On Tuesday 7th November, Rutherford Cross consultants, Derek Lauder and Mollie Rogerson, attended the SCVO Gathering. The Gathering is an annual conference held by SCVO as an opportunity for those working with, or within, a Charity or Not-for-Profit in Scotland to network, learn and discuss current issues within the sector. Mollie highlights some of the key takeaways from the fun and informative day below.
On arrival, it was refreshing to get back to networking and it was great to see so many people in attendance. The morning started off with both Mollie and Derek attending a seminar on “The current climate and what needs to happen to meet emissions targets” held by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS). Hearing from four speakers, it was interesting to learn different perspectives on what changes we need to be making in order to achieve the current Net Zero emissions targets that have been set. A key takeaway from this session is that bringing together communities, having conversations and taking action is the only way for this to be achieved. It was also evident that Finance will need to play a big part in this. Rutherford Cross is aiming to support these conversations and actions through the creation of our Edinburgh Sustainability events.
After a quick coffee break, it was straight into an afternoon of networking for both; Mollie attended the lunchtime speed networking and Derek took part in the lunchtime walk. It is always great to take the time to chat to new people who you may not have normally crossed paths with. After a look around some of the stalls, and learning more about some of the amazing organisations that were there, it was into the final sessions of the afternoon.
Mollie attended a talk from AAB on the importance of back-office functions. It was interesting to hear about all the different ways an external partner may be able to support smaller organisations, such as through offering HR support with policies, or supporting in the Finance function. Hearing from 4 speakers from HR, Payroll, and Finance, it was interesting to hear about the importance of maintaining up-to-date and relevant policies in order for them to have the desired impact.
Derek also took the opportunity to attend a talk on inclusive recruitment. The three speakers discussed the importance of inclusive language when advertising, the benefits of flexible working, and ways you are able to identify barriers that may be in place and how these can be reduced.
Being able to attend events such as The Gathering is a fantastic opportunity to expand your understanding of the Charity and Not-for-Profit sectors. Mollie and Derek enjoyed hearing new perspectives and ideas at each of the talks they attended and are very much looking forward to next year’s Gathering!
If you are looking for support hiring interim finance talent into your not -for-profit or charity organisation, please get in touch with our team for a confidential discussion:
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