A quick report from the Exeter Business Network event on 3rd July at The Lord Haldon Hotel

Some feedback from Twitter which leads nicely into the post!

IanDunstan10:12am via Twitter for iPhone@Carolinecreer @seanhumby @gravitasdevon@MangoPersonnel I feel left out of your exclusive name drops !Show Conversation

The event began with a fabulous seminar hosted by Chris Wood –

with live demo’s on using Twitter, Hootsuite, Facebook and LinkedIn – all demonstrating the opportunities that can arise with 52 million people in the UK online – 74% of which access the internet monthly (strange but true!) and the fact that the top reasons for being online are for searching, followed by social media and then for entertainment.  Knowing what people are accessing and using enables you as a business to interact, engage and build the relationships that can lead to business.  Details here

The quote from Kafka “Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.” certainly rang true during the lunch with decision makers from the following businesses

Bovey Castle, Devon Air Ambulance Trust, WNW Design, Cobalt Communications, Plug and Play, RSH Copywriting, Compass Resolution,  Roger Moore & Associates, Computech IT Services, Exeter Golf & Country Club, Gravitas Recruitment (SW) Ltd, Concept Card, Juiceplus, Simpkins Edwards, Fair Energy, WBW Solicitors LLP, Beckworth Financial Services Ltd, Great or Poor, Winning Tenders Ltd,  Exeter Mind & Body Clinic, Marla Custom Blinds, Kirkham Board, Glen King PR/Marketing Ltd, Rundle Walker, Martin Luck Group, St Loye’s Foundation, The HR Dept, Space, Exeter Racecourse & Conference Centre, Lloyds TSB Commercial, St James’s Place Wealth Management, WESC Foundation, Creme de la Creme Fun Casino, FRP Advisory, Printing.com, Q Social Media Ltd, Grand Hotel, Malcolm Rouse Photography, Peninsular One Source, Mango Personnel Ltd, Old Mill Accountancy LLP –

all enjoying a networking lunch full of conversations and connections!

THE networking lunch was followed by Cathy Towers’ excellent 10 minutes on what’s in a handshake?  Cathy owns Exeter Mind and Body Clinic – a refreshing new service for Exeter aimed at improving your quality of living in your work, leisure and relationships

Cathy Towers – a weak or strong handshake or something in the middle

What does a handshake say about you? Everything. Your handshake can imply a steely confidence or an unassertive insecurity. . Cathy demonstrated some techniques that really have a positive impact on ensuring how to shake a hand properly is not a forgotten art but something that can genuinely get a relationship off to the best possible start!

Handshakes being practiced – and connections being made!

Congratulations to Alicia Coles – Bovey Castle for all the support for Devon Air Ambulance Trust – helping them raise £400,000 over the last few years with the Golf Day, prizes and more – fantastic!

Exeter Business Network Charities 2013 – Your chance to support them

The Devon Air Ambulance Trust is the charity which raises the funds to keep 2 emergency Air Ambulances flying. This is no small feat as each and every year we have to raise in the region of £4.5 million to keep both of the helicopters airborne.  Click here to donate

Families for Children place children for adoption from throughout the UK, who have experienced loss and upheaval. We find for them stable, loving families in Devon, Dorset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
We are special because we have a ‘forever’ policy of support and this means that we offer support to the child and new family for as long as they need us. Click here to donate

WESC Foundation’s aim is the education and care of young people with visual impairment and/or complex needs and their transition into school, college and beyond.  By providing a specialist centre for education, training and expertise, WESC Foundation create a better life for people with visual impairment. Click here to donate

The vision of St Loye’s Foundation is that each individual should have the opportunity to achieve their maximum potential, irrespective of natural abilities or setbacks experienced in life.
Mission – St Loye’s mission is to be the preferred choice of people with physical, mental health, sensory and other disabilities, or with long-term health conditions, to improve their quality of life and degree of independence.  Click here to donate

Guy Arnold – Referral Marketing course – 12/7/13 at the Nobody Inn, Doddiscombsleigh, Nr Exeter, 1pm – 4pm, Refreshments included, £59 per ticket (or 2+ tickets, £49 each)- first round on Guy!

or contact Lizzy mailto:support@greatorpoor.com

  Member’s offers and opportunities    

 

Alicia Coles – Bovey Castle

01647 445017

Enjoy free meeting room hire in 2013 at Bovey Castle.

