliverables
ot final
ft, n
, dra
alfa

17. How did we become a mutual?
• 2000: ICT Learning Centres (in DfE)
• 2002: Renamed UK online centres (in DfE)
• 2003: Ufi (learndirect) asked to manage the
network
• 2006: A separate independent division within Ufi
• June 2011: Tender issued for managing the UK
online centres network
• December 2011: Online Centres Foundation
started delivering the contract

18. Our mutual structure
• A company limited by guarantee, with an asset
lock
• Members are the staff and external Board
Directors – to ensure equality of voice
• Membership was optional, and all staff joined
instantly
• Membership guarantees the company for £1

19. Our Governance
• 32 staff and 5 external Board Directors are
all Members of the company
• Board is made up of:
• 3 elected staff members, & the CEO
• 4 externally recruited Board Directors, &
the Chair (Lord Jim Knight)
• Annual AGM
• 6-weekly Member meetings

20. Why does it matter?
• Although very open leadership culture before, still
had “rules” (HR, expenses, etc) handed down from
parent organisation and Treasury
• Total responsibility is now ours – that’s good, staff
know decisions can be discussed and influenced
• Money feels like our own – so we are much more
careful about spending (eg expenses)
• Big example – office move (saving £20k+)
• Staff propose ideas to spend savings – eg new
grant programme for smaller centres

21. “working for UK online centres, I really feel
invested, not only in my own role but in the
whole organisation. There’s a very strong
sense of collaboration and cooperation. It
really feels like everyone’s voice is heard and
everyone’s opinion matters”
a member of OCF staff

22. The magic ingredient is PEOPLE

23. Thank You
helen@ukonlinecentres.com
@helenmilner on twitter
Slideshare.net/helenmilner
www.ukonlinecentres.com
www.go-on.co.uk