IAB Ambassador Pack

Ambassador

Welcome to the IAB Ambassador family!

We are thrilled to have you on board as an IAB Ambassador, a role that is instrumental in shaping the future of our organisation. Your dedication will play a pivotal role in providing invaluable support to your group members and the broader IAB membership.

The aim is for your group meetings to be both inviting and inclusive, creating a space where you and your group members can feel relaxed and supported. Here, monthly, you will have the opportunity to share your successes and challenges whilst gaining crucial insights for business growth.

Each meeting is designed to be concise, lasting no more than an hour. As the chairperson, it is important to maintain strict timings for each section and to ensure everyone has their chance to participate and share.

The following details will serve as a valuable resource, offering insights into meeting structures and providing ideas for topics and talking points.

Your role as an IAB Ambassador: As an ambassador, you become a visible representative of the IAB brand, embodying the high standards associated with this role. Your primary duty, is to foster a supportive and inspiring environment within your group.

We encourage Ambassadors and group members, to treat each other with respect and uphold confidentiality. When others in the group are providing support or collaborating, remember not to engage in unfair competition, and show consideration to all associates and business partners. It is advisable to properly document any agreements or outcomes, related to business dealings outside of the group.

From time to time, we would like to invite you to participate in group projects that will greatly contribute to our decision-making process. These projects will help us make more informed decisions on critical matters, such as member benefits, product development and marketing. With any involvement in such projects, you will be briefed by a member of the IAB team. These projects are not intended to take up any additional time over and above what you already commit to the programme, they are simply to give you some additional topics and structure to your group discussions.

Your input is invaluable to us, and we would be thrilled if you could work together within your groups to ensure that every voice is heard.

Be There for Your Group and the Ambassador Peer Group Your presence is crucial, not just for your group members, but also for the larger Ambassador community. Please make it a priority to attend our bi-monthly meetings with the IAB leadership team. If you are unable to attend a meeting, kindly notify us in advance. If, for any reason, you miss two consecutive meetings, we will arrange a call to discuss your time commitment to the IAB Ambassador programme.

www.iab.org.uk

Promoting IAB's Products and Services Ambassadors are vital in spreading awareness of the IAB's offerings. You will regularly engage with your group members on a regular basis, but there may also be the need to meet with the wider public at events and exhibitions. It would also be great to share your achievements, and work with the IAB through marketing channels, and at industry forums. For any external communication we will ask your permission, and where required provide specific briefings.

Products and Services of Focus Membership: Understanding the value of membership, and advise group members and the broader community on the benefits of membership and how to get the best out of it.

Qualifications: Understanding our qualification offering from grassroots bookkeeping, to our new levels 4 – 7, business finance and business management modules, that allow you to diversify your knowledge base in line with industry demand.

AML Supervision: Understanding of MLRs and a strong performance as a supervised member through the use of AML Complete.

CPD: Understanding the overview of the CPD requirements and what counts.

Group Promotion: The IAB will assist in promoting your group, by providing you with member information, including their emails. Your responsibility will be to regularly promote and remind your members about the monthly meetings via email, and share the Zoom link for the calls – please see the appendix for templates.

Zoom Requirement: As an IAB Ambassador, you will need the professional version of Zoom to conduct the 1-hour meetings for your group. For more information, visit Zoom Pricing: (https://zoom.us/pricing). If you need assistance with Zoom, you can refer to Zoom's YouTube Channel for tutorials: (https://www.youtube.com/user/ZoomMeetings).

Setting up Meetings and Reminders.

Please refer to the Appendix below for the email templates.

Meeting Guidance To create engaging and productive meetings, follow these guidelines.

• • • • •

Start with a brief meeting introduction and identify what you are going to discuss (maximum 5 minutes).

Encourage participants to turn off mobile devices and maintain confidentiality.

Initiate ice breaker discussions for first meetings and new joiners.

Discuss the topic of the month.

Agree an agenda for the next meeting.

Ice Breakers for first meetings/new joiners – What was your 1st job? Are you reading anything interesting right now? Where was the last place you went for the 1st time? The best piece of advice you have been given and why?

Increase engagement in your meetings - Celebrate wins; Share a motivational quote; Discuss podcasts or webinars; Share something that has recently inspired you; Share positive outcomes of your/your teams work; Invite a guest speaker; Share a recent learning.

www.iab.org.uk

Energising and Sharing Positivity – What motivates you to come to work each day? What are your personal goals this year/how are they coming along? How do you know you have had a productive day? What would you like to spend more time on?

Go back in time – Pick a date and compare what you were doing then to now. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing how far you have come.

Consider setting some S.M.A.R.T objectives around your meetings or topics discussed – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. This can give you and group members a focus and increase positivity if collectively you are working towards a goal. You can also reflect on the process to identify strengths and weaknesses.

During Your Meetings Stay on track by addressing members core issues and needs. Encourage concise responses to questions such as "What have you learned?" and "What do you need to learn?"

Handling Negativity While occasional negativity is natural, strive to keep meetings positive. When negativity arises, listen, summarise the issue, and inquire about the needed assistance. Let your group know that you will provide feedback on the required help.

On-boarding New Members Facilitate a smooth transition for new members by sharing an agenda before the meeting. Learn about their business setup, preferences, and specific needs to tailor discussions accordingly.

Sharing Info Consider setting up a Dropbox or Google Drive account to share documents and notes with group members.

Closing Your Meeting Before concluding, remind members of the date and time of the next meeting. Bid farewell and end the call on a positive note.

Feedback After each meeting, kindly provide feedback on the Ambassador Feedback Form: (https://iab.jotform.com/team/iab/ambassador-feedback-form). Your input is invaluable in enhancing the Ambassador programme.

Once again, thank you for taking on this role. We are excited to support you in growing your group and your business, while ensuring that your ambassador experience is enjoyable and enriching.

Have fun, as it is your group, and you will gain a lot from it!

www.iab.org.uk

Appendix EMAIL WELCOME TEMPLATE Subject line: Important Note: Your meeting information Hi there XXXXXX Welcome to your Business Breakfast with XXXX. We’re thrilled to have you on board. The purpose of this group is to create a supportive community for our IAB members, where connections are made in a cosy setting, with a maximum of 6 friendly faces.

These meetings are all about relaxation and inclusivity. It is the place where we can come together, share our triumphs and challenges, and gain valuable insights to boost each other's businesses.

At each meeting, two lucky members will take the "hot seat" to discuss their current business dilemmas, while the rest of the group pitches in with helpful advice.

Mark your calendar because your first meeting is on XXXXXXXXXXXX. We’ll be gathering via Zoom, kicking things off at xxxx, and running for a delightful hour of camaraderie. The Zoom link can be found right here: XXXXXXXXXXX Should you have any questions or run into any hiccups, please do not hesitate in getting in touch.

Kind regards, XXXXXXX EMAIL REMINDER TEMPLATE Subject line: Breakfast with XXXXX reminder Hi there XXXXXX Guess what? We're gearing up for another exciting Business Breakfast with XXXX this week, and we can't wait to have you join us!

Our virtual session will kick off promptly at xxxx, and you can find the Zoom link right here: XXXXXXXXXXXX This month, we have something special in store – the "Hot Seat"! We'd love to feature you, but only if you're up for it. If you've got any pressing issues in your business that you'd like to share and discuss with the group, this is your chance! Keep in mind, each person has a concise 5minute slot to chat about their topic.

(Remove the above paragraph if the person isn’t in the hot seat this meeting.)

As always, should you have any questions or run into any hiccups, please do not hesitate in getting in touch.

Looking forward to another fantastic session!

Kind regards, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

www.iab.org.uk