Northern Ireland Assembly and Business Trust Board of Trustees Meeting

Monday 19th January, 4:00pm Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

AGENDA 1. Apologies

2. Declaration of interests

3. Adoption of previous minutes – (two drafts attached) TAB 1

4. Matters arising

5. Correspondence TAB 2

6. Financial update TAB 3

7. Past and upcoming events and speakers TAB 4

8. Feedback and video views from recent events TAB 5

9. European Educational Programme TAB 6

10. Inter Parliamentary Programmes TAB 7

11. Proposed Washington Programme

12. 2015 President’s Dinner

13. Articles of Association

14. Associate membership TAB 8

15. Membership TAB 9

16. Membership analysis TAB 10

17. E banking amendment TAB 11

18. Internal audit

19. AOB

NIABT Board of Trustees Meeting

Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2014/2015 Date: Monday 10th November 2014 Venue: Room 21, Parliament

Buildings The meeting opened in public session at 5:02pm. Present: Judith Cochrane MLA Chair Leslie Cree MBE MLA Robin Newton MLA Michael Bell NI Food & Drink Association Chris Brown MCE PR Alan Dickson PricewaterhouseCoopers Stephen Kelly Manufacturing NI John O’Farrell ICTU John Rooney Rooney Fish John Stewart Director of Information and

Outreach Richard Stewart Treasurer Dr Joanne Stuart OBE Attrus Ltd., Vice Chair In Attendance: Susie Brown Secretary Louise Close Deputy Secretary Ivor Gibson Co-ordinator Apologies: Phil Flanagan MLA Alban Maginness MLA Claire Sugden MLA

James Haughey Norbrook Laboratories

1. Apologies: Apologies are noted above.

2. Declaration of Interests:

None 3. 2014/15 Annual Accounts and Trustee Report

David Gray from RSM McClure Watters presented the accounts and Trustee Report to the Board

Agreed: The Board agreed the content of the

accounts, having previously agreed the content of the Trustee Report.

Stephen Kelly joined the meeting at 5:11pm

4. Minutes of the meetings held on 22nd September 2014:

Agreed: The Minutes of the Board meeting held on 22nd September were agreed by the Board.

5. Matters arising: The Chair advised the Board that:

The majority of matters arising from the agenda at the previous meeting had formed the basis for the agenda items for this meeting.

The Chair noted that Directors & Officers insurance has now been purchased from Marsh.

6. Correspondence:

An item of correspondence was received from the Food Standards Agency proposing to deliver a briefing to the NIABT on the food hygiene rating scheme.

Agreed: The Board decided not to pursue this offer through the NIABT but the Secretary agreed to meet with the Food Standards Agency to explore other avenues of engagement.

7. Financial Update:

The Chair referred the Board to a copy of the latest figures in relation to 2014/2015 NIABT Income/ Expenditure which included updated expenditure in relation to the 2014 European Programme.

Agreed: The Board agreed the content of the financial update.

8. Past and Upcoming Events

The Chair referred the Board to a list of past and future Business Trust events.

Agreed: The Board agreed to hold a Christmas Reception at Kingspan Stadium in December. The secretariat is to establish a suitable date and liaise with stadium officials to arrange.

Robin Newton MLA leaves the meeting at 5:23pm. John O’Farrell joins the meeting at 5:23pm.

9. Timing of future Board Meetings:

Agreed: The Board agreed to pilot a new time of 4:00pm for Board Meetings.

Dr Joanne Stuart joins the meeting at 5:27pm.

10. European Educational Programme: The Board discussed the upcoming European Programme which will take place from 17 – 19 November 2014.

11. 2015 President’s Dinner:

The Chair advised the Board that a letter had been issued to Jill McDonald, North West Division President and Chief Executive Officer, McDonald’s UK to invite her to speak at the dinner.

Agreed: The secretariat will follow up on this matter with Jill McDonald and will look at a contingency if required.

