3 minute read
In with the New
New Platforms, NEW BITA!
Diane Birch, Executive Director BITA, talks about the new BITA platforms
Apart from quickly reviewing and increasing our on-line activity for the first lockdown, we asked our members and stakeholders what was important and a concern for them. Resoundingly the response indicated that Supply Chain support was high on the agenda. So, for the last 9 months we have not only reviewed our mission, values and goals, but we have also looked strategically at what we want to accomplish over the next 3-5 years with this particular challenge in mind.
If there is one good thing that can be said about the impact of lockdown on businesses, it is that it has provided an opportunity for leaders to refocus on what their goals are, and to redefine and clarify their organisational values and mission.
An organisations mission statement is something I talk about a lot with my clients and BITA Members. Establishing and providing clarity around the reason you exist, not only assists with your marketing messages but also helps with decision making and engaging your teams so that everyone is pulling in the same direction. The refined BITA mission is “We help more people and influence further; as a collective”.
We’ve been having lots of conversations with members, sponsors and supporters since lockdown, asking what they want from BITA, how we can help, and what they need to survive and thrive. Using their views, the Executive created a strategy for BITA that would really elevate what we were doing as an organisation.
It is through the lens of this feedback that we created the website. We planned to have a new website for a long time, however with input from our members and with the help of our sponsors Revive Digital Media, we have been able to build something that is rich with excellent content that will benefit everyone.
Our resources pages have insightful and helpful information about law, finance and much more from experts, free for our members. Our training hub hosts courses that have been specifically requested by members; ROSPA certified courses, leadership courses, wellbeing modules, and even a BITA Sales Diploma. All high quality training for you and your staff, from as little as £30 a course!
Sharing this education and expertise is a cornerstone of what BITA is built on. It is something that many in our community were asking for, and one of the fundamentals that we wanted to emphasise with our new platform.
Taking advice from our members and working with them collaboratively has also meant we have launched our Procurement Hub. This is the result of long, hard hours, and something that, again, will have a really and visible benefit for our members. The procurement hub offers our community a platform to offer jobs and services, and source that labour and expertise from within BITA.
Building on the spirit of collaboration with our members, we have also teamed up with excellent companies ‘Wake up with Zest’ and the Yoga Factory’ to provide you with even more added value for membership.
Wake up with Zest is a wellbeing hub focusing on improving sleep, healthy eating, getting fit and being resilient. They offer courses and more to assist you on your journey, and every member receives a free subscription as part of their membership. The Yoga Factory understand the importance of movement and understanding your body better. They want to champion improved health through the power of yoga, and your BITA membership now includes a free month to online, live yoga classes for up to 25 people (employees or family!), as well as a 10% discount on services afterwards. You can see more about both organisations on page 46.
Education, business growth, expertise, support, wellbeing and more. We have spoken to our members, we have listened, and we have acted. We hope you are as pleased with the new BITA as we are!
