Following the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude's Announcement on Mutuals, Local Partnerships, Co-operatives UK and the Employee Ownership Association have come together in partnership to provide a signposting service for staff in the public sector interested in setting up a social or mutual enterprise.

• Are you concerned about the future of the services you provide?
• Do you want to take steps to safeguard your job for the future?
• Do you want to take more control of the services you provide?

The Cabinet Office wants to encourage the creation of innovative alternatives for public service delivery by making it easier and more attractive to set up public service mutuals. Across many service areas, a new right to form employee-owned mutuals will empower millions of public sector workers to become their own boss and help them deliver better services in partnership with the communities in which they work. The policy is still in its infancy but groups of public sector staff across the country are already starting to think about how they might go about stepping out on their own as a public service mutual.

The Mutuals Information Service has been set up to help signpost staff in the public sector who are interested in setting up a social or mutual enterprise. Careful consideration needs to be given to the different organisational options available, to ensure that the business that you are creating is right for you and right for delivering the services that you want to provide. We can put you in touch with organisations that will be able to help you with various aspects of business planning, HR and legal advice, finance and investment, marketing and market research.

If you would like to take advantage of this free signposting service, please get in touch by calling 020 7296 6705 or visit our www.local.gov.uk/mutuals