Giving you the perfect opportunity to sample our 5 star venue if you’ve never used us before, or to simply remind yourself what we can offer you and your business in 2013.

Please call Alicia Coles on 01647 445017 to discuss this offer in more detail.

Terms & conditions apply to this offer and can be found at www.boveycastle.com

Gordon and Sally Mitchell – Business Doctors (Devon & Cornwall)

0845 293 9684

 

Breakfast Seminar at Exeter Golf & Country Club on 10th July 2013 – 08.30 – 10.30am

Are you spending too much time working IN your business instead of working ON your business?

You are invited to join Business Doctors for this relaxed and entertaining free breakfast where the presenters will show you how to take a step back from the day-to-day running of your company in order to focus on putting in place a clear strategy for growth and greater profitability

The seminar is aimed at business owners, entrepreneurs and managers and there is absolutely no charge for this event. Places are limited so early booking is advised.

Business is tough. Being in charge of it can be lonely too. This event not only offers valuable insight into growth strategies that work and practical advice on tried and tested processes that improve your success. It also offers the opportunity to network with like-minded business people.

At the seminar, the Business Doctors will:

• Share powerful case studies of clients who have achieved remarkable success, and how you can achieve similar results
• Will explore why it is so important for business owners to take a step back from the day-to-day running of their business to identify their vision for the future
• Give frank, honest advice and practical tools that you can apply after the workshop
• Give you a great chance to network with other like-minded business owners who are willing to take their business to the next level
• Explain how business owners can address the challenge as the presenters take the audience through ten steps to put in place a comprehensive and workable strategy
• Demonstrate their straightforward, down to earth approach and understanding of the challenges faced by business owners, particularly in this difficult economic climate.

Book your place online at

www.businessdoctors.co.uk

Contact us

For more information call Sally Mitchell on 07918 075569 or email sallym@businessdoctors.co.uk

Vince Ware – Business Furniture Group

0845 634 2202

Do you have space problems in your office? Are your storage facilities not working for you? Does any of your staff have a back problem? Do you need to get more people into an existing space? To answer any of these questions please give the BUSINESS FURNITURE GROUP a call.

We offer a free consultation for any Business Network members. Contact Vince Ware on 07974 980353 or 0845 634 2202. Clients that have benefited from this advice are: Armada Finance, Express & Echo, World First Insurance plus many other organisations.

www.bf-group.co.uk

Jim Taylor and Ian Dunstan of Cobalt Communications

01392 908888

Our new Managed Telephone system provides guaranteed quality calls and all of the facilities of your own system at a cost of less than £10 per extension per month. We would love to show how it works. Give Jim or Ian on 01392 908888 and we can set up a 20 minute demonstration.

jim@cobaltcomms.co.uk                                                  www.cobaltcomms.co.uk

 

 

 

Stephen Bateman – Concentric Dots

07889 462319

The Most Talked About SlideShare Presentation On LinkedIn

“It’s been a very gratifying experience this last three weeks from dry-run at BNSW, then reworking and honing my presentation for an online audience of 450 on platforms that can break or make a professional reputation in less than 3 minutes. It wouldn’t have been nearly as polished or engaging for audiences without the invaluable help and coaching from Hugh Graham and Sarah Hughes, both very mindful and talented communications professionals. I can’t tell you how fantastic it’s been having such good content to promote to like-minded marketers and managers in such varied channels. I’ll miss the next networking event due to travel obligations, but I hope more members get to feel the buzz I’ve had the privilege of experiencing in my relations with this stimulating and supportive network. Thank you :-)”

www.concentricdots.co.uk

http://www.slideshare.net/stepbate/6-step-contentmarketingplanningframeworkslideshare

