How Progress is funded
Progress is funded by Labour party members who support our aims and values, together with sponsorship of events at Labour party conference and advertising in our monthly magazine.
Progress’ new financial year runs from 1 January to 31 December. Our accounts for 2010-2011 are available at Companies House. You can obtain our latest accounts filed with Companies House by searching for Progress Ltd on the Companies House homepage.
We have been awarded an ‘A’ rating for funding transparency by the independent Who Funds You? website.
Progress’ income
In the financial year 2010-2011, our income was £368,598. This pays for our monthly magazine and website; events such as Progress annual conference, Progress political weekend, our presence at Labour party conference, and our extensive Westminster and regional events programme; and our staff and office costs.
The amount for 2011-2012 will be updated when the accounts are submitted to Companies House.
Progress and the Electoral Commission
Since its passage, we have complied fully with the terms of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act, under which we are classed as a ‘members association’. This is defined by the Electoral Commission as: ‘An organisation that is not a political party but is wholly, or mainly, made up of the members of a political party. Members associations belong to a category of regulated organisations and individuals known as “regulated donees”.’
Other regulated donees you may be familiar with include SERA, Movement for Change and the Christian Socialist Movement. You can read more about members associations here.
As a members association we were previously required by the Electoral Commission to declare all donations above £5,000. This was raised by them for all members associations to £7,500 in 2010. In line with Who Funds You? recommendations, Progress will voluntarily declare amounts over £5,000 from 1 October 2012 and publish the amount by the entry of the donor when the money is received.
You can see Progress’ entry at the Electoral Commission here by entering ‘Progress Ltd’ into the basic search.
Sponsors and partners*
* All sponsors listed below gave amounts below £7,500. Amounts received above £5,000 since 1 October 2012 follow the sponsor’s name.
In 2012-2013, we worked with the following sponsors outside of Labour party conference:
Community union (£5,676)
In 2011-2012, we worked with the following sponsors at Labour party conference:
British Future
BVCA (£6,480)
Facebook (£5,400)
Institute for Government
IPA
PwC (£5,184)
Supporters Direct
The Open University
Unions21
In 2011-2012, we worked with the following sponsors outside of Labour party conference:
BVCA
Community union
Edelman
Guildford Labour party
Reading Labour party
In 2011-2012, we worked with the following partners outside of Labour party conference:
LabourList
Left Foot Forward
Southern Front
Total Politics
In 2010-2011, we worked with the following sponsors at Labour party conference:
Brighton and Hove Labour
City&Guilds
Electoral Reform Society
Hackney Labour group
Institute for Government (Candidate selection project)
IPA
Labour Friends of Israel
Local Government Association Labour group
PwC
Reading Labour
Sussex Cooperative party
The European Azerbaijan Society
The Open University
unionlearn
Unions21
In 2010-2011, we worked with the following sponsors outside of Labour party conference:
Bell Pottinger
Community union
The Cooperative Group
In 2010-2011, we worked with the following partners at Labour party conference:
Compass
Fabian Society
IPPR
In 2010-2011, we worked with the following partners outside of Labour party conference:
LabourList
Left Foot Forward
Total Politics
Sponsors and donors
So far in 2012-2013, we have made the following declarations to the Electoral Commission of sponsorship or donations above the level of £7,500:
Lord David Sainsbury – £195,000 (donor)
BVCA – £13,830 (sponsorship)
In 2011-2012, we have made the following declarations to the Electoral Commission of sponsorship or donations above the level of £7,500:
Lord David Sainsbury – £260,000 (donor)
Sovereign Strategy – £12,000 (donor)
In 2010-2011, we have made the following declarations to the Electoral Commission of sponsorship or donations above the level of £7,500:
Lord David Sainsbury – £260,000 (donor)
Donations and sponsorship policy
Individuals:
We declare all donations which exceed £5,000 on the Progress website.
We only accept donations from members of the Labour party.
Sponsorship:
We believe in an open and transparent relationship with our sponsors. We retain control of all sponsored output – including the title of events or publications – and event sponsors agree to our inviting speakers with a diverse range of viewpoints. Funding agreements are never made on the basis of guaranteeing the attendance of a particular speaker or advancing a particular viewpoint.
We declare all sponsors on the Progress website and the amount of sponsorship received where this exceeds £5,000. In addition to the listings below, the sponsor of each debate or publication is clearly displayed on the materials accompanying the event or on the publication, and on the relevant webpage.
Progress’ directors
Progress Ltd is a company incorporated in England and Wales. Company number 3109611.
The directors of Progress Ltd are: Jennifer Gerber* (former deputy executive director of Progress and former acting executive director of the organisation); Jon Mendelson* (former treasurer of Progress); Robert Philpot (executive director of Progress); and Stephen Twigg MP* (former chair of Progress and current honorary president). *unpaid
The company’s registered address is: Westbury, 145-157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PY
