October 3, 2022
St Andrews Business Club is looking to appoint two new Marketing Communications Interns. This is a great opportunity to work for a local, long-established
By Alistair Morris, President
Since the Club’s AGM in April, the Committee has been hard at work all summer on ways to make membership of the Club and attending its events more directly useful to members and non-members.
The season and changes we’re announcing today are based on the results of detailed market research interviews with members and non-members last Summer as well as ideas and other feedback from members over the last year.
One of the questions we asked ourselves was ‘What is the Club’s purpose?’ Looking at the original 1950 constitution (which we’re seeking to update soon), we saw two key activities – meeting other businesspeople and learning for business. They’re still important to succeed in business today, so you’ll find them at the heart of the 2017-18 season.
Learning event topics, some of which were suggested by members, have been chosen to provide you with essential information you can use straight away on today’s key business issues. They will include:
Details of the final learning events in the Club season will be announced later. If there are topics you’d like covered, please email us with them.
Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal of The University of St Andrews, is the keynote speaker at our ‘Inspiring Women’ event in March 2018
We know from past seasons how much hearing high-achieving people such as Lord Mulholland, Alban Denton and Kevin Grainger sharing their stories and lessons can inspire and educate others. So we’re delighted Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews, has agreed to give the keynote speech at our ‘Inspiring Women’ event on March 7 next year (the eve of International Women’s Day).
But first, on October 11, Alan Mahon, co-founder of craft beer social enterprise Brewgooder, will be among a panel of entrepreneurs sharing their stories and advice at the University of St Andrews Enterprise Week Keynote Event which the Club is contributing to in partnership with the student committee. Members will have access to a Club priority allocation of tickets for this event. Click here for more details.
To aid the business networking part of our purpose, since last season all Club events have included scheduled time for networking. This year we’re going a step further and opening most of our events to non-members – so they can join members and their guests and all enjoy the benefits of meeting more people.
We’re also adding informal facilitated networking lunches to the schedule – for a small number of people to discuss over a light lunch how a business issue or problem was or can be dealt with. The first will be held on March 28.
Those of you familiar with the Club will have spotted a new word there – ‘lunches.’ One of the event format changes we’re introducing this year as a result of member feedback is having our daytime events at lunchtime rather than breakfast during the GMT months – so you don’t have to get up in the cold and dark to attend. See the event listings for details of dates and times.
Another new event format we’re trying is holding a Pecha Kucha-style event on May 9. Members will be drawn at random to present 20 slides of 20 seconds each on a topic of interest to all. It promises to be a fun night!
Also as a result of member feedback, we’re extending the Club’s season into May and June for the first time, which means members will be getting even more value from their annual membership fee and non-members will have more opportunities to join in, meet and learn.
The right to present at our Pecha Kucha-style event is one of several new membership benefits we’re introducing this year. But why else should you join the Club?
Other new benefits include:
Those join the following benefits which members already enjoy:
Anyone joining the Club by September 4 will be able to join members and their guests in an exclusive tour of the new five-star Kinnettles Hotel hosted by owner Fraser Ogston on September 6.
Members will also enjoy a VIP tour of the upgraded facilities at The Old Course Hotel on December 6 as part of a festive Club social. The Club year will end with a Members & Guests-only social barbecue on June 27.
That’s a fantastic range of benefits for just £30 annual individual membership – the best value it’s ever been.
Still not convinced? You can read here why some members joined, what they’ve gained and enjoyed since.
Want to join the Club? Find out how to do that here. Existing members will receive their renewal reminder next month.
If you think some of your colleagues would also want to join or renew their membership, you should consider the new corporate membership option we’re introducing. It’s just £100 for five named members of an organisation and includes some extra benefits over individual membership. Go here for full details.
Whether you’re already a member, a past one or someone new to the Club, we’d be delighted to see you at our events this season. And hear what you think – so we can keep making the Club better.
Date: Wednesday 11 October 2017
Venue: Main Auditorium, The Byre Theatre, Abbey St, St Andrews, KY16 9LA.
