Author: SABC Secretary

New business learning events at St Andrews Business Club

SABC Secretary

By Alistair Morris, President

Since the start of the Club’s 2017-18 Season last September, we’ve been delighted with the feedback we’ve received on our events programme from the growing number of business people attending them.

 

So far at least 80% of attendees taking our post-event survey have typically rated their event Excellent or Very Good overall. And many have gone on to join the Club as a result.

Today we’re announcing the details of our business learning events for the rest of the season.

Business learning

The event topics, some of which were suggested by members, have been chosen to provide you with essential information on today’s key business issues you can use straight away. They will be:

VIP tour

As a result of the positive feedback we’ve had about the Members & Guests-only Business Visits held so far, we’ve taken the opportunity to arrange an extra business visit to a site which will play some role in the business lives of many of us in the next few years – the University of St Andrews’ Eden Campus at Guardbridge. Members and their Guests will enjoy a VIP guided tour on June 27.

Networking

Opening most of our events to non-members – so they can get a taste of the business learning and networking we offer – has proven to be popular too. And the minimum 45 minutes networking time built in to our events is being well used!

We’re expecting plenty of that at our St Andrews 10 x 30 event on May 9, where Members will be drawn at random to present 10 slides for a maximum of 30 seconds each on a topic of interest to all. It promises to be a fun night!

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 year. And hear what you think of them – so we can keep making the Club better.

Details of the full season’s topics, dates, speakers are here

Details of membership benefits and how to join the Club are here

For latest news from the Club, its members and the North-East Fife business community, follow the Club on:
– Twitter
– Facebook page
– LinkedIn

Learning Lunch – Preparing for Making Tax Digital

SABC Secretary

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a key part of the UK Government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right and keep on top of their affairs. But the timetable for which businesses will be affected, and when, are different.

 

Although the implementation deadline has been pushed back as a result of the 2017 Finance Bill, no business should leave preparing for it till the last minute.

One of the recommended changes is moving to online accounting software, for which there are other compelling commercial benefits, including significant cost savings, increased efficiency, improved management information and 24/7 mobile access to your data.

In our first Learning Lunch of 2018, Mark Gibson and Elaine Cromwell, Partners at Thomson Cooper Accountants, explained how online accounting delivers streamlined processes, resulting in improved business performance.

The presentations began with Mark talking about personal tax accounts and MTD.

Mark talked about personal tax accounts and MTD.

The presentations ended with Elaine taking attendees through moving to online accounting and the benefits of doing so, aside from preparing for MTD.

Elaine took attendees through moving to online accounting and the benefits of doing so, aside from preparing for MTD.

For more information about this subject, you can visit Thomson Cooper Accountants website at http://www.thomsoncooper.com/

For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is January 24: North East Fife 2018 – what businesses should expect

Keith Winter, Executive Director of Enterprise & Environment at Fife Council and Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews, will talk about what they believe 2018 will and may hold for St Andrews and North-East Fife which will affect businesses and for which they need to have a plan.

North-East Fife 2018 – what to expect for businesses

SABC Secretary

People doing business in North-East Fife are being invited to St Andrews Business Club’s event on January 24 to hear what to expect in the economy of North-East Fife in 2018.

 

In the event, to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 5.30pm, Keith Winter, Executive Director of Enterprise & Environment at Fife Council and Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews, will talk about what they believe 2018 will and may hold for St Andrews and North-East Fife which will affect businesses and for which they need to have a plan.

Anyone wishing to learn about this important business topic, as well as network, is asked to book via Eventbrite. A full list of this season’s events can be found at http://bit.ly/StABCEvents.

The Club’s first event of the New Year, and at its new venue, is on preparing your business for HMRC’s Making Tax Digital programme and takes place on January 10.

Prepare your business for Making Tax Digital at The Old Course Hotel

SABC Secretary
Mark Gibson and Elaine Cromwell, Partners at Thomson Cooper Accountants, will talk about how businesses should start preparing for HMRC’s Making Tax Digital programme, as well as the why and how to choose of online accounting packages, at the next St Andrews Business Club Learning Lunch.

People doing business in North-East Fife are being invited to join members and guests of St Andrews Business Club on January 10 to hear how they should start preparing their business for HMRC’s Making Tax Digital programme.

