Q&A with Iain Bennett

Iain Bennett is the Founder and the Managing Director of The Fifth Sector.

I asked Iain a series of questions about the challenges and successes over the past years. I also wanted to know how the company was adapting for the future during this uncertain time.

How long has the Fifth Sector been operating?

Since 2011 - now in its tenth year

What has been your most challenging project?

Writing a cultural strategy for Liverpool in the midst of the Covid-19 emergency. Trying to balance the requirements of freelancers losing work, music venues closing and companies losing contracts against the need to build a long term plans for restart, renewal and growth.

Where is the furthest you have travelled as part of the Fifth Sector?

To Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brazil, to speak at a creative industries conference.

Do you think we are coming into a new way of digital working?

Is it new? I’ve been working remotely with clients and associates over WeChat and Zoom, and sharing files via Google Drive and Sharepoint, for years. It’s good that more businesses have recognised that work isn’t defined by time in the office. But those communications and document management systems will become really productive only when properly integrated with other project management tools and offering a variety of modes of real and virtual engagement.

Have you adapted? If so what new tools do you use?

Now that people are getting into the swing of remote working, I’ve been able to introduce teams to the use of project management tools like Asana.