David Frumin of DAVID FRUMIN & ASSOCIATES

Tel: 01392 493394

If you haven’t done your tax return for 2011/12 it is due by 31st January. We can help – 15% off normal fee.

www.davidfrumin.co.uk                                          enquiry@davidfrumin.co.uk

Dudley Hambleton – Evolution

01392 410759

A healing/spiritual/psychic check over session with Dudley at half price (£35) for all Business Network SW members. Are you, or is someone you know feeling down, more tired than usual, more unlucky than usual, or a bit lost at the moment? There could be a psychic reason for this which you or they are not aware of but a session with Dudley will tell you if this is the cause of the problem and where required, provide the solution through his connections and abilities with psychic clearance work.

www.evolutionexeter.com

Cathy Towers of Exeter Mind & Body Clinic

07989 564660

Lunchtime network at Exeter Mind and Body clinic with light refreshments and a 20 minute presentation on back care.

www.exetermindandbody.com

Dan Thompson and Michelle Thomas of Exeter Racecourse

01392 833454

michelle.thomas@thejockeyclub.co.uk                        www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk  .

Guy Arnold – Great or Poor

07990 550057

Referral marketing without the BS

• Are you finding that ‘traditional’ marketing is becoming more and more expensive and less and less effective?
• Are your customers becoming more demanding and price sensitive?
• Are you constantly concerned about getting the next sale or new customer?
• And would you like to sort all this out and learn a simple but hugely powerful new way to actually get referrals from the right people, to the right people, for the right reasons?
• That is guaranteed to work?
• Without all the marketing bulls***?
• Would you be prepared to spend half a day in one of the best pubs in Devon on a Friday afternoon in July, for under £60 to achieve this?

Of course you would … and now you can

Friday 12th July – At the Nobody Inn, Doddiscombsleigh, Nr Exeter – 1pm – 4pm.  Refreshments included

• £59 per ticket (or 2+ tickets, £49 each) But you’d better hurry, as the places are strictly limited to 12 (no BS, they really are!) First come first served, email Lizzy support@greatorpoor.com  today!

http://referralmarketingnobodyinn-es2.eventbrite.co.uk/?rank=3

Government Funding still available to help you put customer loyalty, reputation marketing, and referral systems into your business: don’t wait: get it while it’s there! For more info, see Guy Arnold or email support@greatorpoor.com

Rachel Buckley and Stuart Wright of Hartnell Chanot & Partners

Tel:   01392 421777

 

Whether you are struggling with a relationship breakdown or planning ahead for the future, Hartnell Chanot & Partners offer a specialist service that can help. As the South West’s leading family law specialists, our team of solicitors offer expert service across a wide range of family matters. In addition to a FREE initial appointment we are offering a 5% discount to members of BNSW Exeter and your employees.

www.hartnellchanot.co.uk

Malcolm Rouse of Malcolm Rouse Photography

01392 437724         

Free Family Portrait sitting with one 10 x 8 photograph in luxury folder

www.malcolmrousephotography.co.uk

Mark Leveridge of Mark Leveridge Magic       

Tel: 01392 252000 or 07773 303558

Book table side magic for any dinner function taking place in 2013 and receive an hour of extra strolling magic during the pre-meal drinks reception for free.

Contact Mark on 01392 252000 or 07773 303558 or go to www.expertmagician.co.uk

Adam Nicholas of Martin Luck Group

01752 334035

Every customer ordering from Martin Luck will receive a free bottle of wine with their first 3 orders!!

Adam.Nicholas@martinluck.co.uk                                 www.martinluck.co.uk

Spencer B. Hodgetts of Nature’s Brilliance in Business

07745 652487

Imagine the Brilliance of Nature in Your Business One FREE half hour speech on Biomimicry…..Value £100

naturesbrilliance@gmail.com

Ashley Scott of Printing.com

01392 495133

1,000 Full Colour Letterheads 120gsm only £62+VAT

http://www.printing.com/uk/studio/exeter

 

Kate Tennant – Search Consultancy

01458 259398

Search Consultancy understands the world of work. We work in partnership with our clients to increase productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction, enabling our clients to concentrate on their core business.

