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www.bristolpost.co.uk /business Showcase 2014
Wednesday, March19,2014
Commercial feature
Events
JamieBreese JamieBreese,Director BusinessShowcase SouthWest Know how
Star billing Karren among the big names at major business showcase
T HERE’S asaying inbusi- ness thatpeople aremuch more likelyto dobusiness with people they’ve met. It’sone ofthe greatestof motivations fornetworkingand it’s proven timeand timeagain. More thansix years ago,I foun- ded Only Connect in Bristol. It’s goneon tobecomearegular feature of the South West’s networking landscape. Justwhenthe recessionstarted to takeahold,businessnetworking startedto geta realgrip. It’s an immenselyaffordable formofmar- ketingandis funifyouknowhowto pitchyourselfwell. Ifyouhaven’t attendedone ofourOnlyConnect events, be sureto try us out–we normallywelcomeover 500guests atatimeand theyhaveaunique social edge to them. Business exhibitions take the concept ofnetworking andsuper- charge it–rather thana fewhours, youget aday;ratherthan afew hundred guests, you have the chance toconnectwithmultiplesof that. I started workon the Business Showcase South West 2014 five yearsago. It’sbeenawaitinggame –waiting togrowmyownnetwork, reputation andfinding aline-up of truly stellar speakerswhowill in- form and inspire. Take, for ex- ample,Ajith–he’s oneofBristol’s success stories, building the na- tional Las IguanasandTurtleBay restaurantchains.I’llbe interview- inghimon stage. Iwant toputona greatshow thatpeoplegoawayand talkabout. Any exhibitionusually teamsup withasponsor.We’ve been incred- ibly lucky to findone–andaglobal leader at that – in Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Theyare doinggreat things in theSouthWest rightnow –and inBristol inparticular–from supplying the Lord Mayor’s new lower emission car to running a pilotschemewithspecial low-emis- sion car shares.They are into sus- tainability and invest a fortune in our city. My tips forattending our show- case on April 8 is register early online,besure toget thereearlyon theday (thereareonly1,800seats to see thekeynotes),bring lotsofbusi- nesscardswith youandovercome any networkingnerves –business isabout gettingout there. Get your free tickets at www.showcase2014.com. Whyeventsgivebest value fornetworking
GavinThompson AssistantEditor (Business) gavin.thompson@b-nm.co.uk
S OME ofthe biggestnames in businesswillbe speakingata free showcase taking place at ColstonHallon April8.The Business Showcase South West 2014, sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, isamajorbusinessevent thatcelebrates innovation,business, creativity and sustainability in the region. Speakingon stage isKarrenBrady, who isperhaps now bestknown for her role alongside Lord Sugar in BBC1 show TheApprentice . But her business experience goes much deeper. A former director of Sport Newspapers, she came to the public’s attentionas thefirstwoman at the top of football, as managing director of Birmingham City FC, from 1993 to 2009. She took the club from adminis- trationto thestockmarketin justa fewyears.She isnowvice-chairman ofWestHamUnitedFC. Karrenhaswonnumerous awards andis oneof thehighest profilerole models forwomen inbusiness today. Organiser Jamie Breese said: “To secureafirst-classheadlinersuchas KarrenBrady,and all ourother key- note speakers,is a statementof how big a player Bristol and the South West is inbusiness today. “We’re delighted to bring all that talent and expertise under one roof.” Olaf Swantee, chief executive of mobile phone firm EE, is another headline speaker. The firmhasheadquartersinBrad- ley Stoke, as well as a number of shops in the city. With close to 30 millioncustomersin theUK,Olaf’s wordswillbe listened tokeenly. Otherspeakersat theevent include Business West managing director, PhilSmith;executive directorofthe Bristol Chamber of Commerce, JamesDurie; chief constableofAvon and Somerset Constabulary, Nick Gargan; and motivational speaker BradBurton,of 4networking. Themain eventstartsat 10amand Sponsoredby
“ Fantas@c @me launching Believe Business Consultancy at Business Showcase South West today. Lots of Believe HR customers too.” Marisa Colbourn MA HRM Chartered MCIPD
● KarrenBrady, left, willbe speaking at the BusinessShowcase SouthWest2014, as willEEbossOlaf Swantee, above.The event takesplace at theColstonHall in Bristol “ To secure a headliner such asKarren Brady, and all ourother keynote speakers, is a statementof howbig aplayer Bristol and the SouthWest is in business today.”
JamieBreese
runs until 5pm. The exhibition is openthroughout,withahost oftop local firms exhibiting – from Bath Ales to N3 Display Graphics (part- ner),GreggLatchamsto4Networking (partner) and UWE to Veale Was- broughVizards. The origin of the event was the foundationofOnlyConnectnetwork- ing events in 2008.OnlyConnecthas become oneof the largestopen net- workingevents in theUK,welcoming
more than 500 guests on each oc- casion. The eventgives businessesthe op- portunity to present and promote their products and services, from start-upsand SMEstobig andlong- establishedbrands. Theday isfreefor delegates,in- cluding attending the keynote speeches. However, visitors should register fortickets firstbyvisitingthewebsite
at www.showcase2014.com. In addition to this, the chief ex- ecutivesof theregion’s leadingcom- panieshavebeeninvitedto aprivate drinkseventat lunchtime, supported byDesynit. There will also be a special Only Connect networking event – in as- sociationwithBusinessWest–in the eveningtoroundoffwhatpromisesto beone ofthe businessevents ofthe year.
FREETOATTEND 88EXHIBITORS fromacross the region BOOKTICKETSNOW – www.showcase2014.com Celebrating the BEST in Commerce, Innovation and Creativity
SEE KARRENBRADY CBE from ’TheApprentice’ and others speak
SHOWCASING THE BEST IN THE SOUTH WEST TUESDAY8 TH APRIL2014,COLSTONHALL,BRISTOL.10 AM - 5 PM
“The Business Showcase South West was a fantas6c opportunity for Fundsurfer. We met dozens of poten6al customers and had a wonderful 6me showcasing out crowd funding plaAorm to event delegates. Roll on 2015!” Oliver Mochizuki, Director, Fundsurfer
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