Lessons from Business: How to Run a Successful Club or Society

Introductions Dave Jarman:  Head of Enterprise Education  Ex Careers Service & UBU  Ex Sabbatical Officer  Ex Society & JCR President Principles:  You’re all running a business that provides a service to a customer (your members)  You’re trying to create value (profit) for your organisation  You’re trying to create a valued experience for your customers

The Lessons 1. Understanding your Market 2. ‘Product vs. Price’ 3. USPs 4. Goals, Culture, and Strategy 5. Talent Management

Lesson #1 Understand your market  Market = Audience  Customers = Members  You’re trying to encourage Customers to ‘buy’ a product or service from you – a membership and then regular engagement  Customers buy things that solve problems or fill gaps in their lives  Markets have segments of customers who buy different things in different ways and for different reasons What problem are you solving for your members? Could you describe your ‘average’ customer? Why do they buy your product or service?

Lesson #2 ‘Product’ vs. ‘Price’  People buy a product or service because it makes them happy  It also has to do this better than an alternative product or service  Every product or service also has a cost – financial, time & effort, reputational, etc…  Is your product worth your price? Can you define the value of your product or service in 3 bullet-points? How could you improve your product or reduce the ‘cost’ of membership?

Lesson #3 USPs – Unique Sales Proposition  What is UNIQUE about what your group offers?  What is better about your product or service than other competitors or alternatives?  Is your group distinctive in any way? Are you easily recognised and does your activity and image send the right messages? Can you define 1-3 USPs for your group? How could you improve your ‘brand’ with students – what kinds of values do you want students to associate with your brand?  Exciting, Professional, Friendly, Reliable, Caring, Convenient…

Lesson #4 Goals, Strategy, and Culture  Do you have a vision for how your group will look and operate in 1-2 year’s time?  Do you have goals and strategies for achieving those goals that your membership understands?  Does your group’s strategy survive the handover process?  What kind of culture do you need to create to run the group you want to have? Sketch out some goals and think about how you’d share these What kinds of characteristics would you want to be part of a group culture?

Lesson #5 Talent Management:  How do people find their way into power in your group?  Do the right people find their way into power in your group?  How do you spot, support, and manage talented members into power (without rigging elections)? What characteristics do you think your group leadership should have? How are new members likely to develop and improve those skills required?

What is the RBS ESSA? A recognised national accreditation for student societies to reward and recognise these skills Why apply? Give your CV a boost Enter the awards to win a share of £61,000 prize money Be invited to the RBS ESSA Awards attended by top UK employers & sponsors National press coverage for your society

How to apply: Visit See if your society meets the entry criteria Apply for accreditation and enter the awards online

Societies

New Enterprise Competition Open to students, staff, and recent graduates 4-page Business Plan submission by May 2014 Shortlist through to presentation panel in Autumn 2014 £35,000 prize fund Advice & workshops available Concepts, Plans and Trading start-ups all welcome and judged separately

Business start-up support Advice & guidance Seed funding (£30k) Desk space Education & Networking events – ‘Monday Means Business’ Mentoring match-making Summer Enternships (£ desk) Surgeries:  Book-keeping  Branding  IP & Legal Matters Facebook search ‘Bristol Basecamp’

Basecamp Master-classes Weekly short talks on start- up:  Generating ideas  Good Ideas vs. Good Business ideas  Understanding the market  Company Formation  Resources for start-ups  IP for start-ups  Finance  Elevator Pitches  Business plans Facebook search ‘Bristol Basecamp’