Carolyn Maniukiewicz – Director, Ideas In Partnership
Ideas In Partnership was set up in 2002 and has carried out work throughout the
UK. The types of work carried out are event management, project management,
ideas generation, market research, marketing, business development and
schools enterprise.
The principal was educated at Peterhead Academy and at Aberdeen University,
where she graduated with an MA (Hons) in Geography and English, Carolyn has
over 20 years experience in marketing having worked for all the leading research
companies such as MORI, Martin Hamblin and Systems 3. Carolyn worked for
the Scottish Enterprise Network for over 7 years, latterly as Head of
Entrepreneurship for Scottish Enterprise Grampian, during this time she was also
seconded to Scottish Enterprise National. Carolyn has been instrumental in
taking forward many new initiatives which have had proven success. She has
worked alongside Scottish Enterprise in delivering the Personal Enterprise
Shows from both a strategic and operational point of view. She established a
very successful series of Aftercare Workshops which were delivered throughout
Scotland and the company was responsible for all the evaluation connected with
those events.
Carolyn firmly believes in “thinking out of the box” and adapting more of a can-do
culture in the country. She is a good leader and her enthusiasm helps to
motivate others.
The other side to Carolyn’s strengths are her analytical skills and this mixture of
being able to interpret data to a high degree and seeing how it can be used
operationally has proved very useful throughout her career. Ideas In Partnership
currently carries out all types of research UK wide. The company has the
capability to interpret, collate and analyse data and currently employs 6 people
with 15 ad-hoc researchers. Clients include Scottish Enterprise, SAC, Aberdeen
Journals, Scottish Executive, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council,
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Stronachs, Johnstons of Elgin,
ANM Group, MEAL, Celebrations of Turriff and many more private companies
from blue chip to small Sme’s.
In 2005 a separate company – Enterprise Partnership Scotland – was formed to
run a programme for High Growth Companies. Sponsorship was received from
Aberdeenshire and City Councils, Scottish Enterprise, Stronachs, Johnston
Carmichael, PricewaterhouseCoopers, The Urquhart Partnership, Internet for
Business, Mackenzie PR and The Royal Bank of Scotland. The company has to
date worked with 25 companies with turnovers of £500,000 to £18 million and
after each yearly programme the group went on an overseas learning journey
which has included San Francisco and Houston. A third programme is to be
launched in 2010. This project shows Carolyn’s leadership, project management
skills and the ability to bring people together.
The Enterprising People Project was set up by Ideas In Partnership to deliver
Enterprise in schools and this has been done successfully throughout Scotland.
Ideas In Partnership now sets up new projects which are implemented
throughout Scotland. A recent initiative has seen them working with The Sir Ian
Wood Trust and local charities to show how philanthropy works. Sir Ian Wood
has donated £3K to the best project in each school. Ideas In Partnership
currently has a contract with Aberdeenshire Council to increase Employer
Engagement in schools and colleges.
Currently the company has a contract to deliver the Scottish Chambers of
Commerce mentoring programme which matches successful mentors with small
and growing businesses.
The company also works with a great many rural businesses, helping them with
all aspects of their business development.
In 2009 Ideas In Partnership took over the running of Aberdeen Entrepreneurs
which is a successful networking organisation.