I recently co-hosted a workshop bringing commissioners (mostly local authority and health) together with third sector (charity) providers to help each side understand how the other works.
The results were explosive!
The workshop demonstrated just how much needs to be done to bring the two ways of thinking together.
Following a number of government initiatives, health and local authorities can describe their needs in ways so that each side can understand the other (Health Needs Analysis, Local Area Agreement, Local Strategic Partnership, etc). However their potential public good providers (charities, local action groups, and even commercial organisations) are often kept at arms length and don't either know about the public information on the needs of an area, nor (because of commercial procurement practice) gain access to the commissioners to find out what they don't know.
This workshop confirmed closely the programme I'd run in the North East on the same subject, only that in a single day we were not able to bridge the gap that I'd managed to make progress over four months.
Workshops to develop the market and to help each side understand the other's needs, offers, and language. I'd be delighted to do this and feel i could make significant contributions based on my experience to date.