Guidestar and Experian launch first database to provide insight into third sector organisations

News release

Contact:
Serj Heera
PR Manager, Business Information and Automotive
+44 (0) 115 992 2773 Tel
serjeet.heera@uk.experian.com Email

guidestar and Experian launch first database to PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THIRD SECTOR ORGANISATIONS

Nottingham, UK, 07 October 2009 - Information barriers created by a lack of objective, authoritative and comparable information on third sector organisations (TSOs) have been broken down, thanks to the launch of the Third Sector Intelligence service from GuideStar Data Services CIC (GDS) and Experian^®, the global information services company. 

Experian has integrated its business information on established TSOs with Guidestar’s data on charities and smaller specialist and local organisations, to create a unique, new database providing comprehensive information on the activities, structures and finances of all incorporated and regulated TSOs.   

Representing the first service of its kind in Europe, the new service will provide businesses, government and other public sector organisations, such as regional development agencies, with comprehensive insight to help them:

• Identify TSOs that supply services of interest to local statutory bodies, including social welfare, health, sport and leisure, recycling etc.
• Undertake due diligence checks on TSOs prior to issuing expressions of interest and pre-qualification questionnaires
• Identify targets for capacity building to increase the number of TSOs that are ‘prepared’ for service delivery
• Identify TSOs that can help statutory bodies engage with local communities
• Profile the third sector economy in a particular region

• Identify TSOs that require capacity building in terms of training, support and advice
• Identify social enterprises, including community interest companies
• Map funding sources and third sector assets within a particular region.

To create the Third Sector Intelligence service Experian and GDS captured regulatory data on approximately 225,000 third sector organisations and mined over 100,000 trustee and director annual reports for relevant financial and narrative information on their activities.

Les Hems, Director of GuideStar UK, comments: “Many third sector organisations have been disadvantaged because of the lack of objective, authoritative and comparable information available on them. This has presented difficulties in tendering processes, accessing funding and setting up credit relationships.

“This new database will open up this previously hidden sector, so that the wealth of resources that exist within it are made visible to government and private sector organisations alike.  Those that will see the greatest benefits include local government agencies, business links and regional development agencies.”

Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian’s Business Information division, comments: “This latest innovation underlines the extent of our data and analytics capabilities.  Through our ability to enhance the information that Guidestar holds with accurate and relevant financial information, the new database will give the clearest view available on the third sector.”