1. Lindsay Barton, Golden Kite Solutions ShropShare Member & Ambassador
Apologies from Sarah and Claire
GKS small business with a main focus on developing cross-sector partnerships to deliver community and public services.
I believe in developing solutions which deliver social, economic and environmental benefits, it’s integral to my business so I became a member and ambassador of ShropShare.

2. The bridge between better business and stronger communities.
A hub for socially responsible businesses to come together to improve and share practice around Corporate Social Responsibility and community engagement.
Launched in Oct 2013 as a way of strengthening relationships between private sector and the VCS and to encourage greater collaboration between the sectors.
We recognise that the different sectors have something to bring to the table and it is mutually benefit to work together.
Open to businesses of all sizes across all industries
More than just a network / how businesses may be able to work collectively to tackle some of the challenges facing the county e.g. youth unemployment?

3. Members
13 members Nationals to micro-businesses Target of 25 by December 2014
Members inc: Caterpillar, Henshalls, Golden Kite Solutions, Whittingham Riddell, Llanyon Bowdler, Tazamo, Alpha Chartered Surveyors, Hunter Bevan, Quaking Duck PR, Morris and Co, SCAT, TTC Group and FBC Manby Bowdler
100% business led

4. Helping businesses build mutually beneficial relationships with carefully chosen local charities or community projects that meet their businesses objectives.
Encouraging businesses to think more strategically about the relationships they develop with charities and community projects, not just financial support. Are they aligned to the company’s own strategic objectives?
Relationships / CSR are a good way of businesses being able to demonstrate social value.
ShropShare aims to raise awareness of some of the smaller charities that aren’t on businesses’ radar.

5. Professional development opportunities for staff
Calendar of events
Brokerage service
Professional development opportunities for staff
Employee volunteering opportunities
Strategic partnerships
Charity Challenge Event 30th April – theme around marketing – could give this a plug and say if you have a specific marketing challenge facing your charity get in touch.
Dragon’s Den event in October.
Activities around volunteers week in June.
Dating agency between businesses and charities with a need.

6. ShropShare aims to become the recognised way that Shropshire companies demonstrate that they are committed to socially responsible practice and community engagement.
We want ShropShare to become synonymous with businesses that are ethical, can be trusted and are good to their communities (staff and local)

7. Brainstorm – 3 minutes Select top 1 – 2 minutes
What could the VCS learn from the private sector?
What could the VCS teach the private sector?
Brainstorm – 3 minutes
Select top 1 – 2 minutes
Work up idea – 5 minutes
Brainstorm – 3 minutes
Select top 1 – 2 minutes
Work up idea – 5 minutes
What does the private sector do really well that the vcs could learn from? E.g. marketing – understanding the market / developing new services and products to respond to market needs / promotion of itself
What does the vcs do really well that could benefit private companies? – e.g. working in collaboration / mergers – the sector has had to do this to survive – more companies are going to need to do this in the future particularly if they are looking to secure public sector contracts that are getting bigger
Brainstorm – get as many ideas down in 3 minutes – give half way and 30 second time check – just one words answers will do – don’t discuss just write!!!!!
Out of everything you wrote down you now need to pick as a group the one that you think would be most beneficial to the vcs / private sector
How you select is up to you – dots by favourite / voting / discussion – 2 minutes
5 minutes to think about your top choice and think about how you would like to see that being put into action e.g. mentoring, training, placements, surgery sessions……

8. Please help us to spread the word
@shropshare
Claire Carter
Thank you for your hard work and ideas! No time to feedback in the session but flipcharts will be up on walls for people to look at and will form part of post conference feedback + we will be feeding this back to ShropShare members and discussing how we may be able to take some of these ideas forward.
Last plea – please help spread the word about ShropShare and pass on info to people who work in local businesses – husbands, children, neighbours etc….. THANKS