When & where
Transition B&H Business & Economics Group - next meeting Wed 18 June, 7.15 - 9.30pm at Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St, Suite 4 (almost opposite the Hop Poles pub), with a little socialising after in the pub.
Why
It feels like since we last met we're deeper into an economic and energy crisis, with UN food summits and Peak Oil (or at least high prices) all over the national media, while Lewes have launched their own currency. There's lots to talk about, lots of ideas. Where are we going, what are we going to do about all of this.
Agenda
I'll think about some kind of a plan / agenda for our meeting a little closer to the time, but I'd like to leave it very open to input from the group, by email, on the forum pages or when we meet. What do you think?
On that note, I would like to discuss sharing leadership around the group. I became rather busy over the last couple of months and that caused a bottleneck, in which we lost some momentum. I will need some help in the future to organise, plan and facilitate meetings, including notes and generally co-ordinating and pushing this forward.
Ideally we need a few people who are prepared to push this a little, perhaps with a rotating line up of talent facilitating etc to keep it fresh. Starting with this one - would anyone like to help plan it / push it? What would you like to see us discuss?
See you there?
Martin G
business*AT*transitionbrightonandhove.org.uk
Transition Business & Economics Group - Next meet Wed 18 June
State of the Nation debate – Thu 12 June
A public debate on the economic development of Brighton & Hove, hosted by Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce. 17.45 for 18.30 start, Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton, Grand Parade (directly opposite the King and Queen). £free
To book a place, complete the booking form at www.businessinbrighton.org.uk. For more details click the image to the left.
Greenspeak: Whose Land Is It Anyway? - Tue 10 June
Reconnecting Land with People and Communities Greenspeak returns on Tuesday 10 June, 7pm for 7.30 start at The Old Market, Upper Market St, Hove BN3 1AS, £donation
Brighton and Hove's public green forum has returned, all very welcome.
Speakers:
Martin Large, Chair of the Community Land Trust National Demonstration Project at Salford University, and a pioneer of the land for people movement
Neil Ravenscroft, Professor of Cultural Policy at the University of Brighton, and Director of Tablehurst Farm Ltd
Chair, Ian Lawton, community activist
As Peak Oil pushes up food prices, concern for food security and food poverty rises.
This month we ask:
How can we regain community ownership over decisions affecting our land?
How can we create permanently affordable homes or increase local food sourcing?
How does land pricing act as a barrier and how do we overcome that?
What is the future for Brighton and Hove Council's 11,000 acres of farm estate?
What can we learn from initiatives such as Community-Supported Agriculture and Community Land Trusts?
Who decides and what do you think?
Relaxed, sociable, informative, fun. Bar will be open before, during and after the event - apologies, food will not be available.
www.greenspeak.org.uk for further info / mailing list or 07891 571739
'Another London Road' Public Meeting - Mon 9 June
Andrew Simms, Policy Director of the award-winning think-tank the new economics foundation (nef) and author of 'Tescopoly: How one shop came out on top and why it matters' is to speak at ANOTHER LONDON ROAD, a public meeting in Brighton.
The meeting - organised by Councillor Keith Taylor - will be at 7:30pm on June 9th at the newly renovated Calvary Church, Viaduct Road, Brighton (next to the Fire Station). The meeting is free and the venue is fully accessible, and people are recommended to arrive early to ensure a place.
A packed meeting of residents, traders and community representatives was held earlier this month following the news that St James Investments were buying up properties in the London Road area on behalf of Tescos, with a view to a comprehensive redevelopment including a large retail outlet and car park.
