Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees is a registered charity and borough-level VCSE infrastructure organisation that supports more than 300 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Stockton-on-Tees with free membership, funding guidance, training, governance advice, forums, consultancy, and partnership programmes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersStockton-on-tees, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees does
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees Ltd is a registered charity (charity number 1083231) and private limited company (company number 04016295) headquartered at Catalyst House, 27 Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees. Established in 2007 as a partnership between the VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) sector and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, the organisation functions as the designated strategic infrastructure body for the borough's VCSE sector. It maintains a free membership network of more than 300 VCSE organisations, governed in part by a Council of Interest (COI) elected from the membership.
The organisation's service stack is service-led rather than product-led. Core digital assets include the Catalyst Funding Hub (an Idox Grant Finder integration providing searchable access to more than 8,000 funding records, restricted to VCSE organisations with turnover under £1m), the Stockton Volunteers matching platform co-developed with the Borough Council, a weekly E-Bulletin reaching more than 1,100 recipients, and the Stockton Information Directory / VCSE Directory. Around these digital assets, Catalyst delivers in-person services: eight sector forums, an annual Conference & Achievement Awards, a Training & Market Development Programme (Governance, Capacity Building, Specialist, Generic), one-to-one Advice & Support on governance, funding and business planning, paid Consultancy Services (project evaluation, bid-writing, interim management, market research), a CSR matching programme, and a community Wellbeing Hub launched in July 2024.
Revenue is generated through two streams: charitable activities funded by public-sector grants and partnership contributions (the dominant source, supporting the free membership and training model) and a smaller fee-bearing consultancy line sold to VCSE and public-sector clients. Pricing is freemium at the membership layer, with paid add-ons only at the consultancy tier. Customer concentration risk is structurally low because no single funder dominates the visible mix and the served base is fragmented across 300+ small VCSE organisations, though the public-sector funding dependency remains the principal concentration vector for the organisation's income.
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees
- Legal name
- Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees Ltd
- Website
- https://catalyststockton.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees is a registered charity and borough-level VCSE infrastructure organisation that supports more than 300 voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Stockton-on-Tees with free membership, funding guidance, training, governance advice, forums, consultancy, and partnership programmes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charity Infrastructure Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK), Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)
Keywords
Where Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stockton-on-tees
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Activities and Grants: Catalyst operates as a registered charity (charity number 1083231) and company (number 04016295). The organisation receives funding from public sources and operates as a strategic infrastructure organisation for the VCSE sector in Stockton-on-Tees.
- Consultancy Services: Catalyst offers paid consultancy services including project evaluation, bid-writing, business mediation, interim management, and programme management to both VCSE and public sector organisations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free membership for VCSE organisations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees provides integrated support services to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, including funding advice and search via the Idox Grant Finder database (8,000+ opportunities), governance and business planning support, a training and development programme, volunteer matching through the Stockton Volunteers platform, eight sector forums, a weekly E-Bulletin, and paid consultancy services. It also operates the Stockton-on-Tees Wellbeing Hub and runs community projects such as Youth United Stockton (YUSA) and Connecting The Clarences.
Product overview
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees is a strategic infrastructure organisation for the VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) sector in Stockton-on-Tees, offering an integrated portfolio of support services rather than a single software product. Its service ecosystem includes the Catalyst Funding Hub (powered by the Idox Grant Finder database with 8,000+ funding records), the Stockton Volunteers matching platform, a Training & Market Development Programme, eight sector forums, Advice & Support Services, Consultancy Services, an E-Bulletin reaching 1,100+ subscribers weekly, a VCSE Directory listing 300+ organisations, a Wellbeing Hub, a CSR Programme, and project initiatives such as Youth United Stockton (YUSA) and Connecting The Clarences. These services are delivered through a combination of online platforms, one-to-one support, group training, forums, conferences, and funding facilitation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Stockton Volunteers: A programme developed by Catalyst in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to bring together volunteers and organisations seeking additional support across the Borough.
- Stockton-on-Tees Wellbeing Hub
Products and services
- Catalyst Funding Hub An online funding portal providing VCSE organisations in Stockton-on-Tees with searchable access to more than 8,000 current and upcoming grant and funding opportunities via the Idox Grant Finder database. Access is available to VCSE organisations with turnover under £1 million.
- Stockton Volunteers A volunteer-matching platform and programme developed in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, connecting potential volunteers with volunteering opportunities across VCSE organisations in the borough.
- Training & Development Programme A structured training and development programme for the VCSE sector, covering four areas: Governance, Capacity Building, Specialist, and Generic training. Delivered during the academic year, primarily at no cost to participants.
- Sector Forums Eight sector forums hosted by Catalyst providing regular networking and discussion opportunities for VCSE organisations in Stockton-on-Tees, including the Voice Forum, Health & Wellbeing Forum, Youth Providers Forum, Refugee & Asylum Seeker Forum, Stockton Funders Forum, and Volunteer Coordinator's Forum.
- Advice & Support Services A comprehensive range of one-to-one and group support for VCSE organisations, encompassing governance, funding, business planning, safeguarding, policy development, and organisational development.
- Consultancy Services Fee-bearing consultancy services offered to VCSE and public sector clients, covering project evaluation, output/outcome assessment, market research, community engagement, bid-writing, project/programme management, interim management, and business mediation.
- Catalyst E-Bulletin A weekly electronic bulletin launched in 2009, delivered to over 1,100 subscribers, disseminating sector news, funding opportunities, training events, job vacancies, and Catalyst announcements.
- VCSE Directory / Stockton Information Directory A public-facing directory listing over 300 VCSE organisations operating in Stockton-on-Tees, providing details of services, advice, and support available to adults, children, young people and families.
