Voluntary firms will have a larger part to play in the delivery of public services in the next five years, according to a new PricewaterhouseCoopers study.
The research found that 70 per cent of social enterprises and private sector firms believe that the third sector will have an expanded role in the near future.
However, Dame Julie Mellor, partner at PwC, warned that lack of understanding between the private and social enterprise sector could present future problems.
"The key to overcoming this barrier is to invest time and energy in building mutual understanding, developing shared goals and effective ways of collaborative working," she said.
Both sectors should make sure they focus on making partnerships work, or the users of public services could miss out on the benefits that can be offered through collaboration, she added.
Earlier this month, Andrew Smith, chief economist at KPMG, warned that the public sector will have to tighten its belt as the recession worsens.
