Initial assessment · No fee
Book a consultation.
A structured assessment of where your organisation actually stands — its structure, governance, finances and evidence base — followed by a written findings note within five working days.
- Session
- 60–90 min
- Findings note
- 5 days
- Fee
- £0
- Formats
- Online / on site
Introduction
Advice begins with an honest position, not a proposal.
Most organisations approach us with a solution already in mind. The consultation exists to test that assumption before anyone spends money — and to give you a written position you can take to a board, a funder or a partner regardless of who does the work.
Scheduled within 10 days
Sessions are held Tuesday to Friday, with slots outside working hours by arrangement.
60 to 90 minutes
Long enough to be structured, short enough for a board to attend in full.
Online or on site
On-site sessions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
No obligation
You keep the findings note whether or not you commission any further work.
Who it is for
Four positions where a consultation changes the decision
If your organisation recognises itself below, a consultation will be worth the ninety minutes.
01
Founders forming a CIC or charity
You have a community need and momentum, but no settled legal structure, governing document or compliance calendar.
02
Boards under pressure
Growth, a funder question or an incident has exposed gaps in governance, delegation or risk management.
03
Delivery organisations seeking funding
Your impact is real but undocumented, and bids are being lost on evidence rather than on merit.
04
Corporate and public sector partners
You carry social value obligations in contracts and need them delivered credibly in the places named.
Assessment process
Five stages from first call to decision
The process is fixed so you know exactly what happens, when, and what is expected of you at each point.
Stage 01
Scoping call
A 20-minute call to confirm the right consultation, the questions that matter and who should attend.
Stage 02
Evidence pack
You send governing documents, accounts and any existing reporting. We review before we meet.
Stage 03
Consultation session
A structured 60–90 minute session against our assessment framework, held online or on site.
Stage 04
Written findings
A short, plainly written findings note: position, risks, priorities and indicative cost of each.
Stage 05
Decision
You decide what to act on. There is no obligation to appoint us, and we say when you do not need us.
Typical elapsed time from scoping call to findings note: 10 to 15 working days.
What will be reviewed
Four assessment domains
Every consultation tests the same four domains, weighted to the category you select. Scores are indicative, not certified — the value is in the written reasoning behind them.
Organisational Capability Model
Framework
Domain 01
Structure & constitution
Legal form, governing document, asset lock, membership and the fit between structure and stated purpose.
Domain 02
Governance & control
Board composition, decision rights, delegation, conflicts, risk register and statutory filing position.
Domain 03
Finance & sustainability
Income concentration, reserves, cost base, pricing of delivery and the realistic funding horizon.
Domain 04
Evidence & impact
Theory of change, indicators, data collection design and whether reporting meets funder-grade standards.
Each domain is rated Established, Developing or At risk, with the evidence cited.
Expected outcomes
What you hold at the end
A consultation that produces only reassurance has failed. Every session ends with a written position and three prioritised actions.
5 days
Findings note issued
Working days from the consultation session
No fee
For the initial assessment
The first consultation session is provided free
3
Prioritised actions
Ranked by risk, cost and sequencing
94%
Proceed with a clear plan
Whether delivered by us or by others
- 01
Position statement
One page describing where the organisation actually is, in language a trustee or a funder will understand.
- 02
Risk register extract
The issues that carry regulatory, financial or safeguarding consequence, ranked by severity.
- 03
Three prioritised actions
Sequenced, costed indicatively, with an owner suggested for each.
- 04
Route options
What you can do yourself, what needs specialist input, and where you do not need to spend at all.
Consultation categories
Six structured assessments
Select the category that matches your position. If none fits precisely, choose the closest — we will confirm at the scoping call.
Consultation request
Request your cic formation consultation
Tell us who you are and choose a slot. We confirm by email within one working day with a calendar invitation, a joining link and the short evidence list we need in advance.
Selected
CIC Formation Consultation
Founders and unincorporated groups · 60 minutes
Confirmation process
- Request received — acknowledgement by email immediately.
- Slot confirmed within one working day with a calendar invitation.
- Evidence list issued five days before the session.
- Findings note delivered five working days afterwards.
Questions
Before you book
Next step
Not sure which consultation applies?
Send us two lines about your organisation and we will tell you which assessment fits — or that none of them does.