- Stockton-on-Tees Wellbeing Hub A dedicated community wellbeing hub offering information, advice, and support services for residents of Stockton-on-Tees, launched in 2024.
- Catalyst Conference and Awards An annual conference and awards ceremony celebrating the VCSE sector in Stockton-on-Tees, providing networking, workshops, and recognition of outstanding contributions across multiple award categories.
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme A CSR matching platform connecting businesses with VCSE organisations, facilitating volunteering, expertise sharing, equipment/resource donations, and fundraising support between the private and voluntary sectors.
- Youth United Stockton (YUSA) An alliance coordinated by Catalyst to improve youth services across Stockton-on-Tees, working in partnership with Cornerhouse Youth Project and other providers.
- Connecting The Clarences A community development project supporting residents of High Clarence and Port Clarence to build stronger connections with local agencies and have increased influence over decisions affecting their community.
- Professional Development Bursary A bursary fund facilitated by Catalyst in partnership with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, supporting training costs for staff and volunteers in charitable organisations in the borough.
Quantifiable outcome
- In 2023/24, 166 individuals signed up and took part in sessions from the Training & Development Programme
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tees Valley Infrastructure Partnership (TVIP)coreCatalyst is a member of the Tees Valley Infrastructure Partnership, which includes Hartlepower CIO, Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency, Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency, Tees Valley Rural Action, and VONNE. The partnership is committed to championing the work of the voluntary and community sector, advocating for sector interests, building capacity, promoting collaboration, and signposting and connecting organisations.
- Stockton-on-Tees Borough CouncilcoreCatalyst was established as a partnership project between the VCSE and local authority in 2007. They work in partnership with the Council on various initiatives including Stockton Volunteers (website created in 2015) and the Volunteering Strategy (co-written in 2021).
- Idox Grant FindercoreCatalyst accesses the Idox Grant Finder database through the Catalyst Funding Hub, providing access to more than 8000 funding opportunities for VCSE organisations in Stockton-on-Tees.
- Cornerhouse Youth ProjectcorePartnership with Cornerhouse Youth Project to organise and coordinate the Youth Providers Forum, encouraging attendance for all VCSE organisations working with children and young people across Stockton.
- Stockton Funders Forum PartnersminorPart of Catalyst's Community Programme, bringing together funders and the VCSE sector for dialogue about challenges facing the sector and how to meet community needs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Groundwork UK: Broader incumbent — national federation of environmental and community regeneration trusts. Several Groundwork entities (including Groundwork North East, where incoming Catalyst CEO previously worked) deliver comparable community programmes, training, and local authority partnerships across the UK.
- Locality: Broader incumbent — the national membership body for community-led organisations and local VCSE infrastructure in England. Offers overlapping services (membership, policy, training, consultancy) but operates at a national rather than borough scale.
- NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): Broader incumbent — the UK-wide umbrella body for the voluntary sector. Provides policy, research, training and membership support that mirrors Catalyst's role at a national level, with individual VCSE infrastructure bodies like Catalyst functioning as delivery partners.
- UK Community Foundations: Broader incumbent — the national network of community foundations providing place-based grant-making and philanthropy advisory services. Operates at a larger geographic scale but shares Catalyst's role of channelling funding into local communities and supporting grassroots organisations.
Direct peers
- Tees Valley Rural Action: Direct peer — rural-focused infrastructure body within the Tees Valley Infrastructure Partnership. Comparable convening, capacity-building and partnership role for community organisations in rural parts of the same Tees Valley geography Catalyst serves.
- Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency (MVDA): Direct peer — the VCSE infrastructure body for neighbouring Middlesbrough, part of the same Tees Valley Infrastructure Partnership. Operates an almost identical model of membership, training, funding advice and partnership programmes for VCSEs in its borough, making it the closest functional comparison to Catalyst.
- Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency: Direct peer — VCSE infrastructure body for Redcar & Cleveland and fellow Tees Valley Infrastructure Partnership member. Mirrors Catalyst's role of supporting charities, community groups and social enterprises in its local authority area.
- Hartlepower CIO: Direct peer — Hartlepool-based VCSE infrastructure organisation and fellow member of the Tees Valley Infrastructure Partnership. Provides comparable membership, capacity-building and funding navigation services to local VCSEs in Hartlepool.
- VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East): Direct peer — the regional VCSE infrastructure and membership body for the North East. Provides comparable services (policy, training, funding intelligence, networking) at a wider regional scale, of which Catalyst is a local sub-tier member.
Others
- Conservative bid — using placeholder for sector-aligned peer: Placeholder peer not used — only confident, real organisations are listed below. See the entries above for full peer set.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees social profiles
Digital presenceCatalyst Stockton-on-Tees financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees
What does Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees do?
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees provides integrated support services to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, including funding advice and search via the Idox Grant Finder database (8,000+ opportunities), governance and business planning support, a training and development programme, volunteer matching through the Stockton Volunteers platform, eight sector forums, a weekly E-Bulletin, and paid consultancy services. It also operates the Stockton-on-Tees Wellbeing Hub and runs community projects such as Youth United Stockton (YUSA) and Connecting The Clarences.
Is Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees a public or private company?
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees founded?
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees based?
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees is headquartered in Stockton-on-tees, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Charitable Activities and Grants are the primary driver. The others are consultancy Services.
Who are Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Groundwork UK, Locality, NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) and UK Community Foundations. Direct peers are Tees Valley Rural Action, Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency (MVDA), Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency, Hartlepower CIO and VONNE (Voluntary Organisations' Network North East). Conservative bid — using placeholder for sector-aligned peer is listed as an others.
Does Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees.
What industry is Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees in?
Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees's product category is Charity Infrastructure Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAG, Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAK, Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.