The Innovation Exchange is being led by a unique partnership between The Innovation Unit, acevo and Headshift. Together we combine extensive knowledge of the third sector, its strengths, weaknesses and dynamics, knowledge and expertise about how social innovation arises, supported and taken to scale and technical expertise in the support of social networking, communications, knowledge management and learning. The Innovation Exchange received initial funding from the Office of the Third Sector in the The Cabinet Office and has subsequently been supported by NESTA, through the creation of the NESTA Innovation Exchange Fund. The Innovation Exchnage is also supported by Community Alliance, UnLtd, The Hub, Adventure Capital Fund, Futurebuilders and the School for Social Entrepreneurs.
The Innovation Unit was set up by legislation and launched by the Prime Minister in 2002. Its purpose was to foster innovation in education. Since then it has led the government’s innovation agenda on behalf of around 26,000 schools and their users. It is now a not-for-profit social business working to promote innovation in a range of different sectors for public ends. The Innovation Unit acts as a catalyst for change, drawing on talent from both the public and private sectors. A key element of its work is to combine the expertise of practitioners and the insights of users with the ambition of policy makers.
Acevo is the professional association for third sector chief executives, with 2000 members. It supports leaders in the sector through activities that connect, develop and represent them. In recent years, acevo has led the debate on public service reform and the third sector, undertaking considerable research into third sector innovation and practical support for innovators in the sector.
Headshift is a professional social software consulting and development company, which has rapidly emerged as the UK market leader in this specialist sector. Headshift works with a range of knowledge-based organisations in both the corporate and government sectors to create successful online communication projects that exploit the power of social networking.
The Office of the Third Sector leads work across government to support the environment for a thriving third sector (voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, charities, cooperatives and mutuals), enabling the sector to campaign for change, deliver public services, promote social enterprise and strengthen communities.
The Office of the Third Sector was created in May 2006, incorporating the responsibilities of the Active Communities Directorate in the Home Office, and the Social Enterprise Unit in the Department for Trade and Industry. We are part of the Cabinet Office, at the centre of government in the Cabinet Office in recognition of the increasingly important role the third sector plays in both society and the economy.
