Things we learned at our summer party, Part 3
This is the third post about three collaborative design exercises we ran at our Summer party last month. We had about 150 people from across the Norwich start-up ecosystem: founders, investors, technologists, designers, educators, public sector partners, community organisers and students.
As well as saying thank you for another year’s efforts and achievements we also wanted to tap the collective mind for clues about how to make the start-up ecosystem flourish in the years ahead.
This post is about the third exercise which turned the gaze back onto the community itself. It’s all very well creating a list of demands about things someone else ought to do something about, but how can our own behaviours and conduct contribute to the right environment for start-up success?
Ask not what your city can do for you…
In this exercise participants were asked: What advice would you give to a new arrival to the Norwich business community if they want their company to build value for everyone in the city?
We did affinity mapping on the 46 ideas proposed and have used it to create this draft manifesto for business leaders in the city:
- Don’t trash-talk Norwich: Promote local successes and talented people on the national stage. If there’s stuff that needs to change, help change it.
- Help the next generation: Create entry-level jobs, and opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds. Make time for young people with business ideas.
- Share your successes and failures: Find ways to share what you’ve learned with other people in the city. Be honest about your journey: share the highs and the lows.
- Invest in the community: The city has all kinds of business initiatives, networks, meet-ups and events. Get out of your office and get involved.
- Collaborate, don’t compete: There’s enough success to go around: don’t treat everyone in the city like a rival or a competitor.
- Network for effect: Ask questions, share ideas, and be generous making connections that create value for others.
- Think global, buy local: Prioritise local suppliers and talent. Meet and eat at the market. Support indie stores and restaurants.
So many of the wonderful, generous people in the Norwich start-up community already practice these things every day. Perhaps we could use this manifesto to engage with more business leaders in the city – and help them add their own contribution to building an economy and society in the city we can be even more proud of.