The Royal Agricultural College supports a programme of international development to encourage international sharing of best practice in rural economic development. Many of the team are ministers in agriculture from a range of African countries such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi. The group are in Buckinghamshire keen to see how farmers in Bucks have diversified and if there are any ideas that can be utilised in their own countries.

David Campbell the Chairman of the African Fellowship Trust said “When these folks see what is being done by farmers here with LEADER rural grants, it gives them ideas for managing rural grants in their own country.”

The group came to see Barry Parslow of Parslow Apieries and asked endless questions about the process and how it could be transferred to Africa. One fellow said he could see the link between better arable production and better bee keeping and felt that many communities in his own country could benefit from some small investment in equipment. When visiting Chiltern Ridge Apple Juice in Chartridge another member of the team thought that the processing and pasteurisation of fruit may be a good project for a Nigerian schools and community business.

“They always ask such interesting questions. They area a really committed group and I am pleased to think we are helping with projects overseas.” Said Franca and Evert Donker of Chiltern Ridge Apple Juice.

“It is really interesting to hear how the projects can be transferable to other parts of the world. Just one of these chaps can influence national policy and could make a massive difference to hundreds of rural communities. They have a real interest in the practical and financial implications of LEADER projects.” Said Nick Phillips, LEADER Programme Manager .

The group visited Meads Farm in Marsworthy to look at how Simon Meads turns rape seed plants into cooking oil high in omega 3 and then to Town Farm in Ivinghoe to see how Charles Leach of Town Farm has turned his farming assets into a camp site and holiday cottage project.

The group left with some really interesting ideas of how some really innovative rural businesses in Bucks may operate in Africa.

Contact for more information: Nick Phillips 01494 568 969

www.leader-programme.org.uk

• Is the local environment valuable to business?
• How are businesses currently engaging with the natural environment?
• Are there any business opportunities / benefits to be had in working more closely with the natural environment?

Our findings will inform part of a proposal back to the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs for a local nature partnership and your involvement will ensure that we get the voice of business heard – and hopefully ensure that there are benefits to be gained for business within such a scheme.

The two focus groups will be held on the following dates:

Tuesday 17th April 8am – 10am
Tuesday 24th April. 6.00pm – 8.00pm

The meetings will be held at The Clare Foundation, Saunderton Estate, Saunderton, HP14 4BF.

For more information and to confirm your attendance please email events@ngagesolutions.com.

But before you start embarking on a partnership, you need to start thinking about the people that you already know within your network, or sometimes you need to start networking first in order to look for a partner.

If you asked me what makes a good networker, I could say a number of fixed factors according to my own experience. A cocktail that starts with your own DNA (your genes will define what your personality is from the very beginning), your upbringing and the culture which you identify with, fate and luck in who you meet at different events and, of course, once you are more experienced planning to be more effective when it comes to meeting new people.

If you are starting to network and meet potential business collaborations by attending events, I would suggest that you prepare yourself by making sure you have a clear, concise and sexy networking pitch. Here are 4 steps to build this sexy and appealing networking pitch:

1. Open the conversation by being interesting, sometimes a little bit shocking. Why not?

2. Follow by demonstrating that your business offers a solution to a problem (ideally global and easy to understand). We are in world where benefits to customers follow on from the offer to solve their problems.

3. Use a case study. It could be the most recent customer you have acquired, for example. You can also make it real by giving it a full identity, such as the name of the person, age, situation, etc…

4. Be passionate about what you do. Don’t be afraid to show why you love your job/your business.

So you have an attractive networking pitch, what next?

Make sure you don’t forget practical things such as:

• Wear your badge on the right hand side (much easier for people to see your name when shacking your hand)
• Work the room
• Never corner people (they end up being scared or bored of you)
• Don’t mix food and drink with the conversation as this is quite distressing for the other person whose attention you are trying to get
• Use clear and simple language, avoid technical vocabulary
• Try to be personal and not look like the conversation is simply a business transaction
• Add little touches that will make you seem unique such as the addition of a QR Code on your business card or having your own branded badge
• Don’t be afraid to stand out of the crowd, always for the right reasons, of course.

In summary, if you have decided to give networking a go, don’t be afraid of being memorable, think outside of the box when you attend an event, and start joining the dots between all the connections you have in order to tap into other people’s knowledge, contacts or even funding? And if in doubt, here is what will always work to calm anyone’s nerves in any situation, a good old fashioned SMILE.

Placi O’Neill-Espejo

Placi O’Neill-Espejo is Partnership Manager for Bicester Vision, a project hosted by Ngage.

Photo Credit: Hampton Roads Partnership

Property fund manager Highcross has expanded the shower and changing facilities at its 1000 Lakeside office building in Portsmouth, in a bid to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and cycle into work.

Match-funding for the new facilities was provided by the Sustainable Routes European-funded grant scheme, delivered by Ngage that assists businesses to reduce the cost of travel and lower their environmental footprint.

The opening of the brand new changing area, which includes five new showers, coincided with the business park’s inaugural Bike to Work week and the formation of a Bike Users Group for Lakeside North Harbour.

Highcross and IBM also jointly fund a free shuttle bus, linking the business park with local train and bus stations, for people who want to use other sustainable ways to get to and from work.

Karen Tyrrell, sales and marketing manager at 1000 Lakeside added: “We are hoping that the opening of these additional facilities, and the recent great weather, will encourage more of our occupiers to look at greener ways of getting to work, or just take advantage of our wonderful surroundings, by going for a run at lunchtime or the start of the day.”

Grants of up to £1,000 are available to SMEs in the South East to cut travel costs. You can apply online now; the website hosts examples of businesses who have received grants to buy equipment that supports flexible working. Visit www.sustainableroutes.co.uk for more information.

Through the conversations John Hutchison held with over 60% of the staff, he recognised the complete transformation we have gone through, and the radical changes that have been made to our business model over the past two years.

I am proud that together we have faced up to our challenges and tackled them head on, to continue to deliver grant funding to our local businesses.

“Ngage epitomises the Investors in People philosophy of “business improvement through people”, John reported.

In a new world full of uncertainties over grant aided funding due to changes in the political and economic environment,we at Ngage have taken the knocks like everyone else, but we have also looked for new opportunities. It was good to hear John’s perspective on us, as he is observing many organisations who are in denial about the present conditions of austerity.
I can tell it’s more than just a job to the people who work here, and I can assure you that the senior management team will continue to encourage new ideas, listen to everyone and trust the workforce to be creative and innovative.

Finally, John said, “I would like to say to all the staff I interviewed, I found it inspiring to listen to your stories. What you have achieved is very significant. I left you with a hop and a skip!”

It is my privilege to lead such a team who are determined to support the local community they serve.

Philippa Batting

Philippa Batting is Ngage’s Managing Director, to contact Philippa email philippa.batting@ngagesolutions.co.uk or call 01494 568 977