Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce has been praised for its creative networking events after they led to the launch of a successful co-working group.
The collective of business owners, who have informally named themselves Project Kaleidoscope, now meet monthly to collaborate and support one another and have won new contracts after tendering for work together.
They met after attending the Chamber’s popular ‘Hub Club’ sessions, run by President Lynn Harris and her team, which aim to connect members and help them gain practical advice to manage business challenges by discussing a wide range of topics.
Rebecca Maxwell, a coach, trainer and facilitator who runs Business Strategy & Leadership Development consultancy Perception Insights, was instrumental in forming the co-working group after meeting fellow Forth Valley Chamber members who had similar goals and values at the sessions.
She organised an initial co-working day which was so successful it became a regular event with the seven business owners gathering monthly at the University of Stirling Innovation Park.
Rebecca said: “Without Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce and their inventive networking sessions, we would never have got the group together and been able to pool our resources and support each other in the way we do.
“We wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet so organically and our success really is down to the atmosphere Lynn and her team work so hard to create at each of their networking events.
“They have structured and unstructured opportunities to meet other members which are not just about people giving their ‘elevator pitch’ – instead, they manage to forge a collaborative spirit which helps foster genuine connections with like-minded people and a way forward.
“The tagline of the Hub Club is `Friends Helping Friends Achieve Commercial Success’ and that is certainly what has happened with the creation of Project Kaleidoscope and something we are all grateful for.”
She added: “I love having my own business and being my own boss but miss working as part of a team. Having other people to sound ideas out on has been just one of the many benefits of our informal alliance. A more tangible one has been the increased capacity to bid for bigger – and more interesting – contracts. Joining Forth Valley Chamber and meeting my fellow members was definitely a highlight of last year for me!”
In addition to the monthly Hub Club, the Chamber runs regular networking events ‘Take a Walk Outdoors’ – where members can connect during a walk on the University of Stirling campus – and `Let’s Network’ which allows members to network during a visit to the premises of fellow business owners.
President Lynn Harris is delighted to see her networking events lead to such a thriving collaboration between members and welcomes the positive feedback.
She said: “We pride ourselves on forging connections between our members and are pleased to offer a variety of networking opportunities and other business-related events to support them.
“I’m thrilled to see how much of a success Rebecca and her fellow members have made of Project Kaleidoscope and what they have achieved really does demonstrate the Chamber network in action.
“Offering business support and giving members the chance to meet, gain the trust of and potentially collaborate with others locally is key and is exactly what we aim to offer.”
Sarah-Jane (SJ) Dale, Founding Director of Progress Partners which delivers sales, marketing and training solutions, is another member of Project Kaleidoscope who met Rebecca at Hub Club.
The pair instantly connected and soon joined forces with the rest of the group members – executive coach Janis Bovaird-Martinez, creative strategist and designer Susi Sinclair, accountant Paula McMonagle, HR consultant Fiona Martin and business consultant Alastair Clarkson.
SJ said: “I’ve been in the Chamber for three years and go to as many networking events as possible. I really connected with Rebecca at Hub Club and we developed a friendship and did some projects together.
“Then it all snowballed when Rebecca invited various individuals she’d met through Chamber networking to get together in November for what we thought would be a one-off working day but which led to so much more.
“We all felt from the outset that we had very aligned values and missions and were excited to explore any opportunities there might be to collaborate and support each other in the growth of our businesses.”
Since starting the group, the co-workers have won three contracts which they are delivering together – for Scottish Enterprise, City of Glasgow College and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority – and have more bids in the pipeline.
SJ explained: “We now meet monthly with the format of the sessions varying – sometimes we workshop something specific a colleague is working on or we give feedback on a new product one of us is launching. And sometimes we split off into smaller groups to work together on tender bids or project work with the emphasis always on sharing openly and supporting one another.
“We decided to call ourselves Project Kaleidoscope because our work together is varied and shifting but always colourful and interesting!”
She added: “I really admire the work of the Chamber team, particularly in terms of connecting people, and they were so instrumental in us getting together. They are proactive and care about building a strong community and about their members and that is a huge part of their success.”
Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, praised the collaboration and Forth Valley Chamber’s networking opportunities.
She said: “Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce has been transformational under the leadership of their President and Board. It continues to focus on supporting business and is an excellent example of what Chambers deliver across all of Scotland. It also demonstrates the innovation we deliver every day driven by our members and customers. Success is well deserved. Well done to all.”
