NALC is extremely grateful for the support of our commercial partners. They play a vital role in supporting the work we do, providing specialist products and services to save our members time and money. Like us, our partners are committed to improving local areas and helping communities help themselves.
Our current partners include:
BHIB Councils Insurance
NALC is pleased to partner with BHIB Councils Insurance, which provides tailor-made support to local councils. In the current climate, with local councils providing an ever-growing range of services, it is more important to have sector experts we can rely on and be partnered with to support us and arrange the right protection for councils delivering services and representing communities.
With regular meetings and by working closely together, both NALC and BHIB Councils Insurance will be looking to gain deep insight into the challenges and issues councillors, councils and clerks face and then deliver insurance solutions that meet the needs of the local council sector.
BHIB Councils Insurance is part of BHIB Insurance Brokers, who are one of the UK’s leading independent commercial insurance brokers with a proud history dating back 50 years. During this time, BHIB has delivered bespoke insurance programmes and advice to the public, private and charity sectors as well as membership organisations. BHIB Insurance Brokers are also the founders of the Brokerbility Network, a group of circa-30 Independent Insurance Brokers across the country, meaning that local advice is always just around the corner.
NALC is an introducer appointed representative of BHIB Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Find out more about BHIB Councils Insurance, or call their dedicated team on 03300 130 036.
Blachere Illumination
Their latest catalogue is fully new and exciting LED designs ideal for decorating your town. They are the world’s market leader for Christmas and decorative lighting and is NALC’s corporate. Their services include design, manufacture, installation, maintenance, dismantling and storage.
CCLA
CCLA is one of the UK's largest charity fund managers according to the latest Charity Finance Survey. Managing investments for charities, religious organisations and the public sector. Based in London, with an office in Edinburgh, they are largely owned by their clients' funds. CCLA is one of the UK's largest charity fund managers according to the latest Charity Finance Survey.
Their products and services have a strong long-term performance record, fairly priced, managed responsibly and their investment solutions for clients are flexible and they understand the particular needs and challenges facing charity investors.
Breakthrough Communications
NALC is pleased to partner with Breakthrough Communications, which are NALC's National Partners for advice, guidance and services on parish and town council communications and engagement, as well as Data Protection, GDPR and Freedom of Information. The experienced team at Breakthrough Communications understand what good communication and effective compliance look like. As a team of communications professionals which include councillors and clerks, Breakthrough Communications also have insight into the unique world of parish and town councils.
Communications and engagement
Breakthrough Communications help councils with all aspects of their communications. From developing effective communication strategies to social media support, as well as designing Residents Surveys and Neighbourhood Plan consultations, Breakthrough Communications have the experience and knowledge to help parish and town councils of all sizes. They also provide councils with access to Council Connect, which gives local councils on-demand access to a growing range of communications how-to guides, tools, templates and resources, as well as in-depth masterclasses, best practice examples and more.
Data Protection, GDPR & FOI
As well as providing data protection advice to NALC and a number of County Associations, Breakthrough Communications also helps parish and town councils to be compliant when it comes to data protection, GDPR and Freedom of Information. Through their Compliant Councils Hub service, councils can access on-demand, bitesize data protection training, walkthrough guides, resources and templates, as well as access to data protection experts when they need it most, and a range of live masterclasses.
Find out more about how Breakthrough Communications can help your council by visiting their website or by calling the team on 01273 282 111.
Digital mapping alliance
NALC believes it is vital for local councils to understand the geographical area their council covers. Maps help local councils with things like their neighbourhood plans, tree maintenance and asset management, to name a few.
Digital mapping is making the process of editing and forming maps a lot easier. Until recently, most local councils relied on principal authorities to provide mapping support. However, digital mapping software is getting much cheaper and easier to use and NALC is encouraging all local councils to use them.
NALC has formed a partnership with Parish Online and Pear Technology, with the aim of raising awareness of how digital mapping can help local councils and guide them through the process.
As part of the partnership, NALC, Parish Online and Pear Technology will be forming an online guide to help local councils understand how to use digital mapping and better organise themselves.
Microshade VSM
NALC is pleased to work in partnership with Microshade VSM with the aim of providing local councils with support to have greater confidence around cyber security. We will be launching a guide to cyber security in 2020.
Microshade VSM provides secure ICT systems specifically designed for the town and parish council market, in which they have operated since 1996, serving councils of all sizes. They trade on their reputation for excellent support. Services include the Local Council Community Cloud - a secure and ecological cloud-based service, providing all the tools a council needs and hosted from the UK, cyber security training, and a range of managed security services for councils who prefer to keep their ICT local.
Contact Microshade VSM at or on 01752 869 053, or visit their website.
Scribe
NALC is pleased to partner with Scribe. With over 700 customers Scribe is the UK’s fastest-growing supplier of online software systems for local councils. Their user-friendly and intuitive online accounting, cemetery and bookings system, is purpose-built for parish and town councils. Customers range from small to large councils with a turnover greater than £2m.
Suitable for Receipts and Payments or Income and Expenditure accounting.
The only web-accessible, cloud-based accounting system for this sector Scribe’s Accounting system works seamlessly with the Cemetery and Booking system saving time and errors.
In the current climate, with local councils having to be flexible with working at home, Scribe’s online software systems for accounting, venue booking and cemetery management can all be accessed securely from any device.
They deliver training courses every month for customers and have a support team of qualified accountants on hand to help. Basic accountancy support is included in all plans.
To find out more, visit the Scribe website, email or call their dedicated team on 01603 856 521.
Utility Aid
NALC is pleased to work with Utility Aid to help find members the best energy deals.
Utility Aid is the UK’s lowest-cost energy broker who specialises in sourcing energy for the UK’s not-for-profit sector and is delighted to be working with NALC to offer members access to their expertise. As well as helping to secure new contracts at the lowest possible cost, they also offer a unique Invoice Validation Service that can often recoup hundreds of pounds from past bills if they find you have overpaid. They’ve recovered over £2m for their clients in the last four years alone.
Working with them could not be easier. Just click the link below to see the unique initial offering with Utility Aid that will offer you the following:
- A free invoice validation service.
- Access to their energy management portal and free training to make the most of the system.
- A free renewable and energy savings technology audit.
When you get in touch with them, make sure you use the reference NALC.
Contact Utility Aid at or on 0808 1788 170 or visit their website.