• Networking for CEOs managers and staff. Developing a value-adding research, technology and knowledge transfer business in today’s competitive marketplace is a considerable challenge. Membership of airto provides a unique network in which CEOs and their managers and staff can exchange views on business strategy and practice. airto members were "clustering" before the concept was identified as a business driver.
  
  
• Profit improvement through business partnerships. There is an element of competition between airto members but that acts as a stimulant to improved business practices. More often airto members co-operate, the summation of their respective capabilities giving them a unique positioning in the marketplace. airto membership facilitates partnership through a community based on trust and long-term mutual benefits. Even at the level of an individual project, such partnerships can repay the modest airto subscription many times over.
  
  
• People and practice development. Through Interest Groups, airto encourages knowledge-sharing among the staff of member companies. These Groups cover key topics such as finance, relationships with Government and bidding for public contracts, developments in accreditation and testing, and personnel management. This is a cost-effective way to provide staff development directly related to the efficiency of a business.
  
  
• Currently the specific airto interest group include:
• Chief Executives
• Company Secretaries and Finance Directors
• Public Sector incorporating EU and EC Affairs
• Testing and Accreditation
• Personnel Managers
  
• CoConstruct, The Airto Construction Group
• Climate Change and Sustainability

Occasionally, sub-groups are formed to deal with complex areas of specific interest to members

• Amplifying member brands through the Internet. airto is further developing its website to represent the views and activities of it member community. The site provides a direct link to members’ own websites. Thus airto amplifies its members’ web presence at no additional cost.
  
  
• Enhancing market demand. Each airto member has its own marketing strategy. However, the macro-market in which all value-adding research, technology and knowledge transfer companies operate can be enhanced by collective action. airto contributes to this enhancement of market demand by responding to government consultation and by producing policy and other papers. As airto is the largest community of its kind in the UK, the views of the organisation are increasingly influential. airto acts for its members collectively to increase awareness and market demand.
  
  
• Building the science, engineering and technology (SET) infrastructure for the future. The business models of airto member companies are constantly adapting to developments in the national and the EU infrastructures for scientific and technological research. airto represents its members views on this subject and presents positive arguments for appropriate partnerships, particularly with academia. This is exemplified by their involvement in the development of Knowledge Transfer Networks. Membership of airto turns academic partnership into a profitable exercise by building appropriate business models for the future.
  
  
• Collective public relations and contact making. airto members have their own targeted marketing activities. However, there is opportunity for collective promotion, PR and dialogue which can amplify the work of individual members with industrial, government and academic communities. airto meets with influential figures in each of these communities to exchange views and develop contacts. airto holds an annual lunch in the House of Commons with MPs interested in science and engineering. It arranges an annual Industrialists Dinner and private "off-the-record" dinner discussions, mainly with key figures connected to public policy and the work of government. airto extends its members’ own contact networks.
  
  
• Contributing to European business development. airto takes part, through its members, in many European policy negotiations. In addition, airto is constantly building links with other influential partners in Europe, such as the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and VTT. Links to EARTO are maintained by some of airto's members. All these activities stimulate EU demand for airto members’ products and services and they provide a mechanism for partnership in pan-European project work. airto membership provides increased influence and contacts throughout the EU.
  
  
• Creating new enterprise. airto members have special links to a unique early stage venture capital business in the technology sector: E-Synergy Limited. E-Synergy was formed by four former airto member CEOs. This link provides opportunities to develop relationships with, and invest in, start-up and early stage new technology companies. E-Synergy is itself linked to the best early-stage funding mechanisms in the UK. airto membership provides links via E-Synergy to sources of equity funding for new ventures.
  
  

Applications for airto membership: requests for membership application forms should be addressed to:

The Secretary
airto
c/o CCFRA
Chipping Campden
Gloucestershire
GL55 6LD
Tel: +44 (1386) 842247 Fax: + 44 (1386) 842010
e-mail: airto@campden.co.uk