Strategy Retreat: A five year strategy

Transcription

1 Strategy Retreat: A five year strategy

2 Our mission The Biochemical Society exists for the advancement of the molecular and cellular biosciences, both as an academic discipline and to promote its impact on areas of science including biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine. Biochemistry helps to play a key role in tackling global issues such as improving lifelong health, treatment of disease, biotechnology and food security. We achieve our mission through our publications and journals, scientific meetings, educational activities, policy work, awards and grants to scientists and students. The Biochemical Society is the largest UK discipline-based learned society in the biosciences with 6500 members. Developing our strategy Trustees of the Biochemical Society and Board members of Portland Press Limited met with senior staff on 7-8 November 2013 to review progress since 2007, and to consider priorities for the next five years. Prior to the retreat, input had been obtained from committees and the membership at large. This document is intended as a framework to enable the Executive Committee to determine key priorities for the next five years. Flowing from these, the Group s core strategy will be determined and detailed implementation plans will be developed by individual departments and committees in the next three months.

3 Summary of key action points: Membership Explore different models of joint memberships with other learned societies Increase the number of Full Members review the package of benefits available for this group. Increase membership engagement through more targeted communications, members events and addressing issues of diversity Increase the number of members from the industrial, biotechnology and academic drug discovery sectors define the package of benefits available for this group Develop a Corporate Membership Scheme Develop an international strategy including international membership focusing on Europe, Russia, Brazil, India and China Meetings Explore a model for a mid-sized meeting with 500 attendees this could be a collaborative event with a good opportunity to showcase Portland Press Limited and Portland Customer Services Develop the Harden Conferences brand preserve the retreat nature and interaction of delegates Publications Ensure that Portland Press Limited is a leading publisher in the molecular biosciences Ensure there is a home for every paper published within the molecular biosciences at Portland Press Limited Develop a journal portfolio including contract publishing, which could include publications not in the molecular biosciences Review the purpose of Biochemical Society Transactions. Review the Editorial Department and Editorial processes promote synergies, alignment to the Society s goals and consider sharing resources with other learned Societies Develop ambitious targets to achieve by 2018.

4 Education, science policy and public engagement Promote education and development of the molecular biosciences Support the understanding of biochemistry and provide careers support from age 15 onwards Transition generic bio-science education resources to the Society of Biology and refocus activities to support early career researchers working in the molecular biosciences Develop a series of training days in collaboration with the Conference Office and Portland Customer Services Increase the public understanding of the molecular biosciences champion key areas and assist and enable members to deliver engagement activities Continue to channel science policy activities through the Society of Biology Engage members with Biochemical Society and Society of Biology science policy activities Collaboration Support the Society of Biology at the level of a minimum of 1% of turnover per annum for five years with the option to rise to 2.5% if necessary Explore the integration of back office services with other learned societies, particularly those in the bioscience hub Look to develop shared publishing and scientific meetings services with other Societies Continue to second staff from the Biochemical Society to the Society of Biology over the next five years, starting with staff in science policy and education Encourage the Society of Biology to develop a concrete vision for future collaborative activity including options for shared services, federation and full integration by 2024 Revenue generation and efficiency savings Review I.T infrastructure and staffing working group to be established, to be overseen by an external consultant and to be chaired by a trustee Implement a system for members to opt-in to receive a hard copy of The Biochemist. Use the Society s reserves policy to pump-prime revenue generating projects within Portland Press Limited and Portland Customer Services, to the level of 1,000,000-2,000,000 over the next two years Substantial evidence of new business development within Portland Customer Services required by 2015 at which point the future of Portland Customer Services will be reviewed Promote the Education Department (in collaboration with Portland Customer Services) as the preferred supplier for training in molecular bioscience.

5 Our key priorities for will be to: 1. Build on Portland Press Limited s reputation for excellence to enable it to become a leading publisher in the molecular biosciences 2. Invest in the development of Portland Customer Services so that it is a profit making division of Portland Press Limited by Promote education, training and outreach in the molecular biosciences from age 15 upwards 4. Continue to champion the growth of the Society of Biology and Charles Darwin House by integrating back office services and extending shared activities, particularly in education and science policy, and explore options for eventual federation or integration by Continue to grow the membership of the Biochemical Society and explore extension of services to biochemists working in the industrial, biotechnology and academic drug discovery sectors 6. Continue to support the development of a dynamic scientific meetings programme, looking to collaborate with other Societies, wherever possible, both in the UK and internationally