LabNotes
In February, Gregor Rae, Chairman and CEO of BusinessLab, gave an inaugural lecture to the International MBA student cohort at the University of Aberdeen. "The Art of the Pitch" is the first of two modules intended to help students improve and finesse their presentations to potential investors and employers. The second module is entitled "The Science of the Pitch".
The future is in Newcastle
Technology Watch website lauds the Microsoft Corporation - ActiveAge presentation at the Gerontological Society of America's annual conference in New Orleans, and cites Newcastle upon Tyne as 'the future' in terms of ageing.
Read more...ActiveAge
The ActiveAge team has started another wave of research into robotics, which will provide the theme for the next ActiveAge publication. A Newcastle partner meeting has also been scheduled for the 26th of January, when plans for the 2011 ActiveAge Summit will be finalised.
Renewables
The BusinessLab research team has been looking into the growing renewable energy sector. The team is particularly interested in the markets and business models that are developing within this area - and the strategies and processes that are being deployed to capitalise on the opportunities.
More Agents for Swansea
The City and County of Swansea Council are training up a new cohort of Signature Agents. A total of 36 new Agents are being trained to deploy the Family Learning Signature with families across the city.
Sample projects
The Wise Group
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BusinessLab and the Wise Group Developing new solutions to understand and improve employability The Wise Group is a leading social enterprise with a reputation for developing and managing efficient, innovative and flexible ways into work. Many clients accessing Wise Group services are long term unemployed whose main challenge is to gain and sustain work. The Wise Group sought to more fully engage with and understand the challenges these clients face. Responding to individual needs and successful engagement at the initial stage of contact between Wise Group advisors and their clients is a vital part of the process. Along with this, an ability to map the clients’ progress and raise awareness of developing challenges is also crucial to achieving a successful outcome. Recognising that BusinessLab’s Signature tools have been successful in engaging hard to reach groups and providing key ‘bottom up’ information, led the Wise Group to commission the development of a bespoke Employability Signature for use with their client base. The development of the Employability Signature for the Wise Group had three main aims:
BusinessLab undertook a process of desk-based research into the core conditions of long-term unemployment and to further inform an understanding of the client group and the interactions between the client and Wise Group Advisors, BusinessLab participated in two induction programmes. A successful beta test of the Employability Signature process with existing clients has led to its full adoption by the Wise Group with a major roll out planned for 2011. |
Partner quotes
- "In our drive to improve the performance of a diverse international group, BusinessLab's Corporate Signature has given us a unique picture of the organisational barriers and levers to successfully delivering our corporate change programme.""The Signature has also stimulated collaboration between our business units and has helped management to shape communications and define a clear and focused action plan"Raymond PirieVice President, Intertek plc
- "For any individual interested in older adults or any for-profit or non-profit entity looking for expertise, guidance or relevant data ... there is no greater integrated experience or seamless, end-to-end data than what is being orchestrated by ActiveAge."Dr Gary Moulton
Product Manager
Microsoft Corporation - "BusinessLab’s development and maintenance of the ActiveAge website and information stream is both a regional resource in the United Kingdom and a model that others around the world are attempting to emulate.""But ActiveAge is doing more than collecting and distributing information. It has become a valuable nexus of business, government, universities and NGOs. I can assure you there are few activities in the world that have successfully brought together the various interests."Prof Joseph CoughlinFounding Director
MIT Age Lab - "ActiveAge has opened up for us a whole range of new and sometimes unexpected opportunities, helping us to think in fresh ways...and facilitating the development of innovative partnerships across the public, community and private sectors.""The BusinessLab team has been consistently responsive to our needs, playing a key role in helping us shape our thinking about the future."Colin WilliamsDirector Of TransformationNewcastle City Council
"I see BusinessLab as a key partner adding considerable value to our existing work as well as differentiating us from others working in similar fields. I am in no doubt that this relationship will evolve over time to our mutual benefit."
Ken Milroy
Chief Executive
The Aberdeen Foyer- "The stimulus, analysis and encouragement provided by BusinessLab has guided the school into developing many innovative solutions to more effectively deal with families."
Kevin Beaton
Head teacher
Sydney Smith School "Partnering with BusinessLab brings both traditional and non-traditional benefits to the relationship.
True to BusinessLab's reputation, the company is composed of a tight nucleus of professionals who are result driven. This tight nucleus has formed a loose association with many expert contacts around the world, giving you, the partner, an exposure to new ideas, new people and best practice."
Peter Griffiths
President
Jersey Information Society Commission (Ret)
