October: peer-to-peer collaboration
As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, we've spent the past month launching two of our latest peer networking groups. We're great believers in the value of business owners getting together in a room to unpack their challenges and share advice and perspectives.
Our Bamboo Club, for East Sussex business leaders turning over more than £250k, has just relaunched with its third cohort eager to learn from each other. We've seen such good results from the mix of workshops and group action learning that we've replicated the model for our University of Sussex Student Incubator, and held our first session earlier this week.
Who among our community would you like to meet and trade skills and experience with? Let us know what knowledge-sharing events you'd like to see!
Thinking Innovation
Our consultancy team share their insights around the latest trends in innovation. This month: KPIs, small teams, big funding gaps, and a chance to learn more about a few of our team members.
Read our latest articles
- 5 minutes with Fiona Bennett / 5 minutes with Maria Bedoya - Amy interviews our newly appointed Head of Finance & Systems, Fiona, and Programme Operations Manager, Maria. Read on for musings on topics as diverse as record players, creative accounting, fruit peel fabric and geopolitics.
- Mind the gap - Daisy examines the shocking differences in funding between male- and female-led start-ups, why it happens and what we can do about it.
- Hitting the targets - the games industry lead the way when it comes to measuring and acting on KPIs. Julius explains what business owners can learn from the world of first-person shooters.
- Want to do big things? Think small teams - scale can often be a barrier to decision making. Peter outlines how start-ups can succeed by building and empowering small teams.
What polar exploration can teach us about start-up strategy - the fate of the two explorers Scott and Amundsen illuminates how funding, technology and expectations can be both a blessing and a curse for entrepreneurs, as Joseph writes.
What's Happening?
A selection of the latest headlines from the Sussex Innovation community. This month, the HR Dept shares advice for businesses to earn employee loyalty, while Mojeek takes the lead on a new privacy pledge for the internet.
- HR Dept Eastbourne advises "Businesses have a unique opportunity to support their employees" - Serena May outlines how local businesses might respond to the likelihood of economic hardship this winter and help create a lasting bond with their staff.
- A privacy pledge for an internet that always puts people first - alternative search engine Mojeek has joined forces with other industry leaders and organisations to create a new Privacy Pledge for a more secure and privacy-focused internet.
Coming Up...
The most important dates for your diary next month. We'll be taking a month off from events during November, but we've highlighted a few interesting sessions led by our local partners and community below...
- Let's Do Business Finance Week 7th-11th Nov - a week of sessions with Let's Do Business and the British Business Bank, exploring the finance options available to small businesses - whether you're just starting up, looking for investment, or trying to go green.
- The Big Debate: Where have all the people gone? 16th Nov - Brighton Chamber hosts a panel debate and Q&A on the challenges facing the labour market, recruitment and sustainable employment in the face of economic turbulence.
- BIG South London Business Innovation & Growth Summit 29th Nov - bringing together stakeholders from higher education, business and local authorities across South London to discuss how innovation can support local jobs, skills and economic development.
University of Sussex Business School Innovation Network 1st Dec - Join the University Business School's new innovation network to refresh, reset and share your innovative thinking with other businesses, as well as hear presentations on topics including R&D, grant applications and tax.
