The Gallery

 

View pictures from various KISS events held over the past year and read some of the testimonials. Click below for more

 

 

Our Successes

 

Provided an informal networking environment where business people can meet and support each other, sharing knowledge and expertise to help each other’s businesses and referred work to each other

 

 

Organised four successful careers exhibitions now known as ‘The Big KISS’ in Congleton, which has now become part of the Borough’s event calendar, the last event had 500+ attendees.

 

 

Provided free training for local businesses in food safety, marketing on a budget and conflict management.

 

 

Developed and delivered a programme to help people prepare for work or learning opportunities, 100+ participants in the last year. 80% of people went on to achieve their goals.

 

 

Worked closely with schools and colleges in the area, working on many projects to help bridge the gap between education and employment.

 

 

Support other ideas and events to help connect, skills, employment and learning i.e. 11 million take over day – placements found for people who would not normally have the opportunity.

 

 

The "Conflict Handling Workshop" is an example of an excellent benefit to us all for attending.

 

 

The Congleton KISS group won a 2009 Congleton Borough Business Award ‘Special Achievement’.

 

 

KISS Member

Jackie MacArthur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT Is your name, position, and the organisation you work for?

Jackie MacArthur, Town Centre and Marketing Manager, Congleton Town Council

 

WHEN Did you join KISS? / How long have you been involved with the group?

I ‘joined’ (does anyone actually join…or do you just get involved…) the group quite early on, in about October 2007 when the Town Council had some funding to help train local businesses and the KISS group seemed the perfect group to advise….and then I stayed….

 

ABOUT Tell us about your organisation, what it sells/does and how long it has been running.

The Town Council is the most local level of government. Congleton is a very proactive council. We have 20 elected councillors and around 15 full time and part-time staff. We run the Town Hall – a major venue in town and work closely with partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors with the aim of making Congleton an even better place to live, work, invest and visit.

 

DONATIONS Tell us what you have donated to the KISS group over the period of you membership. This can included giving up your own time or work you have done for the KISS group at events such as the BIG KISS etc.

The Town Council is very supportive of the KISS group and its activities. In the past two years the Town Council has put around £10,000 towards helping train employees in local businesses and training for unemployed residents. The Town Hall has been the venue for the past two BIG KISS Careers events and grants have been given to enable the group to use the building.

 

WHY/BENEFITS Tell us why you joined the KISS group, why you are still involved in its activities and what benefits being a member of the group has brought you.

Being part of KISS gives you a great opportunity to meet, get to know and work with colleagues with different skills and backgrounds on meaningful projects to help the wider community. It is a positive experience and everyone is involved because they want to be, not because they have to be. For me it has given me great links and contacts to very real people!