ISBE Entrepreneurial Learning in Organisations Network (ELON) SIG
March 2013
Constitution
The Entrepreneurial Learning in Organisations Network (ELON) is constituted as a Special Interest
Group (SIG) of the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE).
Statement of Aims and Objectives
The ELON aims to:
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Promote the creation of scholarly research.
Engage with businesses so that they are actively involved in ELON.
Facilitate knowledge exchange between researchers, educators, policymakers, businesses
and business support professionals.
Inform the development of entrepreneurship policy.
Support the career development of its members.
These aims will be fulfilled by the following objectives:
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Organisation of events that facilitate the research and development of social and sustainable
enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Promoting the formation of rich networks within its membership.
Providing support to appropriate track leaders at the annual conference.
Providing regular information about their activities for dissemination to members.
Governance
The ELON is open to all ISBE members to join and non-members, at the discretion of the
organising committee. Non-members will be encouraged to join ISBE and attend the ISBE
conference. The joining process will be managed by ISBE (contemporary details of membership
processes will be made available on all ELON literature and the ISBE website).
Organising Committee and Officers
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Chair: Dr Clare Schofield (Centre for Enterprise, Manchester Metropolitan University.
From November 2012 to October 2015)
Deputy: Dr Tamara McNeill (Centre for Enterprise, Manchester Metropolitan University.
From November 2012 to October 2015)
Administrator: Katie Leach (Centre for Enterprise, Manchester Metropolitan University).
Other committee members (advisory)
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Professor Lynn Martin (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Professor Pauric McGowan (University of Ulster)
Dr Ellie Hamilton (University of Lancaster Management School)
ISBE Entrepreneurial Learning in Organisations Network (ELON) SIG
March 2013
Administrative support provided by Centre for Enterprise, Manchester Metropolitan University.
The Chair will lead the ELON for a period of three years (or less if they choose to step down). The
founding Chair will be in post from November 2012 until October 2015. From then onwards, at
three year intervals, SIG members will be invited to nominate a new Chair. If more than one
nomination is received, ISBE will support an election process in which SIG members each cast one
vote to appoint the Chair. The nominee with the most votes will be appointed.
The Organising Committee will consist of members appointed to fulfil specific roles. This will be
shaped by the Chair in informal consultation with the membership.
Annual Activity
The Chair will ensure that the ELON fulfils the following minimum activity:
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Leading a SIG Annual General Meeting with formal minutes available to members.
Producing an Annual Report.
Providing information to promote the SIG on the ISBE website.
Organising an events calendar with at least one event or workshop each year.
Supporting the conference track organisation.
The Annual Report will be a written account of activities in the preceding calendar year. This will
be submitted to the ISBE office electronically by 31st January. Listed below is the content required
for Annual Reports:
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Full name of SIG.
Administrative arrangements, current organising committee members, contact details and
any changes.
Chair’s report of the activities undertaken and outputs produced.
SIG Constitution.
Proposed activities for the next year.
Finance and sponsorship arrangements for the next year.
List of current members and changes.
The SIG constitution can be altered by majority agreement of members attending the SIG AGM. If
no amendments are proposed, the AGM should reaffirm the Constitution.
Committee meetings
Bi –annually to agree events programme.
Finances
The ELON aims to be self-financing (e.g. via sponsorship, grant funding and charging for services
such as events).
ISBE Administration Support
The ISBE office will:
ISBE Entrepreneurial Learning in Organisations Network (ELON) SIG
March 2013
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Administer all the finances of the SIG.
Manage a membership registration process, compile a contemporary membership list as
requested by the Chair and contact members at three year intervals to confirm whether
they want to renew or terminate their membership.
Administer an events registration system.
Publicise events via ISBE newsletters and website
Liaise with delegates on how to get to events
Liaise with the SIG Chair regarding proceedings leading up to events
Provide assistance in venue planning, particularly sharing its meeting room space for SIG
events.
Amendments and Dissolution
This Constitution should be actively re-adopted or amended at the ELON AGM. Any changes must
be supported by a majority of voters at the AGM.
The ELON can be dissolved either by (i) its own membership (following nomination of this action
by a member and majority voting by AGM voters), or (ii) the ISBE Board. The ISBE Board will only
take this action against the will of the SSEN membership in exceptional circumstances such as if
the SIG was bringing ISBE into disrepute.
Current version of Constitution
Agreed January 2013.
SIG Events Held
2012
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Workshop hosted by Centre for Enterprise, Manchester Metropolitan University
Official ELON launch at ISBE 2012 (November), Dublin
SIG Events Planned
2013
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ISBE research event - Glasgow (April 16th 2013)
ISBE research event - London (September 18th 2013)
ISBE research event - Belfast (December 4th 2013)