Bo'ness Means Business

BMB Approach
> Working in partnership where possible & practical.
> Promoting Bo’ness and business activities in Bo’ness, encouraging economic activity, collaborations and inter business trading.
> Promoting business engagement within large scale projects (like the harbour development) and economic development strategies.
> Taking a positive approach that does not seek to duplicate the work of other organisations like FSB (eg, business rates, Scottish Enterprise priorities).

BMB Membership Benefits
> Play an active part in shaping the future of Bo’ness.
Have your ideas and opinions listened to by the decision makers - both local and national.
> Network with like minded local business people regularly and develop new business opportunities.
> Help to benefit from mutual support from local business through mentoring, inter business trading and support.
> Help to build a more prosperous economic environment in Bo’ness for your business and others.
> Contribute to the economic development and opportunities in Bo’ness and wider community.
> Enjoy with others the knowledge that you are making a difference.

Achievements during 2006/09
> Moving Bo’ness forward, creating a stronger voice for business and promoting positive partnership
> Website (www.business.bo-ness.org.uk) that tops most Bo’ness internet searches.
> A leaflet that has been used to recruit and inform.
> An Action Plan that allows BMB to start to develop projects and monitor progress.
> A Welcome Pack designed to promote Bo’ness to new residents, in partnership with Town Centre Management.
> Submissions to Falkirk Council around potential economic development opportunities for the Hippodrome Cinema and the idea of the Bo’ness Heritage Park.
> A positive relationship has been established with Linlithgow Business Association.
> New positive relationship developing with ING, Falkirk Council Economic Development people, Scottish Enterprise and Falkirk Enterprise Action Trust.
> Lobbying local MSP’s and Councillors on economic development issues, sometime in partnership with key local organisations like Friends of Kinneil.
> Establishing a database of over 220 local businesses that is being developed to support more regular communication and engagement.
> The first year of a series of quarterly Networking Events.
> The registration of Bo’ness Means Business as a company with limited liability and charitable status, allowing access to funding for new projects.
> Press & media profile beyond Bo’ness.

Priorities for 2008 and beyond
Bo’ness Means Business has adopted a new format to help deliver the Action Plan and meet the priorities set. All businesses are encouraged to take part - no matter how large or small - to help these activities be successful and further develop the economic progress of Bo’ness.
> Four Networking Events to encourage business to business trading, collaborations and a strong business voice in January, April, July and October each year.
> Four Business Meetings to focus more on the Action Plan projects in March, June, September and December each year.
> Several events like the Farmer’s Market and the Victorian Street Fair (May 2008) that will seek to draw people into Bo’ness to raise awareness of what Bo’ness has to offer and develop new shopping habits, in partnsership with Town Centre Management and the Bo'ness Community Council.
> Revise existing and develop new publications (eg, Welcome Pack and Business Brochure), in partnership with others where possible and practical.
> Build on the relationships with neighbouring business groups, regeneration players and public bodies.
> Longer term planning around strategic projects, including a community conference on economic development (in partnership with the Community Council), Young Entrepreneur Programme and funding development.
Better administrative and delivery systems to support the work of BMB.

Bo'ness Means Business
Helping to build a better world, working with others, to ensure economic sustainability.