 

In the second Learning Lunch of the club’s new season, to be held at The Old Course Hotel from 12.30pm, Thomson Cooper Accountants Partners Mark Gibson and Elaine Cromwell will talk about how businesses should start preparing for this mandatory change to filing tax information online.

They’ll also outline the other benefits of switching to Web-based accounting and how to choose the package best suited to you.

Anyone wishing to learn about this important business topic, as well as network, is asked to book via Eventbrite.

A full list of this season’s events can be found at http://bit.ly/StABCEvents.

New venues for St Andrews Business Club events

SABC Secretary

St Andrews Business Club is delighted to announce that, following a review of the venues it uses for its events, it has come to an agreement with The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews for it to be the exclusive event venue partner of the Club from January 2018.

 

The Club’s events will now be held in the business meetings facilities of The Old Course Hotel and its associated venues around the town, with each event allocated an appropriate location based on its individual requirements and anticipated attendance.

The first event to be hosted at The Old Course Hotel will be the Learning Lunch on January 10, which will see Mark Gibson and Elaine Cromwell of Thomson Cooper Accountants explain how businesses should start preparing for HMRC’s Making Tax Digital initiative, the other benefits of online accounting and how to choose the package best suited to you.

Speaking about the agreement, Club President, Alistair Morris, said: “St Andrews Business Club is delighted to have forged this business relationship with The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews. We know from our recent business visit to the hotel that this collaboration will provide our members, guests and visitors with the highest standard of event venue and hospitality.”

Helen McBride, Resident Manager at The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, said: “The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, St Andrews is delighted to be the official host for St Andrews Business Club from 2018. We very much look forward to welcoming all our fellow members to the hotel for its forthcoming events.”

Full details of all the club’s events, most of which are now open to non-members, can be found on the Events page.

The Old Course Hotel

SABC Secretary
Club Members and their guests enjoyed a tour of the upgraded facilities at the five-star The Old Course Hotel as well as a festive social event on December 6. Martin McAvoy takes one tour group into a room.

Club Members and their guests enjoyed a tour of the upgraded facilities at the five-star Old Course Hotel as well as a festive social event on December 6.

Bordering the renowned 17th ‘Road’ Hole of the Old Course, the Old Course Hotel overlooks the famous links courses, the West Sands Beach and the beautiful Scottish coastline. This prestigious AA Five Star-awarded hotel has 144 rooms including 35 suites and is recognised as one of Europe’s leading resorts.

Members were welcomed with glasses of prosecco and festive canapes by the hotel before President, Alistair Morris, added his welcome and introduced the Club’s newly-appointed Marketing Communications Intern, Comora Love-Mitchell, a 3rd Year student at the University of St Andrews.

Refurbishment

The Old Course Hotel’s Resident Manager, Helen McBride, then talked about the major refurbishment work done last winter (including replacing the roof tiles with a rubber alternative made from recycled car tyres – to better resist errant golf balls!) before joining colleagues Phyllis Wilkie and Martin McAvoy in conducting tours in groups. The rooms, business and dining facilities were not short of ‘Wow! factor’.

Everyone then enjoyed further networking, seasonal food and drink before departing very happy into the early gusts of Storm Caroline.

For information about The Old Course Hotel, go to http://www.oldcoursehotel.co.uk

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is January 10: Preparing for Making Tax Digital + Networking

BOOK NOW: Please book your place on Eventbrite by 12:00 Monday January 8 2018.

For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.

GDPR

SABC Secretary
Loretta Maxfield of Thorntons Law LLP explained how company owners and managers can avoid getting into problems with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on May 25 2018. Pic: ASM Media & PR

The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on May 25 2018 and will be enforceable on many UK businesses.

 

Loretta Maxfield of Thorntons Law LLP has more than 10 years’ experience in advising a range of public bodies, research/education institutions and private businesses (up to £300m+ turnover) on data protection, privacy and other regulatory matters.

In the Club’s first Learning Lunch, which was a joint-event with Fife Women In Business, Loretta explained to attendees:

  • What GDPR is
  • How it will affect businesses
  • What they need to do to ensure compliance
  • Penalties if they don’t

The event was very much enjoyed by all who attended, who said they found it very useful.

