In this edition Daniel Johnston invited Remi Okeshola into the Kennedy Scott comfy chair to quiz him on the value of partnership and joint working between two providers.

KS To start from the beginning, how did InBiz and KS first get to know each other?

RO Well, that was a while ago now. Our Partnership Manager, Charles Morton, was one of the front-line advisers, working with people to help them start their own businesses, when he was recommended to contact KS by a Central London JCP manager, Robert Wilcocks. He took this forward, building a relationship with the Gateway to Work courses at Holloway and Camden involving InBiz visiting the courses to tell clients about the Self Employment option under New Deal, which InBiz runs in the area.

KS How has the relationship evolved since then?

RO We’re four years down the line, and both companies have been growing rapidly in that time. Roger of KS and Charles built a close relationship on the setup of Bridging Links in 2003/4, and when InBiz were looking at a bid with a majority component of jobsearch delivery, the natural choice seemed to be KS as a delivery partner. So Helena of InBiz and Daniel of KS forged a partnership in bidding for the Ethnic Minority Outreach provision, now operating from Holloway.

KS Tell us a bit about Ethnic Minority Outreach…

RO It’s a joint delivery project, with KS holding the lead. The whole thing’s very new for both companies in a number of ways. Not only is it a new type of project for us, with innovative ideas and a very specific focus, but also genuine joint delivery is very rare and something both of us have been gaining experience in as a result. There have been a number of challenges in fitting the two companies together, with a learning curve on both sides, but the entire experience has been good as joint bidding and delivery are increasingly important to gaining new contracts.

KS Why are KS and InBiz suited to working together?

RO The key reason is perhaps the cultural fit. Both companies are very client-focused, and have core caring values that inform our relationship with the people we seek to help. This caring ethos has enabled us to place clients first in all our discussions and in resolving the challenges in setting up EMO, and stands us in good stead for continued growth of the partnership. Both companies also share a similar background, having been founded by individuals with strong social consciences at the end of the Eighties, with the aim of offering a way out of the increasing deprivation affecting inner-city and industrial areas. This and the continuing growth of both companies make them ideal partners.

KS And what do you think the future holds for the partnership?

RO We’ll be looking forward to working hand-in-hand with KS on future bidding, where our joint skills in job brokerage and self-employment can provide a good service to Jobcentre Plus or other bodies.