Arts & Business Scotland (A&BS) is launching a new programme to help not for profit arts organisations operate more efficiently in a business environment. Business Briefings is a series of short seminars run by A&BS in conjunction with our business members to facilitate cross-sector sharing of knowledge and skills.

The sessions will take the format of either a traditional business breakfast, held first thing in the morning with breakfast provided, or an early evening session – both with a strong focus on providing the opportunity to network.

Skills Development Manager, Catriona Reynolds said: “We’re seeing a growing demand among our arts members for training which is more business orientated and we aim to address this through the Business Briefings.  We’re delighted to be working with our business members to deliver a programme which is relevant and specific to the needs of the cultural sector and look forward to rolling this out more widely.”

For the first phase of Business Briefings, sessions will be delivered at A&BS headquarters in Haymarket with plans to extend these to other locations in Scotland as required. The first session will take place on 29th September and is being delivered by Keegan & Pennykid on the issue of insurance cover. ‘Take Cover’ will include a run-down of the main classes of insurance, including Property, Liabilities, Professional Indemnity & Associated risks and Trustee Indemnity. The session will help identify what cover organisations need and how to go about presenting the right information.

The second session titled ‘Managing Yourself’ will be delivered on 3rd November by Caroline Donaldson, an executive coach and Director of Kynesis Coaching. This session is aimed at chief executives and will focus on how to stay resilient.

Other subjects which will be covered in the first phase include:

• General employment law update
• Managing disciplinary and grievance procedures
• Workplace pensions – an employer’s guide

Future topics will include areas such as writing a business plan; understanding charity accounting; building maintenance; and contracts and procurement.

To take part in a business briefing either as an arts organisation or a business wishing to support the cultural sector by delivering a session, please email our events team.