CLASP climate change network: past success, future opportunities
CLASP is a sustainability support service and network. Based in the north west but open to all interested parties across the UK, they have over 900 members.
CLASP is a not-for-profit service, providing free support for public sector organisations and their partners, on dealing with the challenges of environmental resilience, reducing energy use and renewable energy planning. Their website, resources and monthly national news digests are freely available to all. CLASP is hosted by Climate UK.
What was the problem?
CLASP was established in 2008 to assist local authorities with National Indicator targets. Its remit expanded as it successfully gained funding from a range of partners, including DECC, DCLG, Environment Agency, NWIEP and NWDA. More recently, with its funding coming to an end, CLASP was looking for a partner to help evaluate their services and to provide insight for a future strategy to enable them to become financially sustainable.
“I had worked with SE2 before so I knew they had a strong understanding of the local authority sector, and public sector networks too. An added benefit was that they were not particularly active in the north, so they brought an impartial and informed view,” explains Ailsa Gibson, CLASP Director.
What did we do?
SE2 was brought in to carry out a two-part research project:
- To look back over past activity and evaluate how members felt about the network, its services and what they valued.
- To look forward and provide recommendations for how CLASP could fund itself in an uncertain future.
Evaluation
SE2 designed an qualitative survey, hosted online, which included core questions from previous evaluations to allow direct comparisons over time. The survey was promoted to CLASP’s members; 90 responses were received (10% of CLASP members). The feedback was highly positive and members gave tangible examples of how CLASP had helped them, providing real evidence of CLASP’s impact.
Business development options
Following the survey, SE2 carried out telephone interviews with key stakeholders and ran a focus group to dig further into what users wanted, and what they thought the future landscape for climate change professionals would be like.
“There was a lot of uncertainty about the future because there was an election coming up, and we had seen big cuts in funding for environmental activities over the previous years,” explains Gibson.
At the same time, SE2 carried out research into how other public sector networks operate and are funded. This was facilitated by our expertise as secretariat for the London Boroughs Energy Group and London HECA Forum, and our past involvement with the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes. A challenge for CLASP was that it was written into its constitution that the bulk of member services should be free, so the option for charging public sector users for membership had to be ruled out.
Findings and recommendations
SE2 produced a full report which was presented to key stakeholders. The evaluation strongly demonstrated the high value placed on CLASP’s services by members, with very positive feedback and evidence of CLASP's impact.
Coupled with this, we produced a range of options to assist CLASP with their forward business planning. Alternative sources of revenue were identified along with options for charging for specific additional value-added activities, such as training. We also helped CLASP produce the messaging to approach to commercial sponsors and partners.
“SE2 mapped out for us how other networks were funded and structured, and made some suggestions. We had already thought about corporate sponsorship, and they helped us identify what CLASP could offer to an external company looking in,” says Gibson.
CLASP has used the recommendations to draw up a priority list of activities they will deliver in order to generate ongoing funding, including the production of a corporate membership scheme.
What difference did we make?
- Evaluation proves CLASP’s value: The evaluation categorically demonstrated the value members placed on CLASP and its services, boosting CLASP’s (and their partners') confidence in the network.
- Evidence of impact: Members provided examples of how CLASP had helped them achieve tangible outcomes, building CLASP’s credibility as a delivery partner.
- Stakeholder engagement: Key stakeholders and members were re-engaged through the process of interviews and focus groups.
- Business development: The landscape mapping and options analysis gave CLASP a range of potential funding streams to pursue, along with the confidence that they had a strong evidence base to back up their commercial proposals.
- Still going strong: CLASP is still operating and providing services to its members at a time when many other climate change bodies have closed down.
Ailsa Gibson concluded: “Our relationship with SE2 was very good. They are very responsive, flexible and honest. I would definitely work with them again.”
To find out more about our research and evaluation capabilities, email liz.warren@se-2.co.uk or give us a call on .