A Shropshire business woman organised a unique national business conference on Friday 25th March 2011. Jan Minihane (36), from Telford, was one of the organisers of the Big Jelly which saw over 100 small businesses and organisations gather in the Severn Gorge to be inspired, learn new skills and share their business acumen. She believes the event marks a turning point in the way business support can and will be delivered.
The event was the first gathering of businesses involved in Jelly events and other small business owners and interested organisations such as Telford & Wrekin Council, the Intellectual Property Office and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Jellys are locally organised get-togethers where homeworkers and small business people can work alongside each other for a day -they make use of workhubs, cafes, libraries and even warehouses.
Jelly events normally link businesses from across towns or counties. On this occasion though, The Big Jelly saw business people come from Edinburgh, Norwich and Frome. One business woman travelled up from Normandy to find out how UK businesses are collaborating and supporting each other.
Jelly is not networking and it is not publicly funded. In fact it is more of a business movement than an organisation. It relies on the co-operation and collaboration of individual business people. Jan thinks that the government should see this as a model for business support in the future.
Jan said “Lots of small businesses feel that there have been ignored by the government. Traditional support mechanisms don't really understand the home-working revolution. What we have proved is that it is businesses who know best what support they need and they are pretty good at sorting it out for themselves. I really hope that the government will find more effective ways to work with small businesses in the future. We had an inspiring and motivating day and showcased the wonders that the Ironbridge Gorge has to offer.”
"Traditionally, business support has always come from the government down, often via big business (such as the recent Startup Britain initiative) or expensive business support such as Business Link. This Jelly movement is by small business for small business and is developing into an effective support and signposting network. It costs nothing."
“We are at the start of a revolution both in terms of how people choose to run businesses and in how businesses can be supported. The Big Jelly conference was a huge success and people are already asking me what the next event will be. I need to talk to the other organisers but I you can be sure that it will harness the energy and enthusiasm of business folk from across the country.”
