Advertise with Open Thoughts
Limited commercial partner places for organisations supporting better thinking across social housing, councils, local authorities and the wider housing sector.
Open Thoughts offers transparent advertising and promotional opportunities across its subject areas. Each area is capped at five approved partners only. Once those places are taken, that area is full.
Availability per subject area
| Position | Places |
|---|---|
| Headline Category Partner | 1 |
| Featured Knowledge Partners | 2 |
| Approved Sector Supporters | 2 |
| Total available | 5 only |
Open Thoughts is not an advertising wall. Partner places are limited to protect relevance, trust and the purpose of the platform.
Five places. No more.
Each Open Thoughts subject area is limited to five approved commercial partners. This keeps each area focused, relevant and useful.
Once all five places are taken, the area will move to a waiting list. Additional paid partner places will not be created unless Open Thoughts publicly changes its advertising policy.
Headline Category Partner
The premium partner position for that subject area.
Featured Knowledge Partners
Strong visibility for organisations sharing useful insight and sector learning.
Approved Sector Supporters
A credible entry point for relevant suppliers, specialists and support organisations.
Advertising must be useful to the sector
Advertising on Open Thoughts must support the purpose of the site. Commercial partners should bring practical insight, professional knowledge, useful resources, relevant experience or constructive challenge.
Open Thoughts reserves the right to decline any organisation, advert, article, resource or promotional material that does not fit the values, standards or purpose of the platform.
The Open Thoughts test
Is it useful, relevant and honest?
If the answer is yes, it may belong here. If the answer is no, it probably does not.
- Sector relevant
- Professionally credible
- Clearly labelled where promotional
- Helpful to housing, local government or public service audiences
- Respectful of the Open Thoughts ethos
Choose the right level of visibility
Prices are shown in GBP sterling and are exclusive of VAT, where VAT applies. Monthly payment is based on a 12-month commitment.
Approved Sector Supporter
For credible organisations wanting a relevant presence in one Open Thoughts area.
12-month commitment paid monthly
- Category listing
- Organisation profile
- Logo and website link
- Approved Sector Supporter status
- 1 thought-leadership article per year
- 1 resource listing per year
- 1 newsletter mention per year
- 1 social media mention per year
Featured Knowledge Partner
For organisations wanting stronger visibility and a recognised role in sector learning.
12-month commitment paid monthly
- Featured category placement
- Organisation profile
- Logo and website link
- Featured Knowledge Partner status
- Up to 4 thought-leadership articles per year
- Up to 2 downloadable resources per year
- 1 webinar or discussion opportunity per year
- Up to 4 newsletter inclusions per year
- Up to 4 social media posts per year
- Basic reporting where available
Headline Category Partner
For established organisations wanting premium visibility in a specific subject area.
12-month commitment paid monthly
- Top category placement
- Organisation profile
- Logo and website link
- Headline Category Partner status
- Up to 6 thought-leadership articles per year
- Up to 4 downloadable resources per year
- Up to 4 webinar, roundtable or discussion opportunities per year
- Up to 6 newsletter inclusions per year
- Up to 6 social media posts per year
- Campaign or partner page
- Quarterly basic reporting where available
- First refusal on renewal
Package comparison
The table below sets out what is included so organisations can make an informed decision before applying.
| Feature | Approved Sector Supporter | Featured Knowledge Partner | Headline Category Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Places per area | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Monthly price | £195 | £395 | £695 |
| Annual cost if paid monthly | £2,340 | £4,740 | £8,340 |
| Annual upfront price | £2,100 | £4,250 | £7,500 |
| Annual upfront saving | £240 | £490 | £840 |
| Organisation profile | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Logo and website link | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Category placement | Listed | Featured | Top placement |
| Thought-leadership articles | 1 per year | Up to 4 per year | Up to 6 per year |
| Resources, guides or tools | 1 per year | Up to 2 per year | Up to 4 per year |
| Webinar, roundtable or discussion opportunity | No | 1 per year | Up to 4 per year |
| Newsletter inclusion | 1 per year | Up to 4 per year | Up to 6 per year |
| Social media promotion | 1 per year | Up to 4 per year | Up to 6 per year |
| Campaign or partner page | No | No | Yes |
| Reporting | Basic where available | Basic where available | Quarterly basic reporting where available |
| Renewal priority | Standard renewal opportunity | Standard renewal opportunity | First refusal before release to waiting list |
All placements and content remain subject to approval, relevance, availability and Open Thoughts advertising standards.
What partners can submit
Open Thoughts is interested in content that helps people in housing and local government think, compare, learn, improve or act.
Content that is purely sales-led, misleading, irrelevant or unsuitable for the platform may be declined, edited, delayed or removed.
Accepted content may include
- Thought-leadership articles
- Practical guides
- Professional insight pieces
- Downloadable resources
- Case studies, where lawful and appropriate
- Webinar or discussion proposals
- Product or service information, where proportionate and relevant
Current advertising partners will be published
Open Thoughts will publish the names of organisations paying to advertise or promote through the site.