If you want to try a different recruitment solution and a local recruitment provider who invests time in understanding your business needs, who’ll provide a consultative service rather than selling you a one size fits all solution then why not give me a call. As an introductory offer, I’m offering Business Network SW members a 30% discount** off the final invoice for the first permanent or fixed term contract vacancy you brief me on.

To discuss any of your recruitment needs, please contact me, Kate Tennant on 01458 259398 or email: katherine.tennant@search.co.uk

View my LinkedIn profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/katetennant

www.searchconsultancy.co.uk

 

 

Susan Meldon Simply Assisting You

Tel: 01392 248247

WHY SIMPLY ASSISTING YOU?  

1. Cost effective – our low monthly fee means it’s affordable to small businesses
2. Totally flexible – we offer a unique mix and match ‘Office Assist Package’, meeting the precise needs of your business
3. Dedicated team – so we get to know your business and team personally
4. Professional image – to your customers at all times
5. We specialise in office tasks – you specialise on your business
6. A member of the Society Of Virtual Assistants

www.simplyassistingyou.co.uk

 

 

 

St Loyes Foundation

Tel: 01392 255428

Sign up with phil.roberts@stloyes.ac.uk  to jump out of a plane (with a parachute!) and get sponsored for St Loye’s. All money raised going to support Ex-Forces with physical or mental health conditions get back into employment. Go on – Challenge yourself and friends to do something completely different!

 

 

Dave Barr thebestof Exeter

01392 248 263

We’d love to learn more about your business and see if we might be able to help promote what you do. So – we’re extending our Expo offer for reduced price thebestof Exeter membership to you. This ‘Internet friendly’ package has been tailored to suit everyone’s budget, giving you great online results on our newly designed website.

• Your business in up to 3 categories
• Up to 4 images
• Link to your website
• Email link
• Full contact details
• Up to 400 words of SEO copy written for you about your business
• Google Map
• Free call tracking telephone number
• 24/7 customer reviews

The most important thing to us is whether you qualify as one of ‘the best’, so let’s have a chat.

exeter.csd@thebestof.co.uk          www.thebestof.co.uk/exeter/blog            http://www.thebestof.co.uk/exeter

 

 

 

Hugh Graham of The Bid Coach

01963 240555 & 07970 694814

Free review and critique of a recent presentation – with suggestions for improvements. AND/OR free session to discuss what key messages you need to communicate in a forthcoming “must win” presentation

win@thebidcoach.com                 www.thebidcoach.com

 

 

 

Belinda Newton of The HR Dept

0845 863 0653

For a free review of your Company’s Contract of Employment and Staff Handbook, contact me mentioning Business Network SW.

Preventing People Problems: 

 E-mail: belinda.newton@hrdept.co.uk

 

 

Caroline Burkie and Maggie Garrett of WESC Foundation

01392 454337

Win a Mercedes-Benz A-Class

WESC Foundation is over the moon to be in partnership with Mercedes-Benz of Exeter for our birthday year. Mercedes-Benz of Exeter has generously donated a brand new Mercedes-Benz A-Class to help WESC Foundation raise vital funds for the children and young people in our care.

Contact Caroline for tickets to buy and for tickets to sell – 01392 454337 – cburkie@wescfoundation.org.uk

 

 

 

Ian Smith – Winning Tenders

01392 247997

Free tender-readiness check for your business if you are thinking of tendering for contracts and want to know how you stack up i.e. is your business tender ready? Could be worth thousands!

www.winningtenders.co.uk

 

 

Robert Guest of WPA

01404 815276

WPA has various special offers for new joiners to all our schemes. This applies whether you have an existing scheme with another provider or want information on starting a plan.
Robert.guest@wpa.org.uk                                 www.linkedin.com/in/robertguest1