1. Summary of activities

1.1.    Activities

Over the last 5 months I have:

1.    carried out a web survey of BEN members – the results are at www.bristolenterprise.com/content/ben-survey-results, and also discussed BEN with many members

2.    worked with colleagues in Bristol University RED to re-start and run the BEN events programme – their continuing involvement is critical

3.    learnt about BEN, its members, running and chairing events, selecting speakers, the business networking and support landscape in our region

4.    analysed the BEN membership and events programme, and established KPI and targets for them – see Annex to this report

5.    met with key individuals of partners such as universities, incubators, SWRDA, councils - and tried to understand the agendas/motivation of each in relation to BEN

6.    been using hot desks in all 3 supporting universities (crucial to engaging with each)

7.    set up an advisory group which currently includes: Paul Harrod - Bristol University, Dave Brennand – UWE, Simon Bond - Bath University, John Bradford - Science City Bristol, Rebecca Sage - SWRDA

8.    made contact with other business networks, including Bristol Media, BETS, WEAF, Cambridge Network, Global Connect, NISP Connect

1.2.    Events (see Annex for more details)

1.    BEN evening networking events - 4 held so far during the autumn, 1 more to come

2.    BEN dinner - 1 held in September - to become combined BEN+SCB dinner

3.    Business review - 1 Healthcare Business Clinic (with UHB NHS and SETsquared) held 9 November

4.    BEN workshop - 2 pilot workshops in early December
BEN has held 9 events in the September-December 2009 period (the same number as were held in the whole of the previous year).  A program for January-April 2010 has been planned and will shortly be announced – including events in Bath.

1.3.    Key conclusions

1.    BEN is a unique and valuable organisation for the science and technology community in our region, working towards the business connectivity objectives of Science City Bristol.  It is up to us to ensure that it continues and develops.

2.    We should build on BEN’s USPs:
•    high quality, cross-technology sector networking events which offer 3 benefits: connect + learn + get inspired
[the social media web system is not highly valued or heavily used]
•    university connections
•    2 city networking: Bristol + Bath

3.    The main asset of BEN is our members (the Bristol and Bath technology business community) and the ability for us to enable others to engage with them.  BEN should seek to generate most of our revenue from this asset.

Go to next section of report: 2. The future