Having last month gone some way to dispelling some of the common perceptions of Awards such as: -
· “The process is too time consuming”
· “We will never win so what’s the point?”
· “We are too small, it’s only the bigger businesses that win”
· “There is no value in entering”
through presentations from prominent local business owners who had achieved award success, the Network now turns to the practical side of entering for awards.
At this month’s Network meeting we will provide businesses with the tools, processes, templates, advice & expertise required to put together the best application possible in order to stand the best chance of progressing and winning an award for themselves.
Over the next two months the Network’s monthly meetings will be focusing on Business Awards
February’s meeting will include a number of short presentations from local prominent business owners who have achieved considerable success & recognition by entering (& sometimes winning) awards. Also speaking will be a member of the judging panels of STEP & The National Training Awards.
As each business gives their own personal experience & relates the value they have attained, we are looking to dispel some of the common perceptions of Awards such as: -
· “The process is too time consuming”
· “We will never win so what’s the point?”
· “We are too small, it’s only the bigger businesses that win”
· “There is no value in entering”
Following the presentations there will be ample time to talk to the presenters and network with other delegates over a light buffet.
In an attempt to galvanize the North East economy and keep skilled workers in the region, North East businesses can now apply for a subsidy part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and matched by One North East that will ensure their growth.
Part of the Government’s ‘Solutions for Business’ initiative, this is a dedicated business support project which has been set up to guide over 90 SMEs through the recession and prepare them for recovery over the next 2 years. The service works by matching employees who are working reduced hours or are at risk of redundancy with businesses that need but cannot afford skilled workers.
To mark the launch of this innovative project TEDCO are hosting a breakfast event where you will hear all about the project and the available funding.
It will highlight the benefits of the matching service to both host and donating businesses and how businesses can apply for the funding.
Founded in 1953 Dicksons Pork Butchers is one of the Jewels in South Shields crown and is considered one of the North East’s leading meat companies.
Tonight David (Frost) Baxter will be talking to Michael and Elena Dickson (son and grand daughter of founders Irwin and Helen Dickson) about how changing tastes and the economic climate have affected the product mix and marketing strategies undertaken by the company since 1953.
Now more then ever, your customers are crucial to your business
and good customer service has become one of the most important
aspects of your business.
This FREE event has been tailored for organisations who want to
learn more about how Putting Customers First can improve their
business performance. Organisations that have achieved the
Customer First Standard are seeing measurable results. Some of
these benefits include increased customer satisfaction, gain in
market share and bottom-line impact.
A social Christmas gathering with 3 course meal , entertainment, raffle and auction.
An opportunity to forget the stresses and strains of work and enjoy the preamble to Christmas.
As staying at home with friends more often than not has taken over from going out, wine has become an increasingly important and valuable element to our dining experience. With this in mind Chris Robinson from The Occasional Wine Company will provide guests with an insight into choosing a good wine – be it a one off designed to impress or one for everyday ‘quaffing’.
Chris will also provide guests with an opportunity to sample a number of selected wines, in a relaxed and friendly environment. Guests will also be able to view the company’s vast portfolio and bag a bargain or two in time for the Christmas celebrations.
With the festive season in mind a number of local businesses will also be on hand to provide guests with some unique present ideas.
To make the most of the evening you it is suggested you do not drive and have a cheque book to hand!!!!!
Businesses wishing to hire a table (£10) will also be given the opportunity to introduce their business – contact Jessica on 0191 387 1924 to book a table.
Recent surveys have proved that the most important and pressing issue businesses face is Sales & Marketing.
It’s no secret that businesses need to market themselves effectively and have people who are able to build customer relationships. Most know what they have to do and why they have to do it. The key and often the missing ingredient is HOW.
Mintfresh would like to invite you to a free 2 hour seminar, which will focus on developing the skills, processes and structures which
will have an immediate positive impact on your business.
