Business Gateway Courses available for small businesses:

Financial and Commercial Training for Managers - Full Information

New or Expanding Opportunities for Members

There's a lot hidden in this part of the world and that's not just because it's very dark at night – even when it's not raining – but we'll start with the dark nights theme.

Dark Skies

We have been awarded Dark Skies status in Dumfries and Galloway, the only award in the UK so far.  That means that if you are in an area away from street lighting like Clatteringshaws or Glentrool and you go out to look at the stars you get a breathtaking display of the heavens without the usual orange glow.  Even in smaller villages it's pretty good if you get out of sight of the lighting or have a roof window in your guest room.

We have to do two things.  We need to provide accommodation, food and other services for people who want to come here and see these sights – mainly off season.  There's precious little at the moment, just a few Forestry organised lectures and viewings, so why not provide, even advertise, overnight accommodation for dark sky visitors.

 Then we need to let people know what we've got.  For instance the Town Hall at Kensington in London gets around 1,000 astronomy enthusiasts for Astrofest in late January or early February every year.  There's a Dark Skies stand there and we can get our publicity onto that stand for a very reasonable cost.  They and their telescopes will flock up here but only if we can cope with them. 

How about a Dark Skies Festival?  A fortnight should be good.  If it's one week there's always the risk that it won't stop raining – but then the rain keeps the air clear for the nights when it's not raining.
What about a branch meeting on the subject in the autumn when the season is winding down?  In the meantime please let Dumfries Branch member Gordon Hill know your thoughts on gordon@s-b-solutions.co.uk or put something up on the forum.

Culture and Environment

Yes Culture's been with us for a long time and the Environment even longer but is due for a refresh as Glasgow University at Dumfries is launching The Solway Centre for Environment and Culture in September and wants to develop ideas in collaboration with business both here and in Cumbria.  Any thoughts, let Gordon know.  Combine it with the meeting suggested above perhaps?  More details at the end.

Archaeology

Now that's not exciting for everyone but how about the opportunity for your guests to make new discoveries!  A novel method has been developed by the University of Glasgow to look for Roman and other remains that might interest members in the tourist industry.  They've developed detectors a bit like large metal detectors with two wheels that people can wheel around fields.  Technically the detectors use magnetometry or resistivity to look for structures beneath the ground and record the information on memory chips.  Then on return to base (which could be a PC with suitable software at a hotel or B&B) the memory chips are checked to see if there are any hidden structures.  Glasgow University at Dumfries is keen to hear from members such as accommodation providers who would like to borrow the equipment and be involved in providing theme holidays with a purpose.  Again, a subject for a branch meeting?  Contact Gordon Hill of the Dumfries Branch (gordon@s-b-solutions.co.uk.) in the first place.

More details of the Culture and Environment Centre:

The Solway Centre for Environment and Culture: A Proposal

The Solway Centre for Environment and Culture, based in Dumfries, aims to conduct world class research and to provide knowledge exchange on the interrelations between environment and culture, with special reference to rural areas. Three key themes for investigation include:

• landscape place and memory
• sustainable, rural tourism
• rural landscape management

We are particularly interested in the areas where these three overlap, creating theoretical challenges and offering opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and to develop leadership within this emerging field.

The Centre consolidates expertise within the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Dumfries, in tourism, ecocriticism, heritage, cultural studies, ecology and Earth science. It allows us to combine relevant methodologies with empirical studies as appropriate. In partnership with community stakeholders, it will foster a robust research environment, sustaining existing and future research bids. To paraphrase an environmental slogan, the Centre will conduct research locally and regionally, while applying findings globally, drawing on current and emerging theories of sustainable development. It will establish high-profile, funded projects, public events, and CPD opportunities, maximising impact for ourselves and our partners, delivering high quality research. 

We will extend our existing knowledge exchange activity and, in the process, attract high-calibre PhD students and  researchers, as well as developing new taught postgraduate options.  Following structured development events, we hope to launch the Centre in September 2011.