Residents spoke to me of their concerns over any major redevelopment of
the northern end of London Road, especially one that attracted even more
cars into the area, which will inevitably be the case if Tescos ever got
permission to demolish and build here said Keith Taylor
Keith continued I heard that, while people acknowledged the area looks a
bit run down, it remains popular one of the few bits of real Brighton
left as one person put it. It needs investment yes, but what residents
were telling me is that whats already there needs improving and not
replacing. They also want to see significant environmental improvement and
traffic reduction
Top of residents list of invitees for speakers was Andrew Simms. Andrew
will talk about his book which looks at the way supermarkets work to
dominate the retail and food production scene, swallowing up previously
diverse town centres. Particularly relevant to Brighton, Andrew will also
explain he uncovered no fewer than 175 active local campaigns against
supermarkets across the UK. Out of that number 138 were against Tescos. *
ANOTHER LONDON ROAD will also feature the latest news and developments and
will discuss alternative regeneration strategies informed by Andrews nef
work around Clone Town Britain
This is a vital meeting about an important part of Brighton its simply
too important a resource to squander away just for the sake of Tescos
increasing their market share. I urge everyone who cares about the city to
come along and help identify the best ways to reinvigorate the area for
the benefit of the community.
Further info from Keith Taylor 07780 528990
Next Business & Economics Group meet: Thurs 3 April, 7.15 - 9.30pm
@ Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St, Suite 4 (opposite The Hop Poles pub)
...Followed by a catch up at the pub. We're moving on to fleshing out ideas for projects. What do you think this city, the business community and the economy most need? What is the most effective use of our time?
See forum for notes from previous meetings and discussions, to suggest agenda items or generally throw ideas about - clickhere
All welcome, as are suggestions or comments - please add to our page on the forum or email business*AT*transitionbrightonandhove*DOT*org*DOT*uk / 07891 571739
Please bring a mug...
...spread the word 
Business & Climate Change Event, 2nd April, London
Organised by Resurgence Magazine & FOE (not Transition event), feat Tony Juniper, Jonathon Porritt etc.
Someone asked me to post this, so I did...
Date: April 2nd
Venue: Cecil Sharpe House, 2 Regents Park Road, Camden, London NW1 7AY
Organisation holding event: Resurgence / FOE
Businesses and Climate Change:
'How corporations and businesses should adapt to the need for climate
stability.'
Tessa Tennant, co-founder of the UK Social Investment Forum; Tony Juniper,
director of Friends of the Earth; Jonathon Porritt, director of Forum for
the Future; and Nick Robins, Head of Climate Change Centre of Excellence,
HSBC. .
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: £15
For further information contact: Peter Lang, Resurgence Events Director
Tel: 020 8809 2391
Email: peterlang*AT*resurgence*DOT*org
MG
Business & Economics meeting Monday 3 March 7.00 - 9.00pm
@ Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St, Suite 4 (opposite The Hop Poles pub)
The last get together featured a lively debate and was quite productive. We spent time sketching out our mission statement a bit more. See forum for details and to suggest agenda items or generally throw ideas about - clickhere
All welcome, as are suggestions or comments - please add to our page on the forum or email business*AT*transitionbrightonandhove*DOT*org*DOT*uk / 07891 571739
Please bring a mug...
...spread the word
Business & Economics meeting Wed 13 Feb 7.15pm
@ Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St, Suite 4 (opposite The Hop Poles pub)
We have a short purpose statement as an outcome from the last meeting, that we agreed to road-test. We now want to sketch out our Principles, Scope, Method, Motivation and Projects. It is strongly recommended that we all have a look at the guiding statements of the Lewes Business Group as a starting point, in order to speed up our deliberations.
Links to Lewes, report from the last meeting and to the rest of our topics available on our group page by clicking here
Agenda is open - any suggestions or comments about any aspect, please add to our page on the forum or email martin*AT*greenspeak-brighton*DOT*org*DOT*uk / 07891 571739
All very welcome, at meetings and on the forum - contribute in any way you fancy...spread the word
Playing Poker with the planet - Thur 7 Feb
'Playing Poker with the planet: from financial crisis to global warming'@ Sussex University
Authors of 'A House of Cards', Gerry Gold and Paul Feldman will be
coming to Sussex to discuss their new book and to debate viable and
sustainable alternatives to market capitalism. Come along, join the
discussion, and help build a better future.