12. Review of Articles of Association:

The Chair advised the Board that the NI Assembly secretariat has been working with Cleaver Fulton Rankin to rewrite the Articles of Association prior to registration with the NI Charities Commission.

Agreed: The Board will meet separately to discuss and approve the revised Articles of Association. The Board still wishes to retain charitable status.

13. Membership:

The Chair referred the Board to a list of applications from local organisations to join the Trust and asked the members if they were happy to approve these applications.

Agreed: The Board agreed to approve all applications.

14. President’s retirement:

Agreed: The Board approved the issue of a letter to the former NIABT President, William Hay on his recent retirement.

15. Any Other Business:

Date of Next Meeting

The Chair confirmed that a special board meeting would be arranged to discuss the Articles and that the next meeting would be held on Monday 19th January at 4:00pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:38pm.

Mrs Judith Cochrane MLA Chair, Northern Ireland Assembly and Business Trust 19th January 2015

Northern Ireland Assembly and Business Trust

Special Board of Trustee Meeting

Minutes of Proceedings

Session: 2014/2015 Date: Tuesday 2nd December 2014, Venue: Room 29, Parliament Buildings

The meeting opened in public session at 4:33pm

Present: Judith Cochrane MLA Chair Leslie Cree MBE MLA Róisín Hughes Norbrook Laboratories Stephen Kelly Manufacturing NI John Rooney Rooney Fish Dr Joanne Stuart OBE Attrus Ltd, Vice Chair In Attendance: Sarah Burrows Cleaver Fulton Rankin Louise Close Deputy Secretary Michelle Carson Admin

Apologies

Robin Newton MLA Phil Flanagan MLA Claire Sugden MLA Alban Maginness MLA Michael Bell NIFDA

Chris Brown MCE PR James Haughey Norbrook Laboratories Susie Brown Secretary Ivor Gibson Co-ordinator John Stewart Director of Information and Outreach

1. Apologies: Apologies are noted above.

2. Declaration of Interests:

None.

3. Existing Memorandum and Articles of Association

The Chair advised the Board that the existing Memorandum and Articles of Association were in TAB 1.

4. Draft Revised Articles of Association The Chair passed over to the Deputy Secretary, Louise Close, to highlight the articles that have changed to reflect new rules introduced by the Board:

Article 17: 17.4 – 17.8 – The addition of a Vice Chair Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board

Article 24: Appointment of Parliamentarian Trustees Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board

Article 25: Appointment of Business Member Trustees Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board

Article 26: Retirement of Parliamentarian Trustees Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board

Article 26.4 (27 in the updated Articles): Retirement of Business Member Trustees Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board

Article 31 (32 in the updated Articles): Applications for membership:

- 31.6. (32.6. in the updated Articles): Clarification of membership of agencies and professional bodies Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board

Sarah Burrows joins the meeting at 4:48pm.

- 31.7. (32.7. in the updated Articles): Clarification of membership of academic institutions as Associate Members Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board, however the Board will agree to enact the article following receipt of, and the subsequent agreement of, the details of Associate Membership.

Article 34.2 (35.2. in the updated Articles): The quorum for a General Meeting will be 10% of membership. Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board

Article 41.1 (42.1. in the updated Articles) : Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer Agreed: The article was agreed by the Board

The Deputy Secretary opened the floor to the Board to ask Ms Burrows any questions on the revised Articles. Leslie Cree MLA asked for clarification on Articles 38 and 29 – Proxy Notices. Ms Burrows confirmed proxies were only used at general meetings. The Chair and Vice Chair raised a question about how the following Articles comply with how the Trust is currently managed:

Article 27.1. (28.3.in the updated Articles) – A Trustee may not appoint an alternate Trustee or anyone to act on his or her behalf at meetings of the Trustees. And Article 25.12 - If the Business Member Trustee resigns from his or her position as a Business member, or in the event of his or her death, the Business Member shall have the right, by notice in writing, to nominate a person to be a Trustee for the remainder of the term for which that Business Member Trustees had been appointed.

