ERC Dragons Den Opportunity

14 January 2022

Do you have a great idea? Are you up for a challenge?

Historically many/most/all events are channelled through the committee, but across our hundreds of members we're sure there's good ideas for events, and folk who could help make them happen. And as we continue to come out of the pandemic, we'd be keen to encourage new & innovative events.

So to end of Feb we will run a 'Dragons Den' where members can bid for funding to help cover the costs of entertaining events.

We are looking for events (cycling or triathlon related) that could:

  • engage members who maybe don't participate in existing events
  • help raise funds for charity
  • build relationships with other cycling groups in Edinburgh (eg Bikes for Refugees)
  • encourages new members

The club will contribute £300 to the winning bid to cover set-up or running costs of the event; as well as a mentor (from the committee) to help advise on how to organise (if needed !).

To select the winning bid we'll run a Zoom session where candidates will have submitted a simple proposal covering:

  • Description of event
  • What funding is needed & rough costings overall for event
  • What the event will do for the club's and club's members and the wider community in Edinburgh

Candidates will have 2 minutes to pitch their idea, and then 2 minutes of questions from 'the judges'; and the judges will then select the winning bid.

Timescales. If this works, we'd like to repeat (maybe once or twice more this year). So we'd like to get proposals submitted by end Feb. Zoom competition (note: if we are free of lockdown, this could be a face-to-face with some refreshments) would be early March, and we'd like the event to have completed by end of May.