[candidate-sr2015] Andy B for Sponsor Interaction

[Andy Busse]

Hello blueshirts,

I'd like to apply to you for the position of "Sponsor Interaction" on
the new committee.

For those who've not met me (if so, I'll try to fix that when I can),
I've been involved in SR since SR2009, and led our involvement in the
summer school since its inception in 2012. I ceased being a student and
have been working near Oxford for just over 2 years now.
Through my work for the Summer school I maintain good relations with ECS
and Smallpeice. I'm also fortunate to work somewhere where I get lots of
opportunities to talk enthusiastically to the general public (of all
ages) about what I do in a short space of time. So, especially since SR
sells itself well, I believe I am able of convincing sponsors of the
value of SR.

SR is now at a key point in its history: We've a generation of kit which
will probably not change for a while, we now have experience of the
logistics for larger events. It's rather unfortunate that we were unable
to grow this year, but it's possibly a blessing in disguise (with the
significant kit changes), and I can still see us with enough teams to
fill the NEC by 2030. With your permission, I'd like to help push us
closer to that goal.

Here's what I propose to do in this role:
* Develop, in conjunction with you, a number of scenarios for the next
3-5 (or more) years:
No growth, 50% growth per year, 100% growth per year, (and regional
finals vs. large events) etc. to see what happens to our budget
requirements, and what the main sticking points would be for each (be it
volunteers, venues, logistics, kit, teams, or money), and simplify these
budgets to properly understand how our event and per-team costs scale,
making appealing to sponsors much easier.
* Make sure all of you have enough information to attract new sponsors.
Outreach is the lifeblood of SR, and by engaging with the public at NSEW
events, science festivals, UCAS days, summer school, etc. a secondary
benefit is meeting supportive people. Also, an increasing number of
blueshirts are either interning at, or working for, companies who might
be able to support us.
* Approach sponsors old and new asking not only for money, but also to
see if they can help us in other ways. "Corporate Social Responsibility"
doesn't just mean "Give money to worthy organisations" - if we can take
advantage of graduate/apprentice schemes (new mentors), potential tech
day locations, their contact books (for new teams), etc., then we
absolutely should. I'd also recommend they exhibit at events - if we're
influencing young people at an age where they're considering what a life
in engineering would be like, why not ask our sponsors to show them
(caveat: it would have to be carefully arranged)
* Be as open as possible about our funding situation - i.e. community
would know if we're covered for the current and future SR year, what
opportunities there are for new sponsors, and SC would be fully in the loop.

To enable this, I know the charity situation has to be concluded quickly
(to make it easier for us to get money), but also in a way which the
community agrees with:
* I think that the initial Trustees should be the members of the
Steering Committee at the time (hence, I also consider this application
to also be an application to be a Trustee)
* I think that implementing a child protection policy should be a
pre-requisite of becoming a charity, and I would volunteer to be the
"named person" as suggested in that policy. (Unrelated, but I'm also
starting to look at the requirements to supervise under-18s without
"Team Leader" presence)
* I believe that the Treasury should become independent of the SC/Trustees
* Work to resolve the remaining issues with the Constitution.
* Above all, the Constitution and Trustees should be subject to a vote
from members of SR before we re-apply to the Charities Commission.

By the way, I consider all of the above to be a living document - if you
think of a better way I could perform this role, tell me!

Thanks,
Andy Busse