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Argyll & Bute Social Enterprise Trade Fair & Dragons Den 28-30th January 2008 - Report
Event attendees with the exception of invited guests* were drawn exclusively from the ABSEN Membership. 
They reflected the diversity of that Membership bringing together a range of social enterprises ranging from new and emerging enterprises to mature businesses. The details of
the attendees are listed in Appendix 1
The conference agenda is Appendix 2
*Guests were selected on their ability to contribute to the ongoing development of ABSEN and its Members.
Representatives were invited from national agencies e.g., First Port, Social Enterprise Academy, Charity Bank, Scottish Urban regeneration Forum.
Local guests were either officers from Argyll and Bute Council (Community Learning and Regeneration and Leader) or from Highlands and the Islands Enterprises.
The invited keynote speakers were Jim Mather, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Dick Walsh Leader Argyll and Bute Council and Roddy McDonald Head of Strategic Development & Partnerships, Third Sector Division, Scottish Government.
This is the first Trade Fair ever held in Argyll and Bute for social enterprises. In order to promote networking and trading all delegates were asked to mount a small exhibition detailing
their social enterprise and its activities. This part of the event and the networking it engendered proved extremely popular with delegates. Whilst the evaluation forms, comments and emails received post-event were all extremely positive it is difficult to be precise about the extent to which attendance has helped generate business. However, we can evidence that delegates learned more about each others enterprise, swapped information and shared experiences – for
example one group shared detailed information on funding sources.
74% of respondees found the event VERY Useful.
65% of respondees identified partners with whom they would trade within the next 12 months.
Evidence of intra trading
The event offered the opportunity for ABSEN Members to organise a formal meeting. One of the main items under discussion was to consider a suggestion that ABSEN Members seek to achieve economies of scale for audit and accounting services by grouping together all of their audit/accountancy needs under one contract and negotiating preferential terms with a private sector provider. (Audit and accountancy having be identified previously by Members as both increasingly expensive as well as one where the social enterprise sector ‘leaks’ money to the private sector)
The meeting overwhelmingly approved this initiative and have authorised further discussions to take place to progress this matter with a view to securing a contract for the beginning of financial year 2009/2010. In addition the Members endorsed further investigations for similar services such as insurance. Further reports will be brought back to the group on these areas.
Future key markets within Argyll and Bute
The sheer diversity of the social enterprise activity within Argyll and Bute makes it difficult to provide a comprehensive response. However, in general terms the Trade Fair showed the value of dedicated staff for ABSEN working on behalf of the Membership. No one organisation with in the Membership has the resources to organise event such as these.
The Membership have already agreed that ABSEN requires to develop further and are in the process of finalising a formal governance structure (company limited by guarantee with charitable status) in order that the social enterprise movement in Argyll and Bute can be both represented and supported. ABSEN will act as training organiser/provider, undertake lobbying functions, seek to achieve economies of scale for its Members and promote social enterprise.
The work undertaken to date has proved invaluable and is now beginning to show results.
The Council Leader, Councillor Dick Walsh, in his speech noted that he wanted to sit down with ABSEN to discuss barriers to procurement for Council contracts with a view to removing these;
wanted to promote joint working to procure higher quality local services; endorsed the proposed PSP for Argyll and Bute as worthy of further investigation and wished to explore ensuring that the benefits of social enterprises reached a wider audience including through the school curriculum.
Feedback from the Event (See also Appendix 3)
Social Enterprise Delegate
“My feet have hardly touched the ground since I last saw you but I just wanted to say a very big thank you to you both for such a great couple of days – I know xxxx would join me in saying that we got a lot out of it and made some great new friends and contacts!
Everyone was very impressed by the great atmosphere – and that it is quite an achievement to have such a crowd of enthusiasts all together in Argyll – its all about to take off...”
Social Enterprise Delegate
“Just a quick thanks for convincing me that the event would be worth attending - certainly was.”
Exhibitor
“Many thanks for the invite to the above event which I really enjoyed - you certainly have an enthusiastic committed group of people in your network and it was interesting speaking to them. I particularly enjoyed the Dragons Den event and I was particularly impressed with ........etc”
Workshop Leader
“I just wanted to say thanks again for the invitation to participate. It was one of those rare events that was not only useful and instructive, but also highly enjoyable.”
Social Enterprise Delegate
“Good time to have time to reflect in workshops. McSence inspiring.......Great to share experiences - v. valuable.”
