CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) have fantastic advertising and sponsorship packages available for businesses with prices starting from as little as £25 for Capital Sci Fi Con 2018, this is a unique chance to promote your business to over 7,000 attendees!
Capital Sci Fi Con is back for its third year and we are gearing up for it to be even bigger and better! In its new home at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange, on the 3 and 4 February 2018 we invite people to step into a magical world where their favourite movie, TV and comic book characters come to life and reality is left at the front door!
They say that not all superheroes wear capes and this is your chance to shine. 100% of the profits from the event are donated to CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) so your money goes to a fantastic cause and you get brilliant publicity for your business.
To find out more information please contact Laura Campbell on lauracampbell@chas.org.uk or call 0131 444 4900.
This training event, Wednesday 15 November, will provide a ‘how-to’ guide to crowdfunding for cultural organisations.
The event will include:
• The who, what and why of crowdfunding
• Crowdfunding stories
• Practical group exercises
• Methodologies
• Developing your network and target audience
This event is aimed at organisations who are considering undertaking a crowdfund and who have a project in mind and who want to understand how to plan a crowdfund.
Book: bit.ly/2hJ5NZG
Feedback on Introduction to Crowdfunding: ‘I expected to find too much complicated information and to be put off. I found it very helpful, positive and good fun.’
Isobel Leckie, Causey Development Trust
This month, we’re inviting Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce members to share their #MyEdinChamber stories.
We pride ourselves on providing a platform for businesses to create high-quality connections – through our member database, or face to face at one of our many networking events. We love to see our members connect and collaborate.
One such example is the partnership formed between Edinburgh Trams and the Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home. We invited Dean Anderson of Edinburgh Trams, and Nicola Gunn of the Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home to share their experience and their story.
1. Why did you both join the Chamber?
Nicola: We joined the Chamber as part of our new fundraising strategy was to increase our corporate network, building awareness and support for our work in the Edinburgh business community. As the Chamber is a well-respected organisation we thought it was an ideal place to start.
Dean: We joined the Chamber as part of the development of Transport for Edinburgh in 2013. We found the Chamber to be a well-respected organisation with high level members who are keen to network and discuss opportunities to collaborate, and the Chamber is key to us in developing these relationships.
2. How did this partnership begin?
Nicola: Edinburgh Trams got in touch to advise us that we had been put forward as one of several charities for staff vote to select their first ever charity of the year partnership. We were delighted to receive the majority vote and the partnership started from there!
Dean: We were keen to work with a local charity but wanted the staff to pick which charity that would be. Out of all the charities in Edinburgh and the Lothians, our staff nominated and overwhelming voted for the EDCH.
3. What role has the Chamber played in this collaboration?
Nicola: Our CEO Howard Bridges met Edinburgh Trams HR Manager Sue Bucher at a Chamber Dining Club networking meeting, Sue subsequently put us forward as one of the charities for the charity of the year staff vote.
Dean: We first met at a networking event through the Chamber which was coincidently a matter of days before our staff voted for them as their Local Charity of the Year. Having already made the connection, we got off to a quick start.
4. What value have you received as a result of this collaboration?
Nicola: The charity of the year partnership with the Trams is such a valuable relationship for Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. Not only are we receiving support from the business and its amazing employees but we are also able to raise awareness of our work with the Trams customer base too – people we may never have reached otherwise. Our mission is to rescue, reunite and rehome stray lost and abandoned dogs and cats across Edinburgh and the Lothians and this partnership is key to helping us do just that.
Dean: Not only have we raised money for a great cause but it’s also provided a way for our staff to become involved in our business activities and take part in events such as the charity cycle. It’s always nice to have a break from transport and talk about our next activity for EDCH.
5. What do you love most about your membership?
Nicola: Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce offers a wide variety of networking and training opportunities which means that you are never stuck going to the same old event again and again. The huge member directory means you are always guaranteed to meet new contacts at each event which is ideal when you are looking to expand your network like us. We also love that since joining we have really got to know some of the Chamber team, they genuinely care about and look after their members.
Dean: Making connections goes without saying. We’ve attended many networking events over the years which are not only interesting but a great way to meet people in business. Our connections have led to some fantastic work not only with EDCH but other members too. We’ve also hugely benefited from training arranged through the Chamber. Our Customer Experience team enjoyed it so much we went on to work independently with the training provider.
Over the month of July, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce are exploring stories of success that our members have had through their membership with us. We’re inviting all members of the Edinburgh Chamber, small and large, to share their news of partnerships, business wins, and collaborations.
Share your story on social media using the hashtag #MyEdinChamber, or email our Marketing team to be in to win fantastic prizes from fellow members Ten Hill Place courtesy of Surgeon’s Hall, and G&V Hotel.
For more details, get in touch with Emma Reid or Daniel Tipping in the Marketing & Communications team.
Geckotech Solutions have recently confirmed sponsorship of two sporting events taking place in the Edinburgh area this summer; the ClimbScotland Festival 2017 at EICA: Ratho and this year’s 707 UK National Championships at Port Edgar Marina.
Geckotech was borne out of a love of climbing and the general outdoors – so can’t think of a better way to fly the Geckotech flag than giving support to these two great events.
The Climb Scotland Festival 2017 is on Saturday 17th June – www.climbscotland.net/festival2017 – and is billed as the UK’s biggest youth climbing festival. It’s all about encouraging young people to try a huge variety of climbing-based activities. Climbing is for all ages; it’s something the whole family can do together. There’s no doubt that it builds confidence and provides a great sense of achievement when the next height is scaled or you’ve worked out how to conquer a particularly steep slope or awkward angle. There’s always another challenge and that provides the impetus to continue participating. Climbing is an activity very close to the heart of Geckotech Solutions’ Managing Director, Stephen Pearson. Prior to setting up the business, Stephen travelled the world pursuing his passion for climbing. This passion ultimately led Stephen to the world of rope access. Initially operating as a one-man show, he has grown Geckotech over the last 10 years into a very successful business.
When the business was initially established, it was essentially a rope access company. That single discipline lends itself to so many different applications, with a rule of thumb that if the job can be done at ground level, it can pretty much be done at height. The business has continued to expand its range of services over the last decade and we will continue to explore the potential of our engineering ‘solutions’. With the experience and expertise in place across a wide skill-set, the possibilities are endless. The future is bright for team Gecko – and it all began with climbing!
We move our focus onto the water for our sponsorship of the 707 UK National Championships, taking place at Port Edgar Marina from Thursday 29th June to Sunday 2nd July.
Port Edgar is a vibrant marina located on the Firth of Forth, between the iconic Road and Rail Bridges and the new Queensferry Crossing. The 707 is a one design open boat primarily enjoyed for racing in inshore waters. Since it was originally designed in 1995, the 707 has clearly established itself as the number one sports boat class for the national and club sailor.
The event will feature 4 days of competitive racing in beautiful surroundings. The organisers are aiming for at least 30 boats to be on the start line; a fleet of this size produces in excess of 150 competitors so with 12 Championship races planned, there’s going to be plenty of excitement to keep everyone enthralled.
More info on Geckotech Solutions here; www.geckotechsolutions.com.