Action: To revise the Articles to allow a business to

nominate a replacement Trustee if the employee who was elected to the Trust from their company is unable to fulfil the position during their term. The new representative must stand down at the next AGM and if they wish to be re-elected to the Board must follow the agreed re-election procedure.

Dr Joanne Stuart leaves the meeting at 5:23pm. Ms Burrows raised the issue that the quorum for Trustee meetings should be increased to four from three.

Agreed: The revision to the article was agreed by the Board.

Mr Cree requested a definition of a Trustee Meeting to be included in the Articles.

Agreed: This revision was agreed by the Board. The Chair thanked Ms Burrows for coming along to answer legal questions that were raised by Board Members:

Agreed: Ms Burrows to make changes to the Articles of Association as agreed by the Board and for the Articles to be agreed by correspondence.

Sarah Burrows leaves the meeting at 5:31pm.

5. Proposed Washington Programme The Chair referred the Board to TAB 3 highlighting some information to a proposed Washington Programme to run from 15th-20th March 2015 for consideration by the Board. Agreed: The Board are happy to go forward and get more information on a proposed Washington Programme. Further information will be sent to the Board for consideration before the Christmas Break for agreement due to timeframe of the proposed programme.

6. Any Other Business:

Date of next Meeting

The Chair advised the next meeting would be held on Monday 19th January at 4:00pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:46pm. Mrs Judith Cochrane MLA

Chair, Northern Ireland Assembly and Business Trust 19th January 2015

From: John Edmund [mailto:johnedmund@enterprise.net]

Sent: 11 November 2014 23:18 To: Gibson, Ivor

Cc: 'Christine Watson'

Subject: Tonight's event

Ivor, I think the event this evening’s went well; CIM (Ireland) Region is delighted to have had the opportunity to work with NIABT on putting it together and for the opportunity to have it as an important event in Marketing Month. It would be remise of me if I did not thank you and your colleagues for helping make it happen. Thank You. With kind regards John

Hi Ivor, Hope things are quietening down for you. I understand social enterprise issues were raised at the November NIABT meeting, and a request to get NICVA along to speak on the issue. You may know that we work with Social Enterprise Northern Ireland, who are paid by DETI to deliver a work programme to promote the growth of the Social Enterprise sector. Would you be content to speak with Juliet Cornford, Director of SENI to see if there may be an opportunity for her to update the NIABT on the work they are doing on behalf of the SE sector? Phil Flanagan had suggested a while back that SENI engage with NIABT –I trust they can be facilitated in the near future. I look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks, Tristen

Tristen Kelso Public Affairs Consultant

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Please consider the environment

Annual Income 14/15 Information Accurate as of 12th January 2015

Actual Income at 12th January 2015 Additional Expected Income Proj Total Income Actual Annual Income 13/14

Membership fees £32,400.00 £200.00 £32,600.00 £32,870.00

Dublin Prog £0.00 £2,500.00 £2,500.00 £2,624.02

Westminster Prog £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £5,240.00

SolarPrint Visit £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £1,540.00

Brussels Prog £10,473.35 £0.00 £10,473.35 *£11889.92

Scotland Prog £3,680.00 £0.00 £3,680.00 £0.00

Other £612.38 £137.62 £750.00 **£3014.66

Total £47,165.73 £2,837.62 £50,003.35 £57,178.60

Annual Expenditure 13/14

Actual Expenditure at 12th January 2015 Additional Expected Expenditure Proj Total Expenditure Actual Annual Expenditure 13/14

Internal Events £2,728.08 £2,271.92 £5,000.00 £3,434.43

External Education Events £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £230.00

Dublin Prog £0.00 £7,000.00 £7,000.00 £7,050.29

Net cost £0.00 £4,426.27

Westminster Prog £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £12,040.60

