Line-up of autumn events for business community

There is a full and wide-ranging series of events lined up this autumn for the Shropshire business community. Here is a list of some of the seminars, meetings and more informal events which might well be of interest to you:

              *The Horse and Jockey at Grindley Brook is playing host to Whitchurch’s Collaborative Networking Group on September 6.

Networking ambassador Teresa Jones said:“We have a great programme of guest speakers over the next year and we will be introducing a business focus to each meeting. Our aim is that all attendees will leave the networking meeting with ideas, strategies and contacts for improving their businesses. 

“After your summer break come and join us to kick-start your September and really get your business moving forward.”

The meeting will feature a PR and marketing workshop hosted by Jon Simcock, of Shrewsbury-based Brightstone PR and Jon Hepburn of Wem marketing specialists Fedora Consultancy.

The pair will show how developing a basic marketing and PR strategy is a vital part of growing and nurturing a business, and offer tips on how to put your own plans into practice.

The September 6 meeting runs from 10 – 12 pm and costs £8.50. Tickets are available through Eventbrite or pay on the door.

 More details of the group are available at www. collaborativenetworking.co.uk

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                *A Shropshire business networking group is holding a visitors day to attract potential new members to fill its last six remaining membership places.

Severn Business Network (SBN) will hold the visitors day on Thursday September 14 in the Sovereign Suite at Shrewsbury Town FC’s Montgomery Waters Meadow stadium.

The independent networking group, which launched in June 2009, currently has 34 members and operates on a one-member-per-profession basis. It meets every Thursday morning at the stadium, off Oteley Road. Only six of its maximum 40 membership places remain available.

The visitors day, which is free to attend, will start at 6.45am and run through until 8am, closing with a complimentary breakfast.

Chairman Andy Lawrence, managing director of national franchise group Hometyre, said the visitors day was an opportunity for people, who were new to business or new to networking, to join a dynamic and proactive business referral group.

He added: “SBN is a friendly group of like-minded professional people working together across a whole host of different industries.

“Our activities go beyond just business interactions as we also regularly participate in social and charity events which help to strengthen the bonds between our members”

Potential visitors are urged to book a place as soon as possible by emailing info@severnbusinessnetwork.co.uk. Further information and a list of current members are available on the group website severnbusinessnetwork.co.uk

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                   *A digital PR course will be held in Shrewsbury on September 19 as part of a county tour to help small business owners. 

J&PR, based in Telford, have already hosted a successful course in Oswestry to help the small businesses and market traders within the town and will now be hosting it in Shrewsbury. 

The course will be held at the University Centre in Shrewsbury from 10.30am to 4.30pm. 

Kirsty Smallman, who runs PR agency J&PR Ltd with co-director Rhea Alton, said digital marketing gave businesses a wealth of opportunity to put themselves in front of new customers, but many did not know where to start.

The one-day course will give business owners the chance to learn the benefits of social media and digital marketing, encourage business owners on the best way to promote themselves and offer advice on how best to target the right audience for their business. 

“Social media and digital marketing are playing an ever-increasing role in the success of businesses, but many are not taking advantage of what is on offer to them through these platforms of promotion,” added Mrs Smallman.

“Our one-day course is practical and gives business owners the chance to think about their target audience, key messages and the fantastic success stories they should be promoting. They go away with a folder of information covered on the day but will have actually done the work during the course too. 

“We give them top tips and tools of the PR world, including press release and blog writing and will show them how to use social media to ensure they are attracting their target market and engaging with both their current and potentially new customers.” 

The course costs £99 + VAT per head including refreshments and lunch. 

Anybody who would like to book a place on the one-day PR, social media and digital marketing course in Shrewsbury, or a one-to-one PR mentoring session should email kirsty@jandpr.com or call (01952) 567817 to discuss further.

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                *The next Meres & Mosses Business Environment Network will be taking place on Wednesday September 20 at Nantwich Football Club.

There is a packed programme for the event which is following the theme of Planning for Wildlife in Business Development and is sponsored by Pearce Environment.

MMBEN’s Tom Hayek said: “As always our next event has been chosen by a vote from our member businesses.  