At the end of the seminar you will:
Be introduced to a customer development process
Take away useful practical ideas for your business
Develop a 7 day action plan
The third annual business bash is back with a vengeance to celebrate South Tyneside Business Forums successes and look to a positive 2010 in business.
Tickets - £45 + VAT
Drinks Reception, alacarte 3 course meal with wine, live music followed by DJ
Charity Fun Casino Night
3 Course Meal
Casino
Entertainment
£19.95 per ticket (includes £10 casino money)
The second of our 'In discussion with' events will see our very own David (Frost) Baxter in discussion with two members of the Cottam family who's forebarers established the Cottam Brush manufacturers in 1858.
Guests will be given an insight into how, through adaptation and a willingness to explore new markets Cottam Brush Ltd, as the company is now known, have survived and over 150 years later are at the forefront of brush design and manufacture.
The company's passion for excellence in customer service being rewarded earlier this year when they recieved the prestigious STEP Business Award for “Excellence in Customer Service”
During the evening guests will not only gain some useful ideas on developing their own business but should be inspired to hear how success can be achieved through the bad times as well as the good and how change is not always a bad thing.
A unique - not to mention intriguingly titled - FREE Networking meeting.
Featuring 30 minutes in which you will be given some great advise / hints and tips on how to survive a networking event and look forward to the next one with renewed confidence
Monthly members meeting featuring 20 minute presentation by Adam Watkins - Business Development Director, BT Global Services, update from the chairman on local activities and opprtunity to network with member and guests over a light buffet
Registration 5.30pm for 6.00pm
Finish around 8.00 - 8.30pm (depending on the amount of networking!!)
Light buffet available after the presentation
The South Tyneside Enterprise Partnership (STEP) Business Awards Dinner will take place on Thursday, July 2nd at Unit 6, Waldridge Way, Simonside East Industrial Estate, Newcastle Road, South Shields NE34 9QA. The venue will be transformed into a stunning and unusual location for this year’s Awards.
The black-tie Awards Dinner will start at 6.30pm with a champagne reception, followed by the awards ceremony, hosted by South Tyneside’s very own Ray Spencer. After the awards there will be a three course dinner, networking and entertainment until midnight.
A table of 8 costs £650 incl VAT. Individual tickets can be purchased for £81.25 per person inc VAT.
To purchase tickets or to find out more information about the event, contact Lorraine Schapira on 0191 281 4887 or email Lorraine@yellow-dog.org
A unique - not to mention intriguingly titled - FREE Networking Lunch is being hosted by South Tynesdie Business Network during the seventh annual South Tyneside Business Week.
This years Business Week is set to be bigger and better than ever, with the launch of an impressive programme of events. The annual event, now in it’s 7th year, takes place at various venues across the borough from Monday 29th June to Monday 6th July, offering opportunities for local businesses and members of the public to get involved. A full listing of events taking place is attached, together with leaflets on 3 individual events, including the Business Forum's business inter-trading event, Flipchart Road Show IV. Please feel free to promote this to anybody who might be interested!
To book on any of the events, please get in touch with the contacts listed on the programme. For any other enquiries regarding Business Week please contact Angela Horend on Tel: (0191) 424 6256 or e:mail angela.horend@southtyneside.gov.uk
The stock market has rarely been out of the news over the past few years and we have all been encouraged to test the waters through the various privatisations that have occurred but do you really know what it is all about
Tonight we offer you an insight into the world of stock market trading with the opportunity to join in the trading game, and within minutes experience the thrill of buying and selling in the competitive market place where you will be competing against others on our simulated trading platform. (No real money to lose so do not worry!)
Once the frenetic dealing has died down and the trading game winner been announced you will have an opportunity to assess your dealings and discuss with like minded guests the pros and cons involved in market trading.
The South Tyneside Business Forum is bringing
together like-minded businesses in the first step of
the Forum's "business buddy" project. Businesses
throughout the borough have told us that they need
to know how to get where they need to be fast.
