We work with government and public bodies worldwide.

It looks very pretty, but does this simulator work?

Yes, Budget Simulator has consistently achieved hundreds of responses for every authority using it so far, and in a recent national budget consultation survey, Budget Simulator proved to be one of the most cost effective methods of any used by the public sector in 2005/06. Both the IDeA and Local Government Chronicle magazine have previously featured it as best practice.

Won't it just get hijacked by interest groups and not be representative?

None of the authorities using the simulator so far have found this to be the case. Online tools have been found to engage new sectors of the population who wouldn't normally respond to conventional consultation methods, thereby avoiding the 'Usual Suspects' and including the 'Hard-to-Reach'. In addition, the simulator can be promoted purely to closed lists such as existing Citizens' Panels, and contains a number of technical features to help identify and prevent multiple responses.

It's an interesting idea but it's too simple/too complex/the wrong colour...

That's why we provide a bespoke version of the simulator for authorities that have their own ideas for what the tool should do and how it could work best in their local area. If you want more detail or have questions about any other features, get in touch with us to discuss.

We've already set our budget... / the public just don't understand what it involves... / we won't be able to do what they tell us...

That's why Budget Simulator is designed to educate as well as consult. There may be fixed spending areas you can't meaningfully consult on, so just include the ones you can in the simulator. You may not be able to act on what the public tells you, but research shows that as long as the public are told about and understand the reasons why you can't do what they want, they will feel more included and satisfied with the authorities spending. They will certainly be less content if they've had no opportunity to have their say.

It might work in a big city, but people round here just don’t use the internet

You might think that, but you’d probably be wrong. Budget Simulator has been used with equal success by large unitary authorities and small district councils in both urban and rural areas. Delib can access the latest data on internet usage by area across the UK, so get in touch to find out what percentage of your residents use the internet and how often. You may well be surprised!

Could this be used for consulting on issues other than budgets?

Yes, at its heart, Budget Simulator is essentially a priority simulator, and could be redesigned to work on any consultation where respondents need to be informed and allowed to prioritise options.

How do I promote it to my target audience?

That’s up to you, but we’re here to provide advice and support to make sure you get the best response rate possible. Previous clients have had success with simple methods like linking from existing websites, e- mails out to contact lists, media coverage and promotional posters and postcards.

How long will it take to set up?

Ideally, we like to have two weeks between the initial order and final deployment, especially for deluxe and bespoke versions, but have been known to take a simulator from order to deployment in a matter of days.

So, how much does it cost?

Costs for Budget Simulator, as well as other items to support it, are all available at http://www.budgetsimulator.com/info/pricing

Can I get a discount?

In comparison with focus groups and paper surveys, Budget Simulator already provides large cost savings in promotion, data entry and analysis. There are, however, discounts for authorities purchasing as a partnership group; see http://www.delib.net/dblog/partnership-discounts-for-budget-simulator/