Business Know How North East

“This whole process has really highlighted to me what an incredibly vibrant sector we work in & how many brilliant people there are doing such great work - and at the same time how dreadfully lacking in support, management, governance etc. Am wondering how many people BKH has helped keep in jobs this year - I know of at least 3 including me who would've probably just given up in despair otherwise” third sector

“opened my eyes” private sector

"I am very impressed with the networking opportunity BKH has provided" third sector

"a real buzz and lots of enthusiasm" private sector

"One of the best things about BKHNE has been the contacts" third sector

"an excellent event and the outcomes were good" private sector

About Us

BUSINESS KNOW HOW NATIONAL PROGRAMME

Business know how and social change

Managed jointly by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, RBS and SCVO, the programme connects the local business sector, the local third sector and RBS local relationship managers to:

Broker skills exchange and mentoring between the private and third sectors
Enhance the skills, leadership and financial sustainability of the third sector
Promote corporate social responsibility

The programme commenced with a pilot in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, which started in September 2008 and ran until the Showcase event on 26th May 2009. A BKH Network of nearly 300 organisations had been developed by that time and continues to grow. Business Know How North East is continuing and developing in 2009/10 as outlined in the following pages.The need for this programme to continue in the North East was provided in the recent 'Pathways to Prosperity' Report.

The programme supports and assists:

Private and third sector organisations to develop and maintain productive collaboration, knowledge exchange and mutually beneficial linkages
Boards and chief officers of key local third sector organisations to enhance their business and leadership skills
Third sector organisations to develop the capacity and awareness for the longer term development of more diverse funding bases, greater financial sustainability and improved financial management skills
RBS and other private sector personnel to access and support local voluntary action
Local CSR initiatives

The programme includes the following components:

local knowledge exchange fora
A leadership and change management programme
Training and support in sustainable finance
A cross-sectoral mentoring service

The detailed programme content has been developed for each areain discussion with local partners to ensure it builds on and supports existing cross-sectoral exchange and partnerships. In areas of Scotland where no such exchange currently exists, discussions will be brokered between local lead agencies, including CVS and Chambers of Commerce, to help promote this.