We believe there is no better source of business
information than that provided by another business
person who has been there. We are trialling a
program that will attempt to provide the participants
or "buddies" the opportunity to share ideas,
knowledge and experience in order to benefit each other.
Joint meeting with Sunderland Business Network
The business environment is changing, we have greater pressures to consider, yet we want to develop successful businesses for today and in the future. This event is all about getting your strategy and business practice right. Thinking smart not only to survive in the challenging business environment, but to make sure you are able to profit from the opportunities that will present themselves.Delegates will be provided with 15 useful hints and tips on how to improve profit and business’s value, Maximise return on marketing and Maximise return on people.
This evenings meeting will begin with the networks AGM and will be followed by a David Frost style interview with a leading South Shields Businessman and EntrepreneurThe evening will finish with open networking over a light buffet
These half-day sessions introduce business advisers to the hugely successful Designing Demand programme, and how design can make their clients more competitive.
The interactive workshop, which received excellent feedback from the region’s business advisers when it was introduced in 2007, returns after over 80 North East SMEs embarked upon the Generate stage of Designing Demand during 2008.
The event provides an ideal opportunity for any consultants who provide advice to businesses. Previous advocates of the programme have included bankers, accountants and solicitors, as well as professional business advisers from organisations such as Business Link.
The anatomy of Marketing: Tools &
techniques to help you transform
your business
Targeted at non-marketers, the event
promises to provide you with ideas and
techniques that will have a positive impact
on the development of your company and
brings you the real experiences of people who
have spent many years in Marketing and PR.
Presentations will give an overview of the basic marketing tools and
techniques that will enhance your knowledge and confidence when
taking part in the marketing decision-making processes. Presentations
will be delivered by experts who have vast experience in marketing
businesses and who have an in-depth knowledge in the following areas:
• Strategy Development
• Market Research
• Business Development
• Public Relations
• Branding
• Online Marketing
Well, we can think of our customers as diamonds – they come in all shapes and sizes; and quality varies but overall, they are precious and valuable – if we know how to spot them and to care for them; through excellent customer service. Finding customer service and customer contact in every day routines will result in competitive advantage. Every single contact of any level with a customer can be viewed as a sales opportunity – not just for immediate sales, but for the potential sales in the future. It is about follow up and follow through. It is about a long term relationships and it requires discipline and diligence.This evenings presentation will give members and guests an insight into customer care, its elements, benefits and tricks of the trade.
An insight into stress, why it occurs, how it manifests itself and how it can be conquered.
Presentations often form a crucial part of your sales story and can be the make or break of a deal
David Baxter - Printng.com - will, through his presentation, arm members with a number of useful hints and tips on how to make an effective presentation that will secure them future business and make them someone to be remembered
The evening will also provide members with a great opportunity to socialise and network with a variety of like-minded business people from across the area.
Christmas get together with 3 course meal and lots of fun and entertainment.
Open to all our members, partners and guests
We’ve all heard terms like e-marketing, web marketing, search engine optimisation, social networks and blogs – but what’s it all about and can all of this ‘new marketing’ really help a business to gain more sales and enquiries?
Come to this free business briefing presented by award winning company Atomic Web Solutions and see how your business can make the most of web marketing.
Following the presentation delegates are encouraged to network with like minded business people over a light buffet.
High-profile, glitz and entertainment event to celebrate the first anniversary of the Business Forum, and celebrate doing business in South Tyneside. Champagne reception, dinner and inspiring business speakers mixed with fun and entertainment. Sponsored by Siemens, South Tyneside Council, Gladman & South Tyneside College.
The aims of this interactive session is to:-
· Guide you through the benefits of networking, showing you how to
- Connect with other businesses
- Increase your knowledge
- Sharing information
· Identify how to assess the impact of Networking on your business
· Give you confidence to enter a room and begin to network.
There will of course be plenty of opportunity for you to put what you learn into practice as you enjoy the buffet provided after the presentation
STBN Monthly Meeting