6pm Thursday 7th February
Arts A103, Sussex University, Falmer.
Next Business & Economics Meeting Wed 23 Jan
7.15pm, @ Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St
Suite 4 (opp Hop Poles Pub). All welcome. Continuing towards objective of deciding the purpose of the group and its scope, focus and method. Followed by a talk & discussion by group member, Charles Davies - 'Small Change'
"There's a trick you can do to create money from nothing. Anyone can do it. At the moment, central banks and high street banks seem to do it more than anyone. But, if you learn how to do it, you can make money do what you want, work with your values and serve you better. Whether that's in changing society, managing your personal economy or saving the planet...based on his book, he's hoping it will change how environmentalists build their campaigns. And help us develop ways of using money that suit us better."
STOP PRESS: Plus group member Nathaniel White will lead a short introduction to Consensus Decision Making (see the links on our group pages)
Notes on last meeting and related discussion topics here
See you then
Notes from 1st Business & Economics Meeting – Wed 12 Dec
Notes by Martin Grimshaw
Our first meeting was largely welcomed by participants as a good start, quite constructive.
In truth, we are just getting to know each other, bounce thoughts about and feel around for some sense of direction. We watched together the film 'Money As Debt', which was much more stimulating than it might sound.
Instead of bullet point minutes / action points then, I've jotted down here the main thoughts expressed at the meeting, which do not have consensus agreement.
Next meeting is Wednesday 23 Jan 08 at 7.15pm, Brighton Media Centre, 68 Middle St, Brighton. Agenda to be confirmed, but mainly carrying on where we left off last time.
We did not achieve what we set out to do, to assess the work of the Lewes group and reach agreement about what the purpose of the group should be.
It took us quite a while just to each talk about our hopes, motivations and ideas...which were:
Present:
Martin G, John B, Chris B, Doly G, Charlie D, Jo N, Simon B, Kate M, David G, Michael P, Don E, Keith M
Money Workshop – Sunday 25 November
Money workshop by Peter Koenig, author of '30 Lies about Money'. Sunday, November 25, 2007 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM The Werks, 45 Church Road, Hove BN3 2BE (Yahoo! Maps, Google Maps). Cost: whatever you'd like to pay.
CATEGORY
Education
DESCRIPTION
last time round:
we ran a couple of workshops in June - one in London, one in Brighton. topics covered included:
- whether tweaking the money system would help us tackle the environmental crisis
- how banks create money out of nothing and why we let them
- why money works like a mirror (but you see what's going on in your head not on your face)
- how to stop money from getting in the way of what you want to do
you should come if:
you're trying to figure out how to align your work set-up with your money set-up. particularly if you are thinking of starting up a business, or have started up a business.
particularly if your priorities include any of these sorts of things:
* get paid for doing really creative work that feels satisfying.
* feel like 'the money bit' is the easiest part of the work you do
* tackle social and/or environmental problems, without feeling like 'the money' is pulling in a different direction
* work out how to incorporate money into a new style of working (because you're working in an emerging area or because you're switching careers)
or, if you have a particular burning question about money that you would like to tackle.
what we'd be doing in the workshop:
talking about how and why money works
peter'll introduce the fundamentals of the work he's been doing for the last 20-odd years (you can dig around his site to get the idea).
i'll talk a bit about what i've been working on over the last year (about how money, stories, nature, work and community relate to each other - and why that might be useful)
money set-up problem solving.
it's possible to get endlessly caught up in theories of money. harvard economist joseph schumpeter apparently spent 40 years working on one book about money...and then gave up.
so, we'll try to keep things practical and work through specific questions to do with money. in previous workshops, this has ranged from "why are meetings to talk about money more daunting than normal meetings" to "how do i incorporate money into my artistic practice without it corrupting it". if you have a specific question around money and work, this would be the time to bring it up.
eating lunch.
near the workshop venue. together or separately.
money exercises
there are a few specific money exercises that we may or may not do as part of the workshop. there's a great one based on 'the findhorn money game' (something like this: http://depts.washington.edu/eqhlth/pages/money_game.pdf )
another is working through a set of questions to compile a 'money biography'. this can be a lot more helpful than talking in the abstract (and you don't have to tell anyone else your answer).
probably going to the pub afterwards.
what you might get out of the workshop:
* next time someone says "we have to do this because of the money" or "we need to get the money so we can...", you might be able to say "that's not necessarily the case". and then come up with a great way of designing around seemingly insurmountable problems.
