WHY VOLUNTEER WITH BIA:NW?

Business in the Arts:North West:

• is an established management volunteering initiative
• provides development opportunities for managers and professionals from the private sector
• provides opportunities for community involvement
• helps the arts and museums, a sector which is so important to the quality of life and economy of the region.

Recognising the pressures that business people and professionals are under today, BIA:NW’s programmes require only a small time commitment and are designed to allow managers to become involved outside normal working hours.

MANAGEMENT AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

THE SKILLS BANK matches the skills and expertise of managers with the specific needs of arts organisations and museums.  Popular subjects include business planning, IT, finance, marketing, HR and legal issues.  The benefits of these volunteering opportunities are in personal and management development for managers which in turn deliver benefits to employers.  Induction is provided to all Skills Bank advisers.

Managers can leave their normal ‘comfort zone’  and use their skills in a creative and challenging environment.  This frequently means an improvement in communication, influencing and other people skills; developing the ability to adapt ideas and processes; thinking laterally to find solutions to problems especially when budgets are tight; developing experience in areas like change management and problem solving and perhaps sharpening skills that are underused.

“Just a wonderful scheme.  The best development a business person can get.’

‘An excellent way of gaining experience and understanding, not to mention ideas and examples to take back to work.’

THE BOARD BANK introduces business managers to arts organisations seeking specific skills for their non-executive boards.  BIA:NW provides introductory training for all candidates. It encourages a longer term relationship between the volunteer and a single organisation,

This programme offers many of the same benefits as the Skills Bank, but also enables a business manager or professional to be involved with an arts organisation at a strategic level and to develop team working and leadership skills. 

‘Be reassured - you are not in reality giving anything up, in fact you are likely to be gaining a great deal - for once a situation where everyone benefits. Give it a whirl!’

‘Learning from the ‘can-do’ approach on a shoestring can be taken away to apply in other, nominally more sophisticated, situations.’

‘My involvement helped me gain promotion!’

MENTORING provides the opportunity for a one to one relationship with a senior arts or museum manager and is designed to help the arts manager develop to their potential in a sector where structured management training is a rarity.  Individuals with experience of people development, though not necessarily mentoring, are sought for this programme.  Induction is provided to all Mentors.

Mentors can sharpen their development skills and how to build confidence in others, improve their self awareness and interpersonal communications and discover new ways of problem solving – all in a different and stimulating sector.

‘An excellent and worthwhile programme which benefits both sides in the relationship.’

‘'Awareness of the difficulties of working in the public sector has helped me establish credibility with a new client.’

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP OF BIA:NW

Support for BIA:NW demonstrates that a company is concerned for the community in which it operates; wishes to support the development of its managers and engenders employee loyalty.

Membership of BIA:NW gives a company’s employees priority when opportunities are being matched.  Involvement with the creative sector through BIA:NW provides an inexpensive yet valuable supplement to the management development of key staff. 

Many professional bodies endorse this volunteering as contributing to continuing professional development.

All Corporate Members are credited on all of BIA:NW’s publications and stationery and on our website.