WELCOME TO BUSINESS KNOW HOW NORTH EAST

Business know how and social change

Business Know How North East is part of a wider national programme
to forge productive third – private sector exchange

Many organisations in the third and private sectors face similar challenges, particularly around leadership and financial sustainability in the fast changing economic, social and policy environments. Yet there are currently few opportunities for them to work together or exchange experiences and knowledge.

Business Know How North East was established in 2008 with the aim of forging productive third sector/private sector networks locally to enable them to do just that.

There is now a BKH Network of approximately 400 third-private sector members who receive and can input into a quarterly BKH e:bulletin.

Business Know How North East is a partnership between Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, ACVO – The Third Sector Interface for Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action – The Third Sector Interface for Aberdeenshire and The Royal Bank of Scotland.The programme commenced with a pilot in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire which started in September 2008, ran until May 2009 and has since been developed. It is co-ordinated from ACVO by the Interface's Enterprise & Sustainability Lead.

The programme aims to support and assist:

• Private and third sector organisations to develop and maintain productive collaboration, knowledge exchange and mutually beneficial links.
• Boards and Chief Officers of local third sector organisations to enhance their business and leadership skills, and to develop 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 (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives.

The programme in the North East, from autumn 2011, includes the following components:

• Local knowledge exchange network and quarterly e:bulletin.
• A business support portal tailored to the third sector.
• Archive of resources including feedback and evaluation of cross-sectoral events, tools and presentations from training workshops and knowledge exchange fora, and useful links.

A new Business Support Portal launched in autumn 2011, provides easy access to a wide range of business support services from the BKH Partners and other intermediaries. The BKH NE Partners intend to further develop the portal – its interactivy, the inclusion of additional support services and the opportunities it offers for individual businesses/organisations to link together and to engage with existing brokerage and similar services.

Many third sector organisations and business skilled individuals have benefited over the last 3 years from being signposted by BKH NE to Business Mentoring.

During two years of cross-sectoral events and workshops delivered by multiple private sector companies on a CSR/CPD*/pro bono basis to third sector delegates, BKH has amassed a useful range of resources, presentations, tools and feedback and a wide range of useful links.

*CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility. CPD – Continuous Professional Development

"I haven't been to anything like it before. The sheer amount of energy and good will, not to mention the serious potential connections made was fantastic to witness" Showcase 2010 business-skilled volunteer  "The Glencraft Story really illustrated the impact of a sound business approach to social enterprise" Showcase 2010 delegate of Plenary -keynote speaker, Bob Keiller of PSN  "The learning I gained from the ACVO organised Business Breakfast event was very useful. I aim to modify and tailor some of the messages for presenting to staff at an inhouse training session" Social enterprise CEO