September 2009

As not enough IatE NI Directors present to form a quorum the following notes were made for reference. The final Business Plan was received by email at 4pm today and Directors did not have a chance to go view this before the meeting. Jeff briefly went through the Business Plan and the two three-year Financial Forecasts for 2009 – 2012 as summarised:

Scenario A - Shows a closing balance deficit of -£49k. Forecast includes income derived from …

§ £10k grant from SIC

§ A contract for £15k for the provision of SIC support services in 2009-2010

§ A BDC staff income forecast for the provision of a range of business support services

Scenario B – Shows a closing balance of £302 only. Forecast includes income derived from …

§ £10k grant from SIC

§ A Service Level Agreement from SIC for £15k for the provision of business support services

§ A 60% increase on original BDC staff income forecast for the provision of a range of business support services

After much discussion, Douglas stated that the Business Plan was still not strong enough to justify SIC funding at this point and suggested Directors met ASAP and finalise a specific Mission Statement for what BDC hope to achieve along with revised figures to show a balanced Business Plan. Douglas also advised costs would have to be trimmed or more projected income shown before SIC could agree to core funding for the first year. Michelle will arrange a meeting and get back to Douglas and Jeff ASAP to update Business Plan and if agreeable, Douglas has the authority to put core funding in place for one year (Oct 2009 to Oct 2010) within the week as monies have already been allocated to the EDU.

SIC intend to set five targets for core funding which all agreed are very achievable:

(1) Encourage 10 businesses/organisation to make more effective us of broadband (with Pathfinder access) to achieve online trading and/or home office working.

(2) Encourage 10 businesses/organisation to become more efficient through sourcing better suppliers online.

(3) Organise two high level broadband (Pathfinder) awareness days

(4) Organise one training event

(5) Undertake a survey of businesses and organisation in the North Isles to evaluate the existing use and existing problems associated with broadband access and how it affects business growth

After much discussion the main points were noted should core funding be confirmed:

§ This could be viewed as a one year pilot scheme for a new Business Support Services in the NI

§ BDC need to concentrate on marketing and promotion to continue after core funding finishes

§ BDC need to set up a great service that is not available elsewhere in the NI to compete with BT after they upgrade the local exchanges for better Broadband access within the next two years

§ Get confirmation from Train Shetland and Shetland College for future support for using BDC services when video conferencing and online streaming available for training purposes

§ Michelle check costs for video conferencing equipment and Douglas will ask SIC ICT if kit available for BDC to try out once Pathfinder in place

§ Approach Fairer Scotland next year for help in keeping BDC going for Year 2

§ Robert will speak to local businesses again about CPC Driver Training based at Sellafirth

§ Contact DTAS regarding advice on social accounting to strengthen future funding applications

§ Douglas will contact HIE re reduction of rent for first year (Oct 09 – Oct 10), Guys Smith re Pathfinder update, Fiona Stirling re training opportunities in Unit 2 and Policy Unit re SIC Remote Working promotion day in November and get back to Michelle with updates.

Michelle forward revised Mission Statement and financial statement ASAP. The meeting ended at 8.10pm.