Net cost £0.00 £6,800.60

Brussels Prog £18,107.61 £642.39 £18,750.00 *£20779.42

Net cost £8,276.55 £9,289.50

SolarPrint Visit £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £2,335.38

Net Cost £0.00 £795.38

Scotland Programme £8,590.64 £0.00 £8,590.64 £0.00

Net cost £4,910.64

Media, printing and photography costs £4,601.61 £648.39 £5,250.00 £2,754.30

Recruitment Events £5,184.58 £0.00 £5,184.58 £4,608.70

General Expenditure £1,409.32 £840.68 £2,250.00 £2,275.35

Fees £190.67 £809.33 £1,000.00 £894.32

Total £40,812.51 £12,212.71 £53,025.22 £58,480.29

Net annual expenditure £3,021.87

Two year fixed bond £20,000.00

Balance brought forward 1 April 2014 £42,059.60

Expected Balance 31 March 2015 £39,037.73

*NB Original eurodraft payment for Brussels 2012 programme was lost and money credited to and re-paid to NIABT account. The exchange rate explains the difference in sterling amounts. £5633.14 out of acc ount and £5380.92 into account.

** NB Includes an unexpected payment of £2104.50 from the Co Operative

Three invoices remain unpaid which represents 2% of total membership. Two businesses joined the NIABT in September 2014 and one joined in November 2014.

Recent Events

Date Time Event Cost

11 Nov 2014 4:00pm Sales and Marketing briefing

delivered by the DEL Minister Dr

Stephen Farry MLA and the ETI

Minister Arlene Foster MLA and

Patrick Hurst MBE, MD of Whale

Pumps

£330.30

17/19 Nov 2014 European Educational Programme £18750 net cost £8276.55

21 Nov 2014 10:00am Mitchel McLaughlin MLA

fellowship visit with Precision Gear

Company

n/a

11 Dec 2014 6:00pm Christmas Reception at Kingspan

Rugby Stadium

£969.55

16 Jan 2015 10:00am Pam Cameron MLA /Danny

Kinahan MLA/ Paul Girvan MLA/

Trevor Clarke MLA fellowship with

Asda

n/a

Forthcoming Events

Date Time Event Venue

5 Feb 2015 9:30am Judith Cochrane MLA fellowship visit

with Park Avenue Hotel

Belfast

10 Feb 2015 4:30pm Briefing to be delivered by Simon

Hamilton MLA Minister for Finance

and Personnel

Parliament Buildings

2 Mar 2015 5:00pm IoD MLA networking event Parliament Buildings

10 Mar 2015 4:30pm RPA Briefing with Anna Lo MLA,

Chair of the Environment Committee,

Suzanne Wylie, CEO of Belfast City

Council and Dr Theresa Donaldson,

CEO Designate for the new Lisburn

City and Castlereagh District Council

Parliament Buildings

19 Mar 2015 6:30pm President’s Dinner with proposed

guest speaker Mariana Mazzucato,

Professor in Economics at the

University of Sussex

Parliament Buildings

25/26 Mar

2015

Houses of the Oireachtas Educational

Programme (to be confirmed)

Dublin

14 Apr 2015 4:30pm Apprenticeships briefing with Minister

Dr Stephen Farry MLA

Parliament Buildings

28 Apr 2015 12:30pm Women in Business event

Minister Arlene Foster MLA confirmed

Parliament Buildings

12 May

2015

4:30pm Briefing to be arranged focusing on

the results of the General Election

25 May/2

June 2015

Washington programme (to be

confirmed)

Washington

15 Jun 2015 4:30pm AGM Parliament Buildings

Oct 2015 Westminster Educational Programme

(to be confirmed)

Westminster

Board Meetings

Date Time Event Venue

9 Mar 2015 5:00pm Board Meeting Senate Chamber

18 May

2015

5:00pm Board Meeting Senate Chamber

22 Jun 2015 5:00pm Board Meeting Senate Chamber

Northern Ireland Assembly & Business Trust Compiled Feedback for

Sales and Marketing –Ignore at your Peril! 11th November 2014 &

Brussels Programme 17th-19th November 2014

Sales & Marketing Briefing

Yes No Blank

Did you find the briefing relevant?

