Birmingham’s Third Sector
Employment, Skills and Training Network
Vision
Third Sector Organisations to be at the forefront of addressing disadvantage and
advancing equity and social inclusion, by raising the aspirations, skills and employability
and economic activity levels of disadvantaged communities through quality learning and
employment training provision
Mission
To enable Third Sector organisations in Birmingham to identify, bid for, develop and
deliver Public Sector learning and employment support contracts.
The Objectives of the Best Network will be to:

Be an independent not-for profit structure wherein the member organisations own
and control the consortium.

Access Public Sector and other funding to meet training, learning and
development needs of hard to reach clients tackling disadvantage and advancing
equity and social inclusion.

To manage the delivery of contracts via provider organisations and provide the
central administrative and contract management function through the
appointment of experienced staff.

Develop and safeguard standards and quality enabling members to deliver high
quality training and employment support activities to ensure that we meet the
rigorous quality assurance requirements.

Increase and improve the mutually beneficial co-ordination of activities between
Best Network members, including the possibility of mapping progression routes
from one member provider to another and creating an internal market for the
exchange of skills, experience, expertise, resources and outputs.

To raise the profile of the consortium to all stakeholders and showcase the work
of its members through an effective marketing and Communications Strategy.
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Birmingham’s Third Sector
Employment, Skills and Training Network
BEST Membership Form
Full membership (see Appendix 1, BEST Membership Criteria)
Full membership, is open to third sector, not for profit organisations who are based in
Birmingham with a track record of delivering learning, employment and skills public
sector contracts. This includes registered charities, social enterprises, community
interest companies by limited guarantee but NOT community interest companies by
share. Full members need to have achieved a recognized externally validated quality
standard and be committed to continuous improvement and maintaining monitoring
systems.
Associate membership
Associate membership is open to third sector, not for profit organizations that do not
currently meet the full membership requirements but want to be members of the BEST
Network.
tick
For Membership please enclose
Copy of most recent accounts
Quality Standard Certificate
Equal Opportunities Policy
Health & Safety Policy
Insurance Policies
For Associate Membership, you will need to include all of the documentation above,
except for the Quality Standards Certificate.
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Birmingham’s Third Sector
Employment, Skills and Training Network
BEST NETWORK Membership Application Form
Name of Organisation:
Contact Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Please tick which membership you are applying for
Full membership
Associate membership
Membership of the BEST Network is only available to not-for-profit organisations. Please tick the
box that reflects your organisation’s constitution:
Organisation Type
Tick
Company Limited by Guarantee
Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee
Unincorporated Association
Trust
Unincorporated Charity
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Birmingham’s Third Sector
Employment, Skills and Training Network
It is a condition of membership that full members hold externally-accredited quality standards.
I confirm that we hold the following quality accreditation(s):
Accreditation Type
Hold
Working Towards
Investors In People
ISO 9000
ISO 14001
Matrix
Other (please specify)
If your organisation does not hold some form of external quality accreditations, you may be admitted as an “associate” member, with
the right to attend and speak at meetings, but not to vote for the election of Directors etc.
What experience in delivering Learning, Employments & Skills public sector contracts
does your organisation have?
i
What are your main target client groups? ………………………………………………..
………………………………………………..
What areas of Birmingham does your organisation work in?
………………………………………………..
………………………………………………..
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Birmingham’s Third Sector
Employment, Skills and Training Network
Please use this space to describe your “track record” of providing employment and training
support in Birmingham.
Start Date
End Date
Funding Source
Value
Funder
Insurance
Do you have the following Insurance Policies
Yes/No
Public Liability Insurance
Employer Liability Insurance
Professional Indemnity Insurance (optional)
I understand that in applying for membership, that in the event of the company being wound up
we are liable to contribute a sum not exceeding £10-00 towards its liabilities.
X
For the Applicant Organisation
Please note that applications for full or associate membership are decided by the Board
of Directors who usually meet monthly. You will normally be notified of the outcome of
your application within thirty working days
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Birmingham’s Third Sector
Employment, Skills and Training Network
Membership Criteria
Appendix 1
Full membership
Full membership is open to any organisation that meets all of the following
requirements:
1. Third Sector Not for Profit Organisation, with the exception of community interest
companies by share.
2. Successful track record of delivering Learning, Employment & Skills public sector
contracts.
3. Has achieved a recognised and externally validated quality standard e.g. IIP,
Matrix, ISO9000.
4. Is based in Birmingham and is currently delivering services in Birmingham.
5. Quality Provision

Be committed to working with The Best Network to implement the
appropriate quality standards e.g. The Common Inspection Framework,
Awarding Body standards etc.

Is able to meet, or is working towards meeting, quality assurance and
continuous improvement of their provision, to a minimum of:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
Collection, analysis and use of feedback from learners/users
Collection, analysis and use of feedback from key partners including as
appropriate staff, trustees, volunteers, community representatives and
employers
Observation of staff performance
Audit and review of key documents, processes and procedures
Internal verification (where programmes are externally accredited)
Collection and analysis of data on participation and learner success
Self-assessment
Staff appraisal
6. Commitment to the Best Network

Be fully committed to the Aims and Objectives of the Best Network. Whilst
organisations may choose not to be part of a specific Best Network bid
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Birmingham’s Third Sector
Employment, Skills and Training Network
they must declare their intentions to tender independently. Organisations
cannot be part of a Best Network bid if they decide to bid independently or
be part of a competing partnership.

Is able to meet the mutually beneficial self-reliance principals of the Best
Network, which are likely to include:
i.
Attendance at Best Network meetings
ii.
Active participation in Tenders/Bids, which is likely to include staff time
costs that cannot be recouped.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
Openness and transparency about your own organisations relevant
plans and intentions
Abiding by agreements for Tenders/Bid
Positive communication and representation of the Best Network to the
wider voluntary and community sector and partners
Sharing information and, where possible resources, and participating in
joint events to improve quality.
Associate Membership
Associate membership is open to Not-for profit Third Sector organisations that do not
meet all of the above requirements. Associate members shall not have voting rights
unless agreed by the Management Group.
Removal from Membership
Recommendations for the removal from Membership (Full or Associate) will be made by
the Management Group for the decision of the Best Network Board. Removal from Full
Membership can be made for failing to meet the Commitment requirements, such as
attending meetings. Removal from Membership (Full or Associate) can be made for
other reasons, generally, but not exclusively, for not meeting the delivery requirements.
Members will be informed of the reason for removal of Membership and given the
opportunity to respond. The decision of the Best Network Board is final. Membership
will be reviewed annually by the Management Group.
1.
INTERNAL USE ONLY: Completed copy to be located in ‘Best Network Full/Assoc. Member Files.
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