Membership

Fusion membership is available to any individual who shares our values and wants to play an active part in helping us to achieve our goal for the region.

Fusion's goal

To use the power of human interaction to build stronger entrepreneurial cultures in rural areas

Fusion's values

  1. In Fusion we believe that entrepreneurship is the key to a strong, sustainable future for rural areas. Why? Because everything that society values and needs depends on it: jobs, opportunities, affordable homes, schools, leisure facilities, health services, infrastructure. Entrepreneurship is what generates the wealth that keeps the area thriving.
  2. In Fusion we believe that innovation is the key to entrepreneurship. Why? Because it is only continuous innovation (whether in products, services or processes) that allows a business to stay ahead of its competitors and be truly successful. To achieve that, it is necessary to avoid complacency of any kind and to be continually seeking out fresh ideas for all aspects of your business.
  3. In Fusion we believe that human interaction is the key to innovation. Why? Because interacting with others enables you to identify people with the experience or know-how to enhance your plans for innovation; talking with others and solving challenges with others can spark brand new ideas in your mind; and it helps to keep you fresh and energised and motivated, which are all vital if you are to maintain an innovative approach to your business.

Who should be a member of Fusion?

Anyone who shares our values, believes in the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship to the future of rural areas and is committed to playing an active part in making the region more innovative and entrepreneurial by seeking opportunities for innovation in their own working environment and by encouraging others to do the same. Membership will become a public statement of your commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, and not a means of buying particular services.

So what will members get out of it?

Membership of Fusion is all about being an active part of transforming rural areas about what you're prepared to put in to make that happen, as opposed to what you get back in return for a subscription.

However, membership of Fusion still offers real benefits:

  1. Members have direct influence on how Fusion operates and goes about achieving its goals, since the majority of Fusion's board directors are nominated and elected by Fusion members.
  2. Each member is offered an initial meeting with a member of the Fusion team, so that we can get a more in-depth understanding of your business, your goals and your challenges. This means that we will be much better able to identify potentially valuable linkages and other opportunities for you. As a result, although our linking services are available to everyone, in practice it is likely to be our members who derive the most benefit from them.
  3. Members have the satisfaction of being part of a movement that is driving real, positive change in the culture of rural businesses. Being a member of Fusion is a public statement of your commitment to a strong entrepreneurial culture and your willingness to help make it happen whether you choose to fly the flag  through wearing the smart Fusion member's lapel badge, or by placing the Fusion member's window sticker in your car or office, or by the use of a Fusion member's logo or other options, you will be demonstrating your commitment to entrepreneurial values to your customers, suppliers, partners, colleagues, funders and investors.

What are members asked to commit to?

Since the purpose of becoming a member of Fusion is to demonstrate your commitment to the 3 core Fusion values listed above, in a sense membership becomes a pact with yourself to live up to those values: to strive to be as innovative and entrepreneurial as you personally can, to encourage others to do the same, and to take advantage of opportunities for interacting with others for the purpose of stimulating fresh ideas for business.

That sounds easy. What if I'd like to play a bigger part than that?

Great! We'd love you to be more actively involved and there are plenty of ways for you to do so: contributing ideas that will help the further development of Fusion, being willing to share advice and experience with other members where appropriate, being part of focus groups that will work in concentrated ways on overcoming the barriers to innovation and entrepreneurship. And there will be plenty more ways that emerge as we continue to go forward. An important part of the Fusion membership package is that any extra support you give, either to Fusion itself or to other members, will be publicly acknowledged.

What does membership cost?

Because Fusion membership is a sign of commitment to a cause, a statement of support for entrepreneurial values, and an undertaking to help in the transformation of the Highland business culture, it is offered on a purely individual (rather than corporate) basis. The subscription is £95 p.a.including VAT. There is no limit to the number of individuals from any one organisation who can be members.

For more information about Fusion membership, please call David Fraser on 07973 271709 or email david@fusionlinking.co.uk. To join now, simply download and complete the Membership Application Form (available from the menu drop-down on the left of this screen) and post it with your cheque for £95 to the address shown on the form.

membership