Welcome to our November Newsletter, we hope you find the content both information and helpful. We are always happy to include your success stories so if you have news to share please do get in touch.
ESSENTIALS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS - Southampton on 4 December 2009
Give your business an Infusion of fresh Ideas, Innovation and Practical help from the Experts! Attend for free or exhibit at very reasonable cost.
The feedback from our business to business event in October highlighted how valuable was the advice offered to small and medium-sized businesses. It inspired us to design another event that will be free to attend, offer the opportunity to attend seminars run by experts in their field, gain access to free business clinics and free business advice and visit the exhibitors - or be one of them. You can also hear Warren Cass, founder and MD of the highly successful Business Scene organisation talk about developing an online strategy for networking for business to make the most of social media as well as attending one of the networking sessions taking place during the day. You can attend for any part of the day to suit your diary or be there all day - the choice is yours. For more details about the event and exhibiting click here, to book your place at one of the seminars or just to attend click here.
WHAT A FABULOUS DAY!
Our "Is your business ready for the upturn?" event on 6 October was a really great event. We had a lot of positive feedback from attendees on the day about the very positive advice from the experts who so kindly gave their time and shared their expertise. They are, Mark Nolan from Alliott Wingham, Bob Le Grice from HSBC, Janet Watts from JLW Recovery Solutions, Gillian Woodland from DuckWood Partners, Aven Dawson from Vizzit Group, John Pemberton from The Disc Directory, David Napier from napier Business Consultants, Matthew Simmons from Snap Marketing, Kevin Briscoe from Briscoe PR, Laura Davis from HR Solutions 4 U and Giles Cleverley from Syn-Star.
Our thanks also go to the team at Portsmouth Technopole who not only sponsored the event and enabled us to offer attendance at this event free of charge, but also provided such magnificent support in the run up to, during and after the event. Our special thanks go to Stephen Brownlie and Sophie Cresswell in particular.
The event was opened by The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Mrs Terry Hall who delighted the audience with her positive views about the value of small businesses in the local community. Everyone I spoke to said how informative her talk was and how much they enjoyed it.
Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP also enjoyed a very lively debate as the people present shared their perspective about the support neededfor small and medium-sized business both now and in the future. Sarah advised the event participants that she had thoroughly enjoyed her time discussing the needs of small businesses and she took away 14 points for further investigation and discussion with government colleagues. Sarah promised to respond to the points raised and you can see that response here.
AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH MAHL
We are delighted to have forged a synergistic association with Moore Associates Hampshire Limited (MAHL for short) who have offered a number of development opportunities for small businesses at special rates for our Newsletter readers. You can find out more here. Shelagh and I are also working on a very special project for 2010 so do keep an eye open for further developments.
PRELIMINARY GDP FIGURES ARE DEEPLY DISAPPOINTING SAYS BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
Commenting on the preliminary GDP figures for the third quarter of 2009, published on 23 October 2009 by the ONS, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
"These figures make sobering reading, both for the Government and for British businesses. Continued intervention - including help for businesses to access finance, and incentives to promote investment - is still needed. Above all else, business confidence must be nurtured, to ensure that .....full item here
RECAPTURE THE MAGIC
“If you always do, what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got” . Paul Miller brings his 20+ years of experience to developing people who lead businesses. Read more about his views on how your personal perception guides you in business.
FUN DAY FOR CHARITY
The Premier Inn at Port Solent are having a Christmas Fayre to raise money for their nominated charity, Water Aid, on Saturday, 12 December. A great opportunity for some family fun in aid of a good cause. With gift ideas for the grown ups and lots of activities for children including a visit from Santa, why not pop in and join in? You can find the details here.
GREAT EVENT - LOUSY WEATHER!
The attendees at the Business Scene Berkshire Connections event in Reading on 12 November braved the elements to network. It was truly atrocious weather and everyone had a dreadful journey - but it was worth it! The next event is in Slough on 19 January 2010 and we hope to see you there. Our thanks to eveyone who entered our business card prize draw. We are delighted to advise that the winner was Alex Alley, Skipper of the Peoples Boat which will take part in the Global Ocean Race 2011. Alex is raising money for charity during that race and you can find out how to support him by having your company logo on the boat that will sail round the world here.