Social Enterprise Delegate
A very worthwhile experience for which I am most grateful.
Social Enterprise Delegate
Thought mix of networking and speakers/presenters was v. good
Social Enterprise Delegate
Plenty of potential business opportunities for my very new venture
Social Enterprise Delegate
Just to let you know I thought the ABSEN conference was great and I met lots of new people and also managed to catch up with people I have worked with in the past which was a good
opportunity.
Appendix 1
Lynsey Anderson - Scotwest Credit Union
Brian Balmain - Bute Credit Union
Claire Berry - The Arran Voice
John Black - Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEiS)
Morag Brown - Oban Bay Marine
Morag Brown - Pennyghael Development Association
Morag Brown -Tobermory Harbour Association
Sandy Brunton - The Mull & Iona Community Trust
Colin Campbell - Senscot
Ailsa Clark - Fyne Homes
Alison Clarke - Isle of Bute Artist's Collective (IBAC)
Peter Creech - Ford Community Project Ltd.
Aaron Cyr - Cowal Music Group
Paul Egan - Media Solutions
Lorna Elliot - LEADER Project Co-ordinator (Argyll & Bute Council)
Andy Ferguson - Cowal Music Group
Hugh Fife - Fascadagh Ardmeanach Social Enterprise
Patrick Flynn - Communities Scotland
Deidre Forsyth - Scotwest Credit Union
Jackie Fulton - Home-start MAJIK
Mike Geraghty - Argyll & Bute
Lynn Hammal - Opportunity Kintyre
David Miles - Hanschell Surplus Educational Supplies
Edward Harkins - Scottish Urban Regeneration forum
Phil Hemmings - Ford Community Project Ltd.
Jessica Herriot - Bute Local Produce Feasibility Project
David Hewitt - Argyll & Bute Council, Mid-Argyll Community Learning & Development.
Gerry Higgins - Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEiS)
James Hilder - Mull Butchers Ltd
Stephen Hunter - Fascadagh Ardmeanach Social Enterprise
Naomi Johnson - First Port
Alex Johnstone - Big Lottery Fund
Robin Law - The Charity Bank
Roddy MacDonald - Head of Strategic Development & Partnerships, Third Sector Division, Scottish Government
Janet MacKellar - HELP (Argyll & Bute Ltd.)
Mairi MacKinnon - Mull & Iona Environmentally Sensative Solutions
Eoghan Malone - Media Solutions
Liz Marion - Community Learning Regeneration
Jim Mather - Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism
Neil Matheson - Atlantis Leisure
David McBride - TACT Green C Kayak Project
Fraser McCowan - Argyll Training Ltd.
Bert McGlone - Social Enterprise Academy
Neil McLean - Social Enterprise Academy
Sheila McLean - LEADER Argyll & the Islands LEADER Programme
Alan Milstead - Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Argyll and the Islands
Craig Mullen - Big Lottery Fund
Christina Noble - Here We Are
David Price - Argyll Coucil of Voluntary Services/Argyll and Bute
Volunteer Centre
David Rennie - The Step up Project
Alison Rimell - Argyll and Bute Social enterprise Network
Chris Rogan - Re-Create
Pierre Stadnik - Social Investment Scotland
Rhona Sutherland - Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Argyll and the Islands
James Suttie - Dunoon Community Development Group
Brian Tannerhill - McSence Ltd.
Mary Turner - Opportunity Kintyre
Yennie van Oostende - Bute Healthy Living Initiative
Dick Walsh - Leader Argyll & Bute Council
Nicola Welsh - The Nadair Trust
Sharron Farrell - Interloch Transport
Appendix 2
Social Enterprise Trade Fair & Dragon’s Den Programme 28th to 30th January - Venue: Royal Marine Hotel, Dunoon, Argyll
Monday Evening 28th January
4.00pm onwards Delegates arrive / check in
5.00 – 7.00 Preparation of display / exhibits - Trading
7.30 Conference Dinner with Keynote guest speaker: - Jim Mather, Minister
for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism
9.30 onwards Networking/Trading/Exhibits
Tuesday 29th January
9.00 – 9.30 Welcome and exhibition hall. Exhibits, networking and trading
10.00 – 11.15 Workshops Session 1
• Developing Your Enterprise Strategy - CEiS
• Marketing for Social Enterprise - SURF
• Maximise Funding Opportunities – The Big Lottery Fund
(repeated throughout the day, all delegates attend)
11.15 - 11.45 Tea / Coffee & Trading
11.45 – 12.30 Workshops Session 2
12.45 – 1.30 Lunch /Networking/Trading
1.45 – 2.30 Workshop Session 3
2.30 – 2.45 Introduction to Dragon’s Den – judges (Dragons!)
