A BUSINESS support organisation has expanded in the North-east after successfully moving to an online engagement model in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Alternative Board (TAB) was launched in Scotland in 2017 as a peer-to-peer advisory and business networking platform for business leaders. It now has seven boards – four in the north-east and three in the Glasgow area – and the combined turnover of participating companies is £120m.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.
TAB Scotland has just formally launched a new board in Aberdeen, as the organisation’s swift and efficient transition to a virtual format during the Covid-19 crisis further demonstrated its value to existing and prospective members. In addition, a move to add a further board in the North-east is in its early stages.
Helen Mill, TAB facilitator Aberdeen East, said the multiple benefits of membership engagement as businesses responded to the pandemic had simply underlined the value of its support and advice.
Helen said: “Members’ reaction to going online has been extremely positive as they have shared advice, experience and lessons during an unprecedented period for business. In fact the response has been better than we could have anticipated. It’s another example of how business people are ready and able to adapt to extremely difficult circumstances.”
The TAB UK annual conference, which featured over 50 delegates, was conducted virtually and the experience of hosting it online was shared as best practice.
Helen, a former director of commercial innovation at Robert Gordon University, said TAB Scotland was constantly listening to new ideas from its members and adapting its approach.
Each TAB board, which covers a broad range of sectors including oil and gas, engineering, finance, manufacturing, software, health, transport, retail and marketing, comprises up to eight business owners, directors or decision makers at larger companies. The boards provide a trusted space for experienced entrepreneurs to openly address challenges.