For information about this subject, you can visit Thorntons’ GDPR Legal Advice Hub at www.thorntons-law.co.uk/gdprlegaladvice

For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is December 6: Members & Guests-only Business Visit + Festive Social – The Old Course Hotel.

Join us for an exclusive insight into the upgraded facilities at St Andrews’ top hotel as well as an opportunity to network with Club members in a relaxed atmosphere.

If you’re not a Club member but would like to attend this event, you’ll need to join the Club before booking.

Surviving Brexit

SABC Secretary

It’s not yet clear what form Brexit will take, so the Club’s November 8 event was designed to help company owners and managers develop a Brexit survival strategy for whatever happens.

 

Dr Shona Dobbie of Angus Economics provided a politics-free understanding of the economic consequences of Brexit so far.

Former Alliance Trust economist Dr Shona Dobbie gives independent economic, political and demographic advice to businesses.

She provided a politics-free understanding of the economic consequences of Brexit, including the effect on Sterling exchange rates, the UK equity markets and the impact of Sterling depreciation.

Highly experienced international businessman and entrepreneur Stephen Westwood gave an appreciation of the actual and perceived impacts of Brexit on business and suggested some solutions.

Stephen Westwood is a highly experienced businessman and entrepreneur who’s fulfilled roles as Chief Executive, Finance Director and interim executive across multiple business sectors for corporations in the UK and the US. He’s now engaged as Chairman and shareholder in developing three emerging businesses in digital technology and energy efficiency.

Stephen gave an appreciation of the actual and perceived impacts of Brexit on business, including currency volatility, the rights of EU nationals to remain and work, trading terms and access to capital. He also challenged attendees to consider what they can do about each and offered some ideas.

Dr Billy Grierson of Perth Innovation challenged attendees to start the process of thinking about what opportunities and challenges their businesses will face and what they can do about them.

Innovation and business consultant Dr Billy Grierson spent more than 30 years working for Ciba and BASF developing an understanding of how companies fail to solve problems and what tools and techniques can be used to improve their success rate.

He explained the Confrontation Matrix framework to start the process of thinking about what opportunities and challenges your business will face and what you can do about them and had attendees start using it to consider the strategies their businesses should be using.

The event was very much enjoyed by all who attended, who said they found it very useful.

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is Learning Lunch: GDPR on November 22. It will help you ensure your organisation doesn’t incur fines of up to €20 million or more when the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force next May.

For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.

Event to teach NE Fife firms how to avoid risk of €20m GDPR fines

SABC Secretary
Loretta Maxfield of Thorntons LLP will talk about The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) at St Andrews Business Club’s first learning lunch on November 22.

People doing business in North-East Fife are being invited to a November 22 event where they can learn how to ensure they don’t incur fines of up to €20 million or more when the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force next May.

 

In the first learning lunch of St Andrews Business Club’s new season, the joint event with Fife Women in Business will hear information law expert Loretta Maxfield of Thorntons LLP explain what GDPR is, how it will affect businesses, what they need to do to ensure compliance and the penalties if they don’t.

The lunch will be held at the New Golf Club from 12.30pm till 2pm and will also include time for networking at the start.

Anyone wishing to learn about this important business topic, as well as network, is asked to book via Eventbrite.

Full details of all the club’s events, most of which are now open to non-members, are available here.

Marketing Communications Internship

SABC Secretary

Marketing Communications Internship

St Andrews Business Club is looking to appoint someone as a Marketing Communications Intern.

While this is not a paid position, any out-of-pocket expenses incurred on Club duties will be reimbursed and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to enjoy the following benefits:

BENEFITS

  • Training from experienced professionals, mainly Alan S. Morrison, Vice-President – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alansmorrison/
  • Practical experience of real-life marketing communications with measurable results to add to your CV
  • LinkedIn Recommendations from Committee members – https://standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk/about-us/committee/ – if overall job performance has met an agreed standard
  • Introductions to useful career contacts and potential employers if overall job performance has met an agreed standard
  • Opportunity to network and make useful career and personal connections at Club events

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL

 

Facebook

– Create Facebook Event for each Club event  – about 10 minutes per event before start of season, which runs September to June.

