And now a word for our sponsors

And the word is – none.

The PIElink has had no sponsors; no grant, no income.
No ties, no corporate loyalties or party line; complete freedom to 'tell it as we see it'.

And therefore, no future.  Not at least, if it carried on like this.

With the retirement – long threatened, long delayed (1) - of the editor, Robin, who turns 77 this year, there would be no-one to replace him, or maintain this site.

A new stage

It does not need to all stop immediately. Access to the PIElink could still remain free for all, and use of the Library for registered members, for at least another year or two. It's really not very expensive to do so.

But the work of producing new material here would largely cease, with no-one doing that work; and no more forum discussions. Even the growth in numbers may stall with no-one to register and welcome new members.

There would be no future, without new - and younger - people coming forward to take it on; and ideally a small team, willing and able to do it. We had to do something else.

 

We have had a small group of enthusiastic volunteers, keen to continue the forums programme through 2024 and 2025 and beyond. But to co-ordinate this, and eventually to expand the activities beyond what one man could do, to meet the needs and to spread the word - for this there needs to be some form of income, to pay someone to produce it.

The attempt to create a new, independent not-for-profit company, PIEPR (HERE)  to take over the running of the PIElink - and income from the PIE Abacus and other sources - has so far failed to bear fruit. With no resources to have the time to bid for grants and other funding, we cannot even 'throw a six to get on the board'.

Yet there is huge potential still un-tapped in a dynamic approach, a website and a community of practice such as this, that can go far beyond even what Robin, as just one individual, was able to manage. (For an outline of the potential range of activity yet to come, see 'The future of PIEs and the PIElink': HERE)

But there is, in fact, now a source of income, a business model and even a fairly detailed business development plan that allows for the PIElink to continue to be free to all frontline staff (and users, managers. commissioners, researchers) and to employ a small staff team.

There is even the prospect, in the medium term, of making a significant profit that could then be ploughed back into the sector; and this income generation could even be greatly expanded, by developing a vocational training element, focussed on higher education.

So suddenly, after years running 'on a shoestring' there is the real possibility of a fully sustainable economic model for the PIElink, beyond Robin's retirement. If so, we can think of the last 10 years as Phase One - the 'one man band years'.

But for this to happen, we need an effective partnership with another, existing company.

For more on these prospects, see:

Company structures

  • PIElink future partner criteria: HERE
  • The option of an incubator agency : HERE
  • The Advisory Group (or 'editorial board') for the PIElink : HERE 
  • Company partnerships for significant growth :  HERE
  • The PIEPR Community Interest Company Ltd : HERE

Income via the PIE Abacus

  • The PIE Abacus : HERE
  • FAQs - Costs and sustainability: HERE
  • IP (Intellectual property) protection : HERE
  • PIRAN: HERE

Income via the vocational training model

Is this the future of vocational training? :  HERE

Is this the future of academic publishing : HERE

The homelessness sector as beneficiaries   :  HERE

................

(1) NB: Robin still claims he is "not retiring, as such. Like the Cheshire cat, the grin will remain....."

(2) We might yet find an agency coming forward with some resources of its own that decides to take the PIEs project under its wing, as an incubator partner (HERE and HERE), and even commit some of their own resources (HERE) to growing the site into more of its potential., where this is in line with their own mission and activities (HERE)

But granted the potential for sustainable income in the medium term, in a not-for-profit company there is also the potential of leveraging in funds from philanthropic investment, to help with this initial stage. We have now created such a CIC (HERE), as a vehicle for others to contribute to, in whatever way suits their own purposes.

(3) 'They"?  You might think that one person in the future could surely take over what one person (Robin) until now has done. But for the case for a minimum of three, probably six or more (f.t.e) staff, you must wait for the discussions in the advisory group.