“This event will not only cover considerations around physical buildings development but will also look at how to consider wildlife and the wider environment when undertaking building upgrades, going through expansion of site production and other activities.  

“As always there will be plenty of opportunity for networking between the presentation sessions and we hope to continue our high standards of lunch to help continue the conversations!

“Booking is essential for this event and there are also opportunities for businesses to exhibit at the event. Please call us on 01743 284274 to book or discuss in more detail.

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                * A quiz night is being planned by a Shropshire law firm with proceeds from the evening being split between three worthy causes.

Staff at Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors are putting on the quiz at Ludlow Brewing Company on Thursday, September 21, and are asking for teams of four or five people to sign up and get their entries in now.

Money raised from the quiz and raffle on the night will go towards Ludlow Rugby Club, Grinshill Animal Rescue and The Georgia Williams Trust.

Lanyon Bowdler’s Amanda Jones said they were hoping to get as many people as possible to turn out.

She said: “Three very worthy causes will benefit from the evening and it would be nice to raise as much as possible to split between them - Ludlow Rugby Club, Grinshill Animal Rescue and The Georgia Williams Trust.

“There will be a case of real ale for the winning team and we will also be holding a raffle.

“The entry fee is £20 per team and can be made up of four or five individuals.

“The quiz is being held at Ludlow Brewing Company in Station Drive, Ludlow, and will get under way at 7pm prompt, so we are asking people to arrive by 6.30pm. The entry fee includes a light supper.

“We are expecting to finish about 9.30pm but the venue will stay open until 11.30pm - so come along and make a night of it.”

For more information, or to request an entry form, email info@lblaw.co.uk or call the marketing team on 01743 280280.

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            *Keeping your company safe from cyber attacks while fully maximising online business opportunities is a real dilemma - but on September 22 a Shropshire digital marketing expert will be guiding business owners through the benefits and pitfalls.

Shropshire Business Partnership is hosting the meeting at Shrewsbury Town Football Club when guest speaker Helen Culshaw, managing director of Ascendancy Internet Marketing in Shifnal, will be offering an insight into the digital marketing world.

Helen has more than 15 years experience in the industry and her company has become a leader in advising, teaching and training people to get the most from digital.

“A lot of people using digital marketing are not fully up to speed with the full extent of what it can do to make their business more of a success,” she said.

“It will be an interesting and informative meeting and well worth taking the time to come along to and learn about the benefits, and the pitfalls, of this expanding industry.

“I will be talking about what really are the key trends in digital marketing and where it is heading, the rise in tracking user behaviour and how business owners can tap into this power, and some tips on keeping your website secure.”

The breakfast meeting is specifically designed to show how best to maximise online potential while keeping businesses secure.

Other speakers will be Steve Borwell, managing director of cyber security specialists Borwell, and Anthony Hughes of Henshalls Insurance, who will talk on how best to protect a business.

A full English breakfast will be served with lighter options also available and there will be networking opportunities before and after the main business of the morning.

For more information and to book your tickets visit http://shropshirebusiness.org/next-event/

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                *Following the success of last year’s ‘Making Mental Health Your Business’ event, Shropshire Council supported employment service, Enable, is hosting another free event for World Mental Health Day on Tuesday October 10.

The event will be held at Shrewsbury Football Club from 8.30am-10.30am.

Employers from across Shropshire and the further West Midlands will attend to gain information and sources of support to help them manage the mental well-being of their workforce

An attendee from last year’s event said: “The event contained a powerful message that we should all be looking after each other, in and out of the workplace. Mental health needs to be higher on the priority list for all. Don't hide it, talk about it and provide help to those who need it.”

The event will include presentations from an Enable client and an employer, as well as two short workshops in Mental Health First Aid.

By offering attendees the chance to hear first-hand experiences, they will be able to improve their knowledge on what it means to hire someone with an existing mental health condition through Enable and the advantages it can bring to a company.

The workshops will provide employers with an introduction to Mental Health First Aid, which is designed to provide employers with the skills to become confident with dealing with mental illness in the workplace.

To book your place at this year’s event or to find out more information, email enable@shropshrie.gov.uk or phone 01743 276900.