SfG and Plexus Teaser Event - Inverness 13th March

On 13th of March we were treated into a real insight into what makes a successful collaboration by Plexus and SfG Software that had recently worked together, with HSPC, on a project to redevelop the way HSPC provided information to their customers via their website and through their shop in Inverness City Centre.

David Garvie from SfG talked about how he was initially approached by HSPC after they had been visited by a consultant ITspecialist from Edinburgh who had proposed a very expensive solution to the issues they were having. David visited HSPC shortly after this initial contact and then put together a proposal which looked at what they were currently doing - much of which worked really well infact. Instead of advising them to reinvent the wheel he advised them to fix the 20% which wasn't working as they wished. This turned into a project that involved Plexus Media who provided the website and quite a bit of the technical support they currently used and were very happy with infact, the main issue was that they had a separate system which didn't work in tandem with Plexus and this caused lots of issues keeping the systems up to date, in sync etc.

Energy North Inverness Focus Group Lunch 6th March

On the 6th of March Fusion attended the Energy North Inverness Focus Group lunch at the Kingsmills Hotel. These events provide an opportunity for attendees to find out the latest development in the Energy industry in the area, to hear about Energy North activity and to update others as well as to ask plenty of questions.

The format of the event was really good with plenty of time to discuss issues. Interface did a presentation on how to use their service to work effectively with Universities throughout the whole of Scotland and provided some interesting examples of really effective partnerships they had helped create.

Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association Opportunities

The Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association has identified a potential need to seek support on a wide range of activities and wishes to establish a register for the next 18 months of individuals and businesses interested in working on short term projects on a contract basis. The skills or expertise currently anticipated are;

Project Management/Co-Ordination
Marketing (inc social media)
HR - Market Research
General Research
Finance
Local knowledge of all areas and tourism businesses in the Outer Hebrides
Archaeology
Wildlife
Photographer
Database creation/maintenance
Graphic/creative design
Website specification
General office support

The hourly rates for the contracts will vary from National Minimum Wage up to £14.50 per hour depending on the specific requirement of the contract.

If you have skills or expertise in these areas and would be willing to work on tourism related projects then please contact Ian Fordham (ian@tourism-hebrides.co.uk) for an application form and more information.

Applications close on Friday 16th March 2012
 

Fusion at 4Networking 7th February 2012

It was an early start here at Fusion to take part in the 4Networking event at the Kingsmills Hotel. This group has been running for nearly 2 years and meets every fortnight for a breakfast networking session. The sessions are informal with the first 30 minutes for open networking, an introductions round (over breakfast), a speaker section of around 10-15 minutes and 3 ten minute appointments with people you want to meet in the room. 4Networking has networking breakfasts throughout the UK and is now spreading further afield - to Australia for example. Membership costs are £200 for 200 days membership plus £10 for each breakfast you attend. Non member attendance is limited to 3 breakfasts. Fusion was attending to promote Fusion as a networking organisation but also to look for opportunities, connections and links for our members.

The Secret of Business Success is Potatoes

At long last we have discovered the secret of business success and it's clearly related to the humble spud.

At the Fusion conference in November 2011 Peter Crome opened his speech by telling the audience his first job in catering and hospitality was peeling potatoes and he did this for three weeks solid. He was very proud of his potato peeling skills to the current day.

A recent news article about Steve Langmead of Capita UK stated that he started life as Mr Chip walking the streets of Aberdeen accompanied by his friend Harry Haddock.

Women in Business at 4Networking Inverness

Today, 24th January 2012, Fusion attended a 4Networking breakfast in Inverness with some members of it's Women in Business group. It was great to see a full house in the Burns Room of the Kingsmills Hotel and to be advised by Paula from the hotel team that Robert Burns did infact dine in that room previously and the letter about this occasion is behind reception for anyone interested.