The cultural sector is stretched thin, with workers facing stress and burnout, and organisations’ increasingly precarious funding models (Hoyle et al., 2018). In this context, 'innovation' risks sounding like corporate jargon and another task for already stretched teams.

But at Orchestras Live, innovation is a practical, human-centred way to create value and deliver on our charitable mission. We define innovation as the process of sensing and seizing opportunities to create value; this means orchestrating resources to create new products, services and delivery models (see David J Teece). Through this work, we've begun to unlock new ways to generate income, strengthen resilience, and reach new communities whilst staying grounded in our core purpose: to ensure orchestral music reaches the people and places that need it most.

Staying True to Our Strengths

In our first year of innovation activity, we focused on designing services that respond to real needs in the sector, and that are rooted in Orchestras Live's strengths. By prioritising innovation that builds on our core capabilities, we've avoided the trap of chasing shiny new ideas that distract from our mission. Instead, we've created new offers that help our partners increase the value and visibility of their work, particularly around social impact.

Our Impact & Evaluation Services, co-created with Orchestras Live staff and partners, launched in November 2024. These services help orchestras, music education hubs, and cultural partners tell a clearer story about the social value they create. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. In just 8 months, we’ve supported 11 clients through bespoke evaluation and social value reporting.

These services work for our clients because they share our belief that data can help drive more equitable and sustainable cultural work.

We also believe in creating sector –wide value, as do many of our clients. That’s why we recently created the Social Value Pathfinders programme where arts professionals come together to develop their skills in social value measurement and advocate for the benefits through group coaching sessions, 1-2-1 mentoring and access to cutting edge software tools.

Building Resilience Through Values-Driven Growth

Innovation is an opportunity to develop financial resilience. By generating a margin from these new services, we've demonstrated that it's possible to create surplus in a way that's fair, values-driven, and mission-aligned; and is also sustainable for Orchestras Live to deliver. This surplus is already being reinvested in new projects, operational capacity, and organisational learning to help us build a more adaptable and future-ready charity.

This approach brings multiple benefits. We're leveraging expertise and processes that already exist within our organisation, staying true to our brand and values while engaging in 'primary purpose trading' (commercial activity that directly relates to our charitable objectives). Every pound earned through our evaluation services flows back into our charitable work, creating a virtuous cycle where commercial success strengthens our mission delivery.

Expanding Our Reach and Influence

Critically, business innovation also enables us to reach areas beyond our traditional co-investment footprint. Services can be provided anywhere there's demand, expanding Orchestras Live's influence and impact well beyond the places where we directly deliver orchestral projects. For example, we're now working with partners across the UK nations, not just in England, whilst maintaining the level of investment in existing places and areas of work.

This means we can focus our charitable resources in areas of highest need where we can make the biggest difference, while still contributing to sector-wide improvement through our accessibly priced commercial offerings.

Transforming How We Work

Behind the scenes, this innovation work is also transforming how we operate. We've introduced service design tools, transforming how we operate - from admin systems and software to how we think across the team. We're building a culture that sees innovation as an organisation-wide process, an activity that’s part of everyone's job.

Looking ahead, we'll continue to test and grow this model, launching more service offers and investing in more efficient systems to support delivery. Every offer we design starts with people - understanding their needs, ambitions, and challenges - and ends with value: for clients, for Orchestras Live, and most importantly, for the communities we all serve.

We welcome conversations with partners who share our commitment to values-led innovation. Please get in touch with us.