11 0 0

Did the presenter cover all relevant areas of the topic?

11 0 0

Do you feel the event followed the non-lobbying principles?

11 0 0

Interested in attending future events?

11 0 0

Satisfied overall? 11 0 0

What are your views on the new networking element/structure? “Very enjoyable. Natural/informal-doesn’t feel forced.” “Very good.” “Was good level of MLAs at event but no ‘formal’ networking and they too are not great at ‘networking’” “Helpful.” “Simple clever idea. Well Done!” “1st time here.” “useful, enjoyable.”

“Excellent.” “Tonight worked well with the allocated networking table number.” Additional Suggestions: “Helping NI Businesses win a higher percentage of public sector contracts (“Meet the Buyer”) Opening up opportunities to SMEs, social enterprises etc.” “Briefing on Infrastructure in NI, Investment made and need to uptake.” “Advantages and Disadvantages on Mergers and Acquisitions for NI Businesses.” “Energy security and renewables strategy.” Any Other Comments: “I enjoyed my first visit to NIABT.” “Excellent session on a very topical subject.”

“Please start on time-speakers should run same notice to their time slot.”

“Patrick from Whale- excellent speaker and advocate for sales & marketing

and for business working with local government.”

“Great event.”

“I think the event this evening’s went well; CIM (Ireland) Region is delighted to have had the opportunity to work with NIABT on putting it together and for the opportunity to have it as an important event in Marketing Month. It would be remise of me if I did not thank you and your colleagues for helping make it happen. Thank You.”

European Programme 2014

Po

or

Ave

rag

e

Go

od

Ve

ry

Go

od

The role of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels and current issues

1 6 3

Talk from Liaison Officers, ‘Task Force Liaison Officer Initiative – roles and opportunities’

1 6 3

Scotland and the EU post-referendum

8 2

The role of the EESC and benefits for Northern Ireland

1 5 4

Attendance at EESC Meeting 4 3 2

1-1appointments with Desk Officers on specific thematic queries 1 2 1 2

Stuttgart and the EU 1 4 2 3

Ireland in the new Commission 1 7

The UK in the new Commission 1 2 6

Opportunities for SME Engagement

2 5 3

Meeting with NI MEPs 6 3

Information Pack 3 7

Communication prior to event 2 8

Organisation during event 1 9

Accommodation 4 7

Transport 3 5

Comments: “Another very well organised event which included more opportunity to tailor the programme to the requirements of the participants. The 1-1 sessions worked well, but 10 minutes is not very long! The session on relevant programmes was very good but again was rushed and it would have been good to have gone into more of the detail. The dinner on the Tuesday - to facilitate networking it would be worth considering if guests or members could move round after each course.” “I found the trip very useful and enjoyable, and thanks to all the staff for their help in the run up and during the visit.” “A very interesting and well informed programme.” “I have to say after being on prior Brussels visits this one gets 100% from me for its content . As well as presentations being well attended by all on trip.”

“ A very interesting and useful trip, good networking opportunities, certainly feel a lot more informed about what goes on in Brussels and both Ivor and Ursula were excellent organisers. Thank you!” “Very worthwhile event. Hope to follow certain contacts.” “The 1 to 1’s were the best element of the formal proceedings.”

NIABT Briefing YouTube Viewing Numbers

Date Event No. of Viewings

14th October 2014 Belfast Rapid Transit system – How will it

affect your business?

50

11th November 2014 Sales and Marketing –Ignore at your Peril!