Times:
– 5.30pm – Wine Reception + canapes with students & University staff including Principal, Professor Sally Mapstone
– 7pm – Welcome from Professor Sally Mapstone followed by Speakers + Panel Q&A
– 9pm – Event finishes
Part of Enterprise Week, the Keynote Event is an opportunity to hear from entrepreneurs from across the UK about their experiences and approach. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and to network with refreshments beforehand.
St Andrews Business Club has partnered with the Enterprise Week student committee to help organise this event, as part of the Club’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship in the area.
For full details of the week, go to https://standrewsenterpriseweek.com/
Alan Mahon, Co-founder Brewgooder
In early 2016, after years working together on projects to tackle homelessness in Scotland, Alan Mahon and Josh Littlejohn of Social Bite set out to provide clean water for a million people by producing and selling excellent craft beer and donating 100% of the profits to clean water charities.
With the help of BrewDog – who brew their beer at zero margin – they founded Brewgooder and on World Water Day 2016 asked craft beer drinkers across the world to help them on our mission via crowdfunding . In its first year sales of Clean Water Lager funded two new well projects in Malawi providing 5,000 people with clean drinking water, transforming rural communities.
In the 2017 Scottish Beer Awards it won Innovation of the Year.
Alan will share his lessons from the Brewgooder journey.
Find out more about Brewgooder on its website – https://www.brewgooder.com/
Ines Teles, Co-founder DWYL.
From the DWYL website: “I co-founded dwyl because I wanted to use technology to help people and organisations realise their potential and make the world a little brighter in the process!
“I make sure we’re working with people doing great things, help our clients problem solve, provide training, try to make dwyl a little better every day, scrum master, and whenever I can, make time to code on our open source projects.
“dwyl’s values closely match my own ? and it makes me so happy to work with such amazing people every day! I ❤️ accessibility, sustainability, education and advocating for women in tech.”
Pippa Geaves, founder of Jeeves & Co.
From the Jeeves & Co website: “Jeeves & Co. Design Studio was founded by Pippa Geaves (pronounced ‘Jeeves’), an award-winning graphic and web designer.
“After graduating from the University of St Andrews with postgraduate qualifications in Art History and Creative Industries Management, Pippa went on to work for a successful PR and creative agency in Suffolk.
“In November 2016, Pippa won the Innovation award sponsored by Barclays at the DevelopHER Awards and was recognised for her ability to channel her creativity into commercial success.
“Always looking for her next challenge, Pippa decided to branch out from commercial design and explore the consumer side of things. With her love of playful design and stationery, Jeeves & Co. Design Studio was born.”
Geoff Morris, Director of Special Projects & Community Engagement, University of St Andrews
Geoff has held senior leadership positions at two children’s charities – Barnardo’s and Wooden Spoon as well as running the 800th Anniversary celebrations for the University of Cambridge, where he still works occasionally as a consultant.
As CEO of children’s charity Wooden Spoon, he more than trebled turnover in the five years of his leadership.
Over the past three years, Geoff has worked to develop the Scotland CAN DO Scale programme benefitting more than 200 entrepreneurs.
Geoff is settled in the East Neuk of Fife and is committed to the University of St Andrews. While his attention has been on community engagement, he is currently focussed on creating a thriving economic community at Eden Campus, in the village of Guardbridge.
Every business can learn something from the journeys of successful entrepreneurs. And you’ll get a chance to ask them questions and hopefully meet them too.
There is car parking on South Street, free after 6pm. Google Maps – https://goo.gl/maps/sNVX5NtvRa82
October 3, 2022
St Andrews Business Club is looking to appoint two new Marketing Communications Interns. This is a great opportunity to work for a local, long-established
June 3, 2021
Remaining online for the Club’s 2021 AGM, the conference celebrated this season’s committee and members for hosting a share of memorable virtual events throughout
The Club can be contacted via its Secretary Yvonne McAulay.
Mobile: 07778 107987
Write to:
The Secretary,
St Andrews Business Club,
c/o Thorntons Solicitors,
Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road,
ST ANDREWS,
KY16 9DR.
"Best Business Networking in Fife" - CMA, 2019
