Pro Sheffield Strategy
This strategy document was agreed by the Pro Sheffield Board on the 17th April 2007. The Focus of Pro Sheffield is to:
- Raise the profile of the Financial & Professional Services sector by undertaking networking and knowledge events;
- Act as the voice for the sector in local and national economic regeneration;
- Assist in the professional development of sector skills.
Short Term Vision
To be accepted as the organisation representing the Financial & Professional Services sector in South Yorkshire and to promote the organisation regionally and nationally in order to generate business opportunities for its members.
Long Term Vision
To be the organisation promoting the Financial & Professional Services sector, as part of the Sheffield City Region, regionally, nationally and internationally in order to generate additional business opportunities for the sector in the region.
Short Term Objectives
The first priority is to ensure the organisation is financially sustainable without the need for government funding. This will be achieved by:
- Increasing membership to 80 by March 2008
- Increasing the amount of non membership income through "brokerage", special events, sponsorship, and training.
Key Issues
In order to fulfil its long term objectives the Pro Sheffield Board have agreed to change Pro Sheffield's name to Pro-Sheffield. This change will be implemented in August 2007.
Pro Sheffield covers the Financial & Planning Services sector which includes:
- Accountants
- Corporate finance
- Financial Services
- Insurance services
- Banks
- Funding businesses, inc venture capital, private equity, asset finance
- Legal practices
- Universities and similar institutions
- Architects, surveyors, property specialists
- Marketing, PR, advertising, media
- Consultants covering HR, management, recruitment, sales, strategy, employment, health & safety, finance, training, security etc.
There are reported to be around 30,000 people employed by 1,600 firms in South Yorkshire in the Financial & Professional Services sector and clearly Pro Sheffield does not have the resources to provide a comprehensive service to all these firms.
To represent the overall sector Pro Sheffield will have members representing each sector. It is proposed that over the next year a concentrated campaign should be undertaken to attract the largest and/or the most influential businesses in each sector to become members.
Target Membership
A proactive approach will be taken to attract larger organisations and organisations with high influence in the region.
Other businesses within the sector will be welcomed into membership but these businesses will come into membership as a result of PR, advertising or attending events.
Member businesses will be located within the Sheffield City Region, OR, the business is contributing to the wealth/expertise of South Yorkshire, using local resources; businesses applying for membership, based outside of the Sheffield City Region, will be judged on an individual basis by Pro Sheffield and reviewed annually.
Chambers of Commerce / Associate Membership
Associate Membership via the Chambers of Commerce will be discontinued. To date Pro Sheffield has only one associate member and the annual associate membership fee to Pro Sheffield does not cover basic costs.
Liaison and communication will though continue with the Chambers and joint events and activities undertaken on an as required basis.
Organisation
The current organisation of Pro Sheffield will be maintained for the foreseeable future and will be reviewed based on membership levels. The Pro Sheffield organisational chart consists of:
- Non Executive Chairman
- Board of Directors
- Deputy Chairman, Company Secretary, Treasurer
- Part time Chief Executive
- Part time (20 hours) Events and Communications
- Part time (20 hours) Admin/Membership
Pro Sheffield will continue to operate from the existing office at St James Row for at least the next year with the ongoing location dependent upon the office lease and funding implications.
Activities
The current level of events with approximately 2 per month will be maintained. Some of these will be joint events with organisations and the existing Specialist Groups will continue with others being formed as required. It is also proposed that a major awards evening event be organised by Pro Sheffield in 2008.
Over the coming months, more focus will be placed on working with Creative Sheffield, particularly in relation to Inward Investment.
