PSYBT Awards revolve around The Panel. This is the bit that tends to terrify the clients, so I thought I'd remove some of the mystery.
Once a business plan is completed, it's forwarded to the panel members and the client is invited to attend the next available meeting in one of seven panel areas in the Highlands. Panels are made up of 3 to 5 members of the local business community who are volunteers, receiving nothing more than coffee, biscuits, a lapel pin and my heart-felt gratitude. As this blog develops, we'll feature some of the panel volunteers. They're not that frightening (most of 'em, anyway).
The Panel interviews the client, takes a few minutes to decide and then the Panel chair tells the client the result. The interview is not "Dragon's Den" (which probably has put more people off the entrepreneurial trail than anything else in recent years) but an opportunity for the client to discuss the venture with some very experienced business people . Sometimes a business plan just doesn't do justice to the idea and system enables an applicant to display their product, talent or experience direct to the decision-makers.
Here are a few facts:
- The panel members WANT to make the Award. PSYBT exists to help people set up businesses. Volunteers give their time freely to give young entrepreneurs the best possible start.
- The panel members can approve whatever they feel appropriate at the time. A client can always come back for expansion funding at a later date.
- The Panel can, of course, refuse an application or defer a decision. Full constructive reasons will be given and a client is welcome to re-apply if they can meet any recommendations.
- Wherever possible, the probable aftercare adviser attends the Panel so that the volunteers can make aftercare suggestions during the meeting. However, aftercare is another story.
No comments:
Post a Comment