Byte Night

Byte Night has firmly established itself on the Reading calendar as one of the must-attend events for IT professionals and it is encouraging to see the charity raising record funds and expanding into other cities.

Ken has ambitions to see Byte Night grow to a charity with a turnover of £5million and that will bring considerable challenges. As Byte Night grows, embracing other UK cities, the issue of management and control will become ever more apparent – something every director of an expanding business will recognise.

Ken currently divides his time between Byte Night and his communications consultancy, Amber Group. He already recognises that this puts him under considerable pressure. The Charity Commission will expect to see very different levels of management and financial control from a £5 million charity than it would with a much smaller one.

The trustees may need to consider the structure the charity – either by creating local management or by creating separate Byte Night charities in the various locations it operates. The trustees will need to consider the best structure so that they have sufficient control but still understand the particular issues and challenges of each location.

Alex Peal, Partner James Cowper LLP
0118 9590261 or email apeal@jamescowper.co.uk

January 2012