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Hi-Tech Forum Terms of Reference

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Aims

  1. To bring together hi-tech sector businesses in the Torbay and South Devon area to help promote the development of those businesses in the area.
  2. To increase the visibility of the Torbay and wider South Devon High Technology sector amongst potential investors.
  3. To identify skills and training issues in the local sector and address these with local providers.
  4. To improve R & D potential and foster better links with local research organisations, Universities and local colleges.
  5. To build collaboration and sharing of knowledge between new and existing firms in the sector and gain an understanding of each others business.
  6. Develop a consortia to develop a bid for tenders or funding regionally nationally or internationally.
  7. Investigate accessing new markets and establishing trade missions.
  8. Provide a sector view to influence planning and other local policies.
  9. To incorporate relevant sector issues into the Torbay Business Forum for wider representation

Scope and Jurisdiction

The group has been set up to promote the interests of the Torbay Hi-Tech sector, and wider South Devon area (other authorities are in agreement) to assist the Bay and South West Region as being viewed from the ‘outside’ by potential investors as having a strong regional sector.

Chairing

Chair person of the Forum is Martin Foulger, Divisional MD of Spirent Communications Positioning Division, Paignton.

Membership and Appointment

Open to all Bay based and wider South Devon area companies who operate within the high tech sector. Members of the forum can propose companies to approach and partners to the Forum such as TDA, Torbay Council, South Devon College, SWMAS can also suggest potential attendees.

Frequency of Meetings

Currently the meetings are held bi-monthly on Friday mornings at 10am. The venue is rotated amongst the member companies. This may change as the meetings progress dependent on the needs of the members, the sector and the aims of the forum. Members will be contacted of next meeting date via email. A programme of future meetings maybe established if of benefit to the membership for planning purposes and to maintain attendance levels.

Record of Meetings

Minutes of the meetings will be taken by of the Torbay Development Agency  They will be distributed to members via email within 7 working days of the meeting.

Resources and Budget

There are currently no allocated budgets. Resources include business contacts amongst members, TDA staff time, meeting rooms and facilities of members, Torbay Development Agency CRM system and potential time that could be given up by members to attend partner events on a case by case basis e.g. UKTI.

Relationships with other Organisations and Committees

Communications

Phone and email for organising meetings and distributing minutes and information gathering.

Expected Outcomes

  1. To increase the forum membership to 25 companies by end 2011.
  2. To hold a major sector event in Torbay in 2011
  3. To promote the Forum and the member companies via the TDA website.
  4. To include within our membership a representative from the South Devon College, Manufacturing Advisory Service, UKTI, Silicon SW.and other neighbouring local authorities.
  5. To produce a marketing pdf and possibly other literature which utilises case studies on member companies, that promotes the forum, that can be used to encourage membership amongst target companies.
  6. To seek and utilise appropriate PR opportunities to promote the sector locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to encourage investment.
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