* you'll enjoy opening bills / filing tax returns / sending invoices / negotiating fees.
* you'll have some tools for designing creative/social/environmental/professional projects that incorporate money in inventive ways.
what people said after the last workshop:
"The workshop was great. it has been on my mind a lot since then, and do really think it was of benefit...The price was right, and it was a good day."
"I feel it's given me more confidence to continue or do more of the things I was doing already, which is good."
"It was immensely beneficial to partake in this workshop...for a
one-day format I think it covered a lot of ground and was a perfect seed
planting."
They also said they wanted to have some written documentation to take away, more practical exercises and a shorter introduction at the beginning of the day. So, it'll be more like that this time....
How can we thrive locally in a world with less oil? – 27 October 2007
Sat 27 October, 10-4pm, Southover School, Potters Lane, Lewes
An Open Space Event – everyone welcome – free
Are you interested in finding ways to support our businesses and strengthen our local economy? If so, come along, whether you are a business, a consumer or in local government.
Open Space – a creative, fun way for groups to find practical solutions to complex problems. Bring your ideas and host or join mini think-tanks.
Come when you can; leave when you must; doors close 2pm. Local food and refreshments available. Please ring in advance if you need childcare.
Talk: Local Money, Local Skills, Local Power – Wed 24 October
The role of money in building resilience. Wed 24 October, 8pm, All Saints Centre, Lewes £3.
A talk by Molly Scott Cato, economics spokesperson for the Green Party, author, senior lecturer in economics and core member of Transition Town Stroud. Notes on the forum about this talk here. Video of talk on YouTube by Alex Munslow here.
Business working group – notes from 25th July meeting
Follow up to Transition Town Brighton & Hove 1st Meeting 25 July 07 by Martin Grimshaw
Business working group
I was inspired by the presentation from Lewes TT to jot the words Business (economics?) on a sheet and see what happened next. A handful of people gathered and we started a discussion, which could at best be termed preliminary and exploratory. Below is a few provoking thoughts scribbled down listening to those discussions.
I have thoughts but I do not have any particular aims because I would like the aims of this group to evolve from discussions among anyone who cares to participate. Anyone else interested?
Thought shower summary:
What is this group for, what should it try to achieve?
How do we go about it?
Role of new technology, transition technology (Business Development Agency)
Engagement, what can we learn, what can we share?
Examples of Best Practice
What can we learn from good examples in business community in B&H? (ie Sam's employers...200 employees, not particularly 'green'....planning to go carbon neutral, reduce impact, fly less etc)...what is Amex doing?
Enable network of local businesses >> link up with + into TTBH
Forging links
Is there already a business network already that is specifically for greening business? If yes, can we link up and exchange ideas? If not, why not??!! [there are business networks and Brighton Business Forum has a climate change page but it's rather lightweight. The president of Brighton Chamber of Commerce is also an academic at one of the Universities so likely to be interested...there may be others??]
Small business / big business
Small, local sustainable business networks (advice, support etc)? [Big and sustainable??]
Growing trend of green 'trendiness'...turn a trend into something solid?
Money is the big motivator for business, ie saving costs.....
....or is it? Job / life satisfaction, feeling of wanting to do our bit., look good against competitors, customers....
I am willing to help push this forward, especially as it overlaps with other interests, but I will be limited as to how much energy I can put into the project over the next few months.
Kind regards
Martin