27

21st November 2014 Mitchel McLaughlin MLA fellowship visit to Precision Gear

Company

66

Northern Ireland Assembly & Business Trust European Programme 17-19 November 2014

In Attendance

Judith Cochrane MLA Alliance, NIABT Chair Sammy Douglas MBE MCA MLA DUP Phil Flanagan MLA Sinn Fein, NIABT Board Basil McCrea MLA NI21 Party Leader Patsy McGlone MLA SDLP David McIlveen MLA DUP Chris Brown MCEPR, NIABT Board Timothy Brundle Innovation Ulster Ltd Dr Patrice Cairns RICS Alan Dickson PwC, NIABT Board George Dorrian Strategic Planning Services NI Ltd John Friel FSB Joann Guest Paper Yacht Robert Harkness Aldebaran Consultants Tristen Kelso Stratagem David Law WJ Law & Co Teresa Lennon Innovation Ulster Ltd Jonathan McAlpin East Belfast Enterprise Wilfred Mitchell OBE FSB Mary Trainor-Nagele Arts and Business NI Roger Pollen FSB Alastair Pollock Phoenix Natural Gas Ltd Glyn Roberts NIIRTA Olivia Roberts Insight Consulting John Rooney Rooney Fish, NIABT Board Dr Joanne Stuart OBE Attrus Ltd, NIABT Vice Chair Ivor Gibson NIABT Co-ordinator Ursula McCanny NIABT Admin

PROGRAMME

TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER

09:30

The role of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels and current issues. Gerry Mulligan (Head of Office)

ONIEB Chausee d’Etterbeek 180

10:00 Talk from Liaison Officers, ‘Task Force Liaison Officer Initiative – roles and opportunities’ Una Downey – Economic Ben Martin – Environment Keith Ruffles – Social and Employment

ONIEB

11:15 Break

11:30 Scotland and the EU post-referendum Speaker: Ian Campbell, Head of Office, Scottish Government EU Office

ONIEB

12:30 Walk to EESC (15 minutes) and sign in process

13:00 Lunch at EESC (European Economic and Social Committee) The role of the EESC and benefits for Northern Ireland Jane Morrice and Mike Smyth

EESC, Jacques Delors Bldg, Rue Belliard

14:30 Attendance as observers at EESC Section Meeting (ECO) Mike Smyth

EESC, Rue Belliard

15:30-16:45

Stuttgart Region European Office Introduction to Stuttgart in the EU and comparisons with NI Includes coffee and cake and tour of House Baden-Württemberg Speaker: Dr Kurt Gaissert

House Baden-Württemberg Rue Belliard

16:45-19:00

Free Time Break and return to hotel (walking) or individual programme

Note: delegates to make their own way to dinner venue

19:00

Dinner –all speakers / assistants invited

Aux Armes de Bruxelles 13 rue des Bouchers Bruxelles 1000 Tel:+32 (0)2 511 55 50

WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER

08:00 Breakfast and hotel check out Leave luggage at reception

Hotel

08:30 Walk from hotel to office (15 minutes)

ONIEB Chausee d’Etterbeek 180

09:00

Options: Bi-lateral meetings arranged by delegates in advance privately with local agencies / contacts And/or 1-1 appointments with relevant Liaison Officers on specific thematic queries – advance notification only

ONIEB

10:30

Ireland in the new Commission Speaker: Orla Keane, Head of Institutional Affairs, Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU

ONIEB

11:15

The EU and the UK in the new Commission Speaker: Frank Moeschler, 1st Secretary Internal Market, Permanent Representation of UK to the EU

ONIEB

12:00 Lunch and networking ONIEB

12:30-14:00

Opportunities for SME Engagement Invest NI R&D Executive Farha Brahmi (Chair) Gregor Novak, DG RTD (SME Instruments and Fast-track Innovation as part of H2020) Luis Cuervo Spottorno, DG ENTR (COSME, Enterprise Europe Network, clustering

ONIEB

opportunities)

