Pilotlight Direction

A charity brings a specific strategic opportunity it’s grappling with; over eight weeks, 'Pilotlighters' assess its viability and establish how it can be reached.

Focused and effective

Pilotlight Direction is all about focus. For charities, it’s an opportunity to gain expert insight on a single issue they’re facing. Charities on this programme have a clear picture of what they want to achieve while being open to ideas and change. The issue is specific and of strategic importance; even though the charity has already considered it, they need fresh eyes and an outside perspective to give confidence to take the next step.

For Pilotlighters, it’s an opportunity to work across functions, using a variety of skills to deliver something of use to a charity in a well-defined time period. This programme involves independent research, information-gathering and analysis, and concludes with a set of recommendations presented back to the charity.

Strategically important

We are not prescriptive on the type of opportunity charities bring to this programme, as long as they’re well defined and of strategic importance. Previous briefs have included:

Developing a plan to improve the deployment of human and financial resources.
Considering an opportunity to acquire a commercial enterprise with the aim of developing revenue streams.
Creating a scale-up strategy for schools programmes.
Proposing ways to monetise services to diversify income streams.

Our team works with each charity ahead of the start of the programme to hone the question into a clear brief that can be presented to the Pilotlighter teams.

A clear structure

Your Pilotlight Project Manager will guide the process, facilitating the early meetings and acting as a point of contact between the parties.

The programme begins with a facilitated meeting with everyone involved. Everybody makes introductions and the Pilotlighters learn about the charity, as well as the opportunities it is facing.

A second facilitated meeting sees an agenda focused on the brief. The Pilotlighters find out more about the opportunity from the charity representatives and discuss their initial thoughts on addressing it.

Then the Pilotlighters work away from the group. They organise planning meetings and set up workstreams to explore the different aspects they need to address in order to respond to the brief. In between meetings, they perform research and analysis.

The programme concludes with a presentation by the Pilotlighters to the charity. In this, they explain how they have approached the brief and the conclusions they have come to, leaving the charity with specific, actionable recommendations. The charity has the opportunity to ask questions, so they leave the room ready to put the plan into action.

This programme is delivered through a mix of in-person and virtual meetings.

We are currently open for applications from charities and social enterprises for this programme. Take a look at the deadlines to apply here.

Get Involved

Case studies

Helping Olympias think big

"Thank you Pilotlight and Barclays for this incredible growth opportunity – your support and encouragement has helped a small charity dream big and think strategically about how we can support hundreds of children in Manchester to continue benefitting from our work for years to come."

Pilotlight Partner Charity_Fantastic Journeys

Creating a clear pathway for Fantastic Journeys

"The challenge we faced was that the CIC had developed organically and quite quickly since starting three years ago. The work was going well, but we didn’t have a formal mission and vision statement. This was something that we felt we needed in order to develop longer-term plans and think about future funding."

Pilotlight Partner Charity_Galloways A group of people paddle boarding

Increasing Galloways’ appeal to a younger demographic

Galloways is currently using the Pilotlighters feedback across several key areas. The feedback is being used to influence design thinking in support of the development of Children and Young People’s Services, to strengthen the charity’s approach to its online brand profile and to test and implement AI solutions in support of internal and external communications and trust and grant applications.

Developing a strategy for Disability Support

Disability Support - Nottingham is an organisation that has both lived and learnt experiences of disability, care, and age-related needs and the barriers faced by people in these marginalised groups. Disability Support is an information, advice and guidance service for disabled people, older people, and carers.

Supporting Growth Path to expand

Growth Path is a registered charity dedicated to helping young people thrive in employment in the construction industry. Its programme is specifically for young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Growth Path provides accredited entry level qualifications, work experience, and one-to-one support addressing the many barriers preventing NEET young people gaining jobs.

Beneficiary of Hijinx theatre with a twirling baton

Ensuring sustainability for Hijinx

Hijinx is a theatre company pioneering, producing and promoting opportunities for actors with learning disabilities and/or autism productions across Wales.

Pilotlighters with the team members of A Child of Mine in front of a living wall

Navigating corporate partnerships for A Child of Mine

"We knew what we wanted to do, but we just didn't know how to start. We now have the building blocks to be able to implement a corporate giving relationship." Gayle Routledge, Founder and CEO, A Child of Mine

Helping Pennysmart develop its governance and board

"The project not only met its intended goals but also demonstrated the Pilotlight Direction programme can deliver exceptional results while maintaining a positive and proactive approach throughout the process."

Enabling Advice Services Alliance to become sustainable

Via the Pilotlight Direction programme, Lindsey and her team were matched with five Barclays Pilotlighters, who were tasked with the challenge: How does Advice Services Alliance (ASA) best scale it’s impact and establish a sustainable income stream?

A group of people in a small wooden boat on the sandy shore

Understanding how to grow The Conservation Collective

At the end of the programme, the Pilotlighters presented Jade and Ben with a variety of considerations and recommendations for different growth models. This included a risk framework, financial growth model tool and suggestions for standardised governance documents.