2.45 – 3.45 Dragons Den – Win up to £2,000
3.45 – 4.00 Coffee /network /trading
4.00 – 6.00 Dragons Den continued - Win up to £2,000
6.45 – 8.30 Dinner – with Keynote Guest Speaker - Councillor Dick Walsh,
Leader Argyll and Bute Council
8.30 -10.00 Den/Trading/ Network
Wednesday Morning 30th January
9.00 – 10.00 Case Study - Brain Tannerhill founder of Mcsence
“From Small Beginnings The McSence Story the first 20 Years!”
10.00 – 10.30 Roddy McDonald, Head of Strategic Development &
Partnerships, Third Sector Division, Scottish Government
10.30 – 10.45 Coffee/ Exhibition/Trade
10.45 - 12.00 ABSEN Meeting for all Enterprises – Strategic Future
12.00 Lunch, take down trade fair exhibits disperse.
ABSEN is extremely grateful to Third Sector Division of The Scottish Government, Communities Scotland and Argyll & Bute Council for funding this event.
The prize we are offering is a free offer of the programme ‘ Starting your Social Business’. The following
is an explanation of what it is:-
‘ILM Endorsed Award in Starting your Social Business.
A programme for social entrepreneurs, or people in community projects, who are at the stage of exploring the feasibility of their business idea and preparing a Business Plan. This programme will provide you with business start-up knowledge and skills in order that you can create, develop and sustain your social
enterprise or project.
It will give you business tools which you can use to develop a Business Plan for your own organization.’
Appendix 3
ABSEN TRADE FAIR & DRAGONS DEN FEEDBACK FORMS
23 Total Number of Respondees (5 agencies/guests 17 Member delegates).
74% - Percentage of Respondees who found the event Very useful
22% - Percentage of Respondees who found the event useful
0% - Percentage of Respondees who did not find the event useful.
65% - Percentage of respondees who met with someone with whom they hoped to do business within the year
65% - Percentage of respondees who met with someone with whom they hoped to do business in the future
4% - Percentage of respondees who made no trading links
Overall Rating of Marketing Workshop
9.1% - Excellent
52.27% - Good
27.27% - Fair
6.82% - Poor
4.54% - No Comment
Overall Rating of Lottery Workshop
13% - Excellent
50% - Good
20% - Fair
0% - Poor
17% - No Comment
Overall Rating of Strategy Workshop
17.05 - Excellent
56.82% - Good
13.63% - Fair
0% - Poor
12.5% - No Comment
Appendix 3 Continued
Overall Rating of Hotel Facilities
50% - Excellent
42.42% - Good
3.03% - Fair
1.52% - Poor
3.03% - No Comment
Speaker comment: Delighted with the calibre of the speakers. Good to hear it straight from the horses mouth ( so to speak)
Network comment: It was good just to see what others are doing.
Speaker Comment: Impressed with D Walsh speech. I would welcome it being downloaded onto the ABSEN website.
Speaker comment: Good to get national agenda and to get political support. Workshop comment: I expected interactive workshops.....
.......Other expected Masterclass. I would have preferred more interaction
Speaker comment: Brian Tannerhill & Jim Mather - very good
Speaker comment: Lottery speaker relied too much upon formulaic MS Powerpoint Presentation
Speaker comment: Good time to reflect in workshops. McSence inspiring. Network Comment: Great to share experiences - v. valuable.
Speaker comment: Good. General comment: Why no question on the excellent organisational team??
Speaker comment: Jim Mather’s input had several points of hope for future development
Speaker comment: Thought provoking/useful/inspiring
Network comment: Trading and networking was well organised and there was a ready willingness to share information
Network comment: A very worthwhile experience for which I am most grateful.
Speaker comment: Jim Mather - excellent speech and appears genuine!
Speaker comment: Unfortunate they were both on such tight timescales that we did not get the opportunity to chat with them.
Thought mix of networking and speakers/presenters was v. good
Speaker comment: All inspiring! Dragon's Den Fantastic!
Plenty of potential business opportunities for my very new venture
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