B. Strategic Business Plan: Entertainments Department Name: Organisational goals We will help to achieve this between 2012-16 by: Our priorities for 2014/15: Measure of our success: Bold and effective student voice Engage in representation Campaign for change Utilise the high footfall of events and high levels of engagement with the service, to promote communications of key initiatives and Students Union campaigns. E.G. theming club nights around voting and candidate nominations, operating events as part of Women s week Wherever possible use our club brands to assist in promoting key students union campaigns and raise awareness for their causes. Deliver themed events around key campaign times raising awareness for their causes. Led by students Develop new opportunities for students to directly shape the events programme. (See Opportunities for Students to develop below). Develop an enhanced student events committee (see Opportunities for Students to develop below). Advising and assisting Events Society (formerly Ents Committee) so they can deliver their own events at SSU. Deliver a minimum of 3 events for 2014-2015 Opportunities for students to develop A global perspective Contribute to the internationalisation agenda of the Students Union and University, with a range of events that showcase and celebrate the culture and festivals of the UK, and those of our international student community. Bolster the sense of community amongst international students on campus with an enhanced level of support to their events, with additional staffing resource dedicated to running student events. (Events Goal) Working collaboratively with the Events Department to deliver a programme of events during Discovery Week. We also aim to theme club events around World Week and other International Events throughout the year. Take a strategic approach to marketing Club Events, Traditional British holidays and festivals to the International community, with a view to helping them intergrade into the University experience while in the UK. Deliver events during Discovery Week Attracting groups of International Students to these events. Strategic Business Plan 2012-13 page 1 of 7
Seek to make links with events in the UK and other countries, to create opportunities for our students to visit these either as visitors or as part of a volunteer programme. (Events Goal) Expand and enhance opportunities Significantly enhance the opportunities to develop lifelong skills and employability within Technical Services Committee and a strengthened Events Committee. This may include accreditation as part of the HEAR project, externally accredited training (e.g. Safety Passport), and other aspects of event management. It is recognised in competing for students time and trying to engage them with the Departments work, volunteering opportunities must offer valued and tangible outcomes. (Events Goal) It is hoped that students who receive ongoing training and development as part of our committees will in the future go directly to fulfil more paid employment opportunities within the Department, e.g. house management, paid crewing of events, marketing support and promoting events. Potential sources of vacation or graduate employment in events will be investigated. It is hoped that alongside the Entertainments Working Committee, members of other diverse societies could be part of a broader events committee, trained in organising events, including management skills, health and safety and social responsibility. Entertainments will work alongside the Events Department to deliver the student led music festival, Contours. The project will continue in 2015 with a small amount of financial support from the Events Department. The department will work with Events Society to deliver a series of events throughout the year. These projects will be led by the society with assistance from Entertainments. We will explore the opportunities of using revenue generated from these events to fund first aid, personal alcohol certificate and other training and experiences that would not be offered by their University courses. Attract a minimum of 450 people to Contours Festival. Deliver a minimum of 3 events for 2014-2015 Strategic Business Plan 2012-13 page 2 of 7
Introduce new event projects that will engage new volunteers, with short-term volunteering opportunities, on committees organising specific events. Working within the University s Discover and Understand workstream, and collaboratively with LETS a new stream of activity Inspiration & Co. has been developed to showcase the breadth of world-class expertise available within the University, and offer a brand new opportunity for Students to diversify their learning and broaden experience. (Events Objective) Support employability The enhanced volunteering opportunities (outlined above) will support our members in developing skills and employability. In addition the Department intends to investigate the potential to increase student involvement, with a series of paid internships. Over the last few years the Department has employed an increased number of casual student staff, individually working 20+ hours per week promoting specific events and working on marketing projects. The combined desire for work and experience has often meant that final year students or recent graduates have been recruited to these roles. With a high level of staff turnover already expected, it may be possible to See above Strategic Business Plan 2012-13 page 3 of 7