– Schedule 3-4 Facebook Business page posts to promote each event – 20 minutes every 2 weeks through the season.

– Schedule daily Facebook posts once a week – 1.5 hours per week. Tuition and content strategy will be supplied. Opportunity for intern to devise creative original content that drives more engagement.

– Optional – ‘Social listening’ – checking Facebook notifications daily for any comments to the page which require a reply and responding accordingly or flag to Club Comms person. 10 minutes maximum per day.

– Optional – Creating and adding content to a Facebook Album for each event – 30 minutes per event.

Twitter

–  Schedule 15 tweets in Hootsuite – https://hootsuite.com – to promote each event. Training will be provided. 30 minutes per event, every two weeks during the season.

– Scheduling two tweets to share the link to the Facebook Album and 4 of the photos from it after each event –  15 minutes per event every two weeks during the season.

– Schedule a weekly #MemberMonday post – 10 minutes for each. 4 a month, year-round. Intern would not be required to do this during their holidays unless they wish to maximise their experience opportunity.

– Optional – Retweet Members tweets and ones by Local and Fife groups we have friendly links with – once a day, 1pm for 10 minutes [N.B. Timing important for maximising views].

– Optional – ‘Social listening’ – checking Twitter notifications daily for any comments which require a reply and responding accordingly or flagging to Club Comms person. 10 minutes maximum per day.

Website

  • One-off project – writing page Titles and Meta descriptions for Club website – 2 days at most..
  • Editing content on Club’s WordPress site – training will be provided. Maximum of an hour every two weeks.

Attending Committee meetings – one every 2 months. Next one 29/11/17, 5.30pm.

 

DESIRED MARKETING TASKS

  • Eventbrite – event creation & management. Training and content will be provided – 30 min per event listing twice in season. 19 events this season.
  • MailChimp – marketing email creation & scheduling – 1 hour every 2 weeks during season. Training and content will be provided.
  • Optional – PR – news copywriting, researching using Cision media database, media-spec picture formatting, pitching & coverage checking training for PR undertaken every 2 weeks during season. Scope and time could be agreed with successful candidate.
  • Project – to increase new memberships and membership renewals – time could be agreed with successful candidate.

Attending Club events – to assist with running of each event – 2 per month. See schedule at https://standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk/events-st-andrews-business-club/

REQUIREMENTS

  • Interest in marketing communications, ideally targeting a career involving or related to this.
  • Facebook – must have own account. No prior knowledge or experience of using a Facebook Business page required – training will be provided, attitude more important.
  • Twitter – some prior experience would be useful, but training will be provided
  • Knowledge of or ability to research how web page Titles and Meta descriptions affect site SEO
  • Fluent written and spoken English
  • Candidate should ideally have access to image editing software
  • Must be able to read and edit documents in Microsoft Word
  • Should be able to access Dropbox for sharing of documents and files.
  • Must be professional and flexible in way tasks are completed and time is managed
  • Desire to learn and be guided by experienced professionals essential

For more details of the above, download the full position specification.

HOURS REQUIRED

See above, but once season launched total typically at least two hours every two weeks. Actual weekly hours will depend on how much successful candidate wants to learn and take responsibility for.

Will be more during period building up to season launch, but hours for that can be agreed with successful candidate.

START DATE & LENGTH OF INTERNSHIP

The start date and length of the internship will be agreed with the successful candidate.

SUPERVISION

The intern will be supervised and trained directly by the Committee member with primary responsibility for Club communications (currently the Vice-President, Alan S. Morrison) but also by other members of the Committee when attending events and Committee meetings.

HOW TO APPLY

Application should be made by email to secretary@standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk with:

  • Subject Line “Marketing Communications Intern Application”
  • CV attached
  • Body text of email describing why candidate is applying and why they would be suitable for the role.

A shortlist of candidates will be selected for brief interview in St Andrews on 23/11/17.

CLOSING DATE: Friday 10/11/17, 17:00

QUERIES: Any queries about this role should be emailed to the Vice-President, Alan S. Morrison, on asm@asmmediaandpr.co.uk