14:00 Walk to European Parliament (15 mins) and sign in process

14:30 Meeting with NI MEPs Jim Nicholson, Martina Anderson and Diane Dodds

European Parliament

16:30 End of programme – travel to Hotel Leopold for dinner

Inter Parliamentary Programmes

Financial Year Date Event

2008/2009 March 2009 Brussels

2009/2010 February 2010 Brussels

2010/2011 November 2010 Brussels

2011/2012 September 2011 Westminster

2011/2012 November 2011 Brussels

2012/2013 June 2012 Dublin

2012/2013 October 2012 Westminster

2012/2013 November 2012 Brussels

2013/2014 June 2013 Dublin

2013/2014 October 2013 Westminster

2013/2014 November 2013 Brussels

2014/2015 May 2014 Scotland

2014/2015 November 2014 Brussels

Proposed Programmes

Financial Year Date Event

2015/2016 March 2015 Dublin *

2015/2016 June 2015 Washington *

2015/2016 November 2015 Westminster

2016/2017 April 2016 To be confirmed

2016/2017 November 2016 Brussels

To: NIABT Board

From: Susie Brown, NIABT Secretary

Date: 19th January 2015

NIABT Associate Membership

Background

1. Membership of the NIABT has traditionally been open to all businesses throughout Northern Ireland.

2. Subsequently, business members have been asked to pay an annual

membership contribution based on company turnover.

3. Annual membership is on a sliding scale and ranges from £50 to £1250.

4. Recent trends have shown that an increasing number of membership applications have been received from organisations who do not fall neatly into this sliding scale membership categorisation as they are not conventional businesses.

5. For example, many of these organisations are a mixture of charities, public

bodies and academic institutions.

6. Although not businesses, input from these institutions would add value to the Trust.

Proposal

7. In order to cater for all organisations who are interested in membership of the NIABT, a new category of Associate Membership should be created.

8. Associate Membership would be applicable to charities, public bodies and

academic institutions.

9. Associate membership would attract an annual fee based on turnover. It is suggested that this fee will be capped at a maximum of £250. The fee structure will be as follows:

above £10 million - £250 below £ 5 million - £125 below £ 2 million - £50

10. An Associate member would not be entitled to vote at the AGM or be elected to the NIABT Board of Trustees.

11. Some events will be exclusively for Business Members only.

Recommendation

12. That the NIABT Board of Trustees accepts the proposal to introduce associate membership from the 2015/16 year under the terms set out above.

Northern Ireland Assembly and Business Trust Membership Applications for Consideration

Monday 19th January, 2015

Applications have been received from the following companies for consideration by the Board:

NORIBIC Operations Manager: Clare McGee Turnover: Below £ 2 million NIABT Contribution: £50 Constituency: Foyle NORIBIC (Northern Ireland Business Innovation Centre) is a European Business Innovation Centre supporting NI SMEs to grow and internationalise through innovation.

Business Sector Analysis

Category No of Businesses

January 2014 January 2015

Accountancy & Financial Management 10 10

Agri Food 5 3

Charitable Body 8 8

Construction, Civil Engineering &

Property

19 15

Education 2 2

Electronics 1 4

Engineering 5 5

Environment & Natural Resources 4 5

Hospitality, Sport, Leisure & Tourism 9 7

IT & Telecoms 11 11

Manufacturing 4 5

Management Consulting 21 16

Management, HR & Recruitment 5 6

Media, Marketing & Creative 3 2

Medical & Healthcare 2 3

Retail, Sales & Customer Services 11 11

Small Business Development 3 3

Science, Research & Development 5 7

Professional Bodies 23 25

Public Relations 11 10

Total 162 158

Breakdown of Membership Costs

Contribution

NIABT members

£50.00-£100.00

£100.01-£750.00

£750.01-£1,250.00

January 2014 65% 23% 12% 100%

January 2015

66%

23%

11%

100%