Bill Midgley column

Nov 11 2003 By Bill Midgley, The Journal

Last week I was asked to give a presentation to a conference of professional fundraisers in the North-East.

What impressed me was the highly professional and business approach that the individuals of these organisations took to their role.

Indeed, probably a dedication and commitment that many in the wider business community could learn from.

It seems, however, that there is a difference between what is often described as the voluntary, or third sector, and business - and that those in the former area are not real jobs.

The truth is that these so-called voluntary organisations are businesses in their own right, and require all the management techniques that any other manufacturing or service industry sector organisation would require.

Such organisations not only contribute to the social needs of our regional economy, but also to economic growth. I chair one such organisation which has doubled its turnover in the past 12 months and has grown its staff from 56 to 89. If that had been a `proper' business I have little doubt there would have been much trumpeting of the success, and financial help offered, with the jobs created being added to the new jobs total in the area.

These organisations are deserving of the same help that any other newly established or rapidly growing company would expect to receive from business development agencies. Many are companies, albeit limited by guarantee, so why the difference?

The day of the amateur do-gooder or the committee of the so called "great and good" may not entirely have passed, and in some instances still have their place. In reality, what we have are modern, thriving and well-run organisations, needing and deserving of support, and taking their full part in the business community.

There is an often-held view that all the third sector does is recycle regional funds. That may be partly true, but it could be argued that that's pretty much all the retail sector, or indeed in some respects the manufacturing sector, does. But anything which makes money go round should be welcome to the economy.

Tourism and the exciting work around culture in the region is seen as having tremendous potential for the area. Particularly so, the voluntary sector can contribute so much in a wide variety of ways.

The region ignores talent at its peril. We have a strong track record on that issue, and I hope that businesses, which are in real terms far from voluntary, are recognised in their true light and worthy of the assistance that any other part of the business community would expect to receive.