Members should be able to see which organisations are paying for visibility, what position they hold, and which subject area they are connected to. Paid promotion will not be hidden.
| Subject area | Organisation | Partner position | Status | Start date | Renewal date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Safety | Available | Headline Category Partner | Available | — | — |
| Damp and Mould | Available | Featured Knowledge Partner | Available | — | — |
| Repairs and Maintenance | Available | Approved Sector Supporter | Available | — | — |
We will replace the example rows above with the live partner register once organisations are confirmed.
How advertising income is used
Advertising income helps fund the running, maintenance, hosting, development, security, improvement, administration and growth of Open Thoughts.
A modest and reasonable salary or administration allowance may also be taken by Mark Gittos for the time required to manage, maintain, develop, moderate and administer the site. This is not hidden. Running a useful platform takes time, judgement, effort and responsibility. Any personal payment will be kept proportionate, reasonable and connected to the actual work required to operate Open Thoughts.
The intention is simple: keep the platform useful, keep it independent and keep it sustainable.
No room for misunderstanding
These terms are written to protect the advertiser, the members and the purpose of Open Thoughts.
Advertising does not buy influence
Paying to advertise or promote through Open Thoughts does not buy editorial control, endorsement, member data, ranking preference, procurement influence or control over the direction of the platform.
Open Thoughts remains independent. Promotional content must be clearly labelled where appropriate.
No endorsement statement
Being listed as an Open Thoughts partner does not mean Open Thoughts formally endorses, recommends, approves, audits or guarantees the organisation, its products, services or advice.
Members must carry out their own due diligence before purchasing from, appointing or working with any supplier, consultant, contractor, adviser or service provider.
Transparency and public partner register
Open Thoughts will publish the names of advertising and promotional partners, the subject area they are connected to and the partner position they hold.
This is part of the Open Thoughts commitment to openness, transparency and trust.
Payment terms
All prices are in GBP sterling and exclusive of VAT, where VAT applies. Monthly payment is based on a 12-month agreement. Annual upfront payments receive the discounted annual rate.
Open Thoughts may pause or remove advertising if payment is overdue. Renewal is not automatic unless agreed in writing.
Monthly commitment
Monthly payment makes the offer more manageable, but it is still a 12-month advertising commitment. The organisation is committing to the full annual term while paying in monthly instalments.
If an organisation wishes to leave before the end of the 12-month term, any remaining contractual balance may still be payable unless Open Thoughts agrees otherwise in writing.
Annual upfront discount
Organisations that pay annually upfront receive a discounted annual price. Annual upfront payment also gives clearer budget certainty and helps Open Thoughts invest in the platform.
Cancellations and refunds
If an organisation cancels after publication, fees already paid are normally non-refundable. Annual upfront fees are normally non-refundable after publication.
If Open Thoughts cannot provide the agreed placement, a fair alternative, credit or refund may be considered.
Content standards
All advertising, promotional and partner content must be accurate, lawful, relevant, professional, respectful and clearly commercial where appropriate.
Open Thoughts may edit, decline, delay or remove content that does not meet these standards.
No guarantee of leads, sales or outcomes
Advertising on Open Thoughts provides visibility, profile and promotional opportunity. It does not guarantee sales, leads, procurement opportunities, invitations to tender, member enquiries or commercial outcomes.
Data and member privacy
Advertising partners do not receive Open Thoughts member data as part of any package. Open Thoughts will not sell member personal data to advertisers.
Any reporting will normally be basic and aggregated, such as page views, clicks, downloads or campaign performance where technically available.
Partner conduct
Commercial partners must behave professionally. They must not misuse Open Thoughts branding, scrape member data, spam members, make misleading claims, pressure members, imply endorsement where none exists or damage the trust and credibility of the platform.
Renewal and waiting list
Existing partners will normally be offered the opportunity to renew before their place is released. Open Thoughts may decline renewal where the partnership no longer fits, content standards have not been met or payment terms have not been followed.
When an area is full, organisations may request to join a waiting list. Open Thoughts is not required to allocate places solely on a first-come, first-served basis if doing so would weaken the balance, relevance or credibility of the area.
Use of Open Thoughts branding
Partners may only use the Open Thoughts name, logo or partner status in ways approved by Open Thoughts.
Approved wording may include: “Proud to be an Open Thoughts Featured Knowledge Partner for [subject area].”
Submit an advertising enquiry
Completion of this form does not guarantee acceptance. Open Thoughts will review availability, relevance and fit before confirming whether a partner place can be offered.
When submitted, this form will open the user’s email app and prepare an advertising enquiry email to Open Thoughts.
Useful visibility. Limited places. Clear standards.
Open Thoughts welcomes commercial support where it fits the purpose of the platform. The aim is not to fill the site with adverts. The aim is to create a sustainable, useful and transparent space where good thinking can be shared across the sector.