formulate some of this work into full time or part time internships Student support and well-being Support and guidance In recognising the Departments close work with student staff and large numbers of volunteers, we will develop basic training in how to recognise the problems frequently faced by students, and where appropriate what support may be available within the University community. The Department has worked with the Student Advice Centre to develop a short training package. This will be delivered to all full time Department staff and staff with supervisory responsibility during the year. A fact-file on student welfare will be available within the department. Training Delivered. Communities and friendships The widespread popularity of the mainstream events programme delivers the social opportunities for friendships to develop on fun nights out, and offers special and themed events as celebrations of key events or activities during many students time at University (e.g. Varsity, Fundraising socials at Population, Summer Social). The more targeted specialist events in the programme are often a source of community in themselves, with those attending sharing and developing niche interests, and becoming part of a community around those activities (e.g. The Tuesday Club and Climax). We will continue to be the first choice for large society and birthday ticket bookings. The department will build on events that are appealing to the local community such as the beer festival, live music, Contours and Tramlines Festivals Attract large groups of societies and birthday parties to club events. Attract the local community to events that are available to non-students. Investigate opportunities to capture and reflect memories of events at the Students Union as the best 3 years of our students lives and the source of life-long friendships. Quality services Strategic Business Plan 2012-13 page 4 of 7
Digitally innovative Develop and deliver a new events venue, which is technologically innovative. Responsive to development of new technology, beneficial to our members. Monitor and respond to the roll out of new technology as it becomes common-place in the events market (e.g. expected development of mobilephone ticketing). Support the development and roll out of a new membership and loyalty system, likely to encompass ticketing, and customer relationship management. The venues will continue to be digitally innovative with high specification sound and lighting displays at club and live events. The venue will also roll out a new pixel-mapping project at the Friday nightclub event. This will be different from anything currently being offered in Sheffield or other Students Unions. The venue will continue to operate with 100% LED lighting only. For 2014-2015 we will work alongside marketing to ensure the new website platform is suitable for online/epos ticket sales and collections. Deliver top class production at all of our events. Have a fully operational online/epos ticketing system that gives a great experience to the customer. Use data from the University so online ticket holders can be scanned into the venue with their U Card/email confirmation. Services for students Strategic research undertaken by Redbrick highlighted 45% of students wanted the Students Union s future focus to include making my university life more fun. Although nightclubbing is showing ongoing decline, it is still one of the most popular student social activities. The Department aims to deliver a quality, good value and relevant nightclub programme. This will certainly be in competition with other outlets, and our performance will often be measured against benchmarks set by large volume City Centre operators. We will continue to deliver a varied programme of nightclub events including The Tuesday Club, Roar, a new Friday nightclub event, Climax, Pop Tarts, Jam Jar. We will also explore avenues to deliver club events to new markets that currently do not engage with the Students Union s licensed venues. Deliver a minimum of 4 clubnights a week. Consider the impact of price, on the demand for different events, and the application of price in developing new services. Continue to investigate new funding models for events and potential sponsorship. Expand the number and diversity of cultural events run and supported by the Department. In Continue to monitor drinks and entry costs at other high street and Students Unions venues ensuring that our venues are seen as good value for money. Attract and maintain budgeted numbers to our club events. Strategic Business Plan 2012-13 page 5 of 7
particular contribute to the internationalisation agenda as outlined above, with a range of events that showcase and celebrate the culture and festivals of the UK, and those of our international student community. Develop and deliver a new venue, programme of events and related event support and booking service that is transparent, responsive and relevant to our members. Consider efficiency savings and volume growth to be gained through partnerships with other local or national operators, and students unions. To investigate and develop lunchtime entertainment activities in order to drive footfall and create interest. Strategic Business Plan 2012-13 page 6 of 7
Department Name: Entertainments Enablers Our suggestions for priorities over the next 3 years in each of the following enabling areas. ( Please highlight those which you think are essential for your department to achieve its actions and priorities as stated above) Building & Facilities Communication Have industry standard DJ equipment in house preventing the need to hire in for events. Use data collected from online ticket sales to market events to students and the public. Digital / IT Systems Finance Have an online/epos ticket system that uses student data provided by The University of Sheffield. To assist with the administration of the department so it s finances are transparent. Governance People University relationship Maintain a strong relationship with the University so that we are a key stakeholder during the redevelopment of the Octagon centre. Strategic Business Plan 2012-13 page 7 of 7