Ely Perspective Business Network

The third “drop-in” session of the Ely Perspective Business Network, for 2004 will be on:

Tuesday 16th March 2004, 11.00 and will be at the premises of this month’s sponsors, Select Telecom, in Littleport.

WHAT IS IT?
The Ely Perspective Business Network is exactly what the name suggests, a networking group which aims to give business people in and around Ely a chance to meet one another in a relaxed and informal environment - with a view to pooling resources or attracting new, local customers.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES IT TAKE PLACE?
It’s on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 11.00 am and the “default” venue, unless it is hosted by a sponsor is the Lamb Hotel. The next four meetings will be on the following dates:

11.00 Tuesday 16th March, 2004,
Sponsored by Select Telecom, this session will take place at their offices in Littleport, the address is: 1 Lynn Road, Littleport, CB6 1QG
11.00 Tuesday 20th April, 2004,
Sponsored by The Internet Marketing Company.
Venue Arden Knowledge Management, Unit 9, Lancaster Way Business Park, Whichford, Ely CB6 3NW
Every person who attends will be offered a free 30-day evaluation website powered by Vista, the internet marketing company‘s web site management and Internet marketing tool (see www.theinternetmarketingco.com for more details about Vista).
11.00 Tuesday 18th May, 2004,
Venue to be confirmed.
11.00 Tuesday 22nd June, 2004,
Hosted by Price Bailey, Richmond House, Broad Street, Ely CB7 4AH.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
An opportunity to meet other local business managers and owners who might wish to use your product, retail outlet or services and make them aware of your existence.

An opportunity to showcase your products, services or retail outlet - you can sponsor the event for a nominal fee of £15.00 which covers the refreshments provided. In return for your sponsorship you are invited to display promotional material about your company from flyers and cards to - with plenty of advance warning - exhibition stands, products and merchandise.

By e-mail: ask@marketinginsideout.com
By phone: 01353 665 074.
Many thanks to Select Telecom for sponsoring this month's session and providing us with a venue.

Wymondham based entrepreneur Robert Ashton will give a sixty minute crash course on the benefits of business collaboration at the next Connectworker event at the Holiday Inn, Impington at 6.30pm on Wednesday 17 March.

Robert will explain why collaboration turbo-boosts competitiveness. His straight talking tell-it-like-it-is style is backed by sharp-end experience from starting three businesses and selling two.

He still maintains an interest in six start-ups and is currently writing his fourth book 'The Entrepreneur's Checklist, with "the things you really need to know to start a business, rather than the stuff the bank would have you worry about!"

A firm believer in setting and achieving goals Robert says collaboration between business and social enterprise is the bridge to building opportunities. And it need not be at the expense of the work/life balance.

"There is this tired old theory that to be successful you have to work your socks off at the expense of personal and family life. Nothing is further from the truth. By helping others and yourself you not only get more satisfaction and enjoyment but you get noticed within business circles and become more attractive to grant providers. The result is a better business and home life."

Robert believes traditional techniques for building successful businesses are outmoded.
"To get ahead of the competition and your peers it is vital to get noticed and collaboration is the best way to achieve this. It provides free learning opportunities for you and your people and creates powerful win-win relationships."

Robert says he is neither rich nor famous but he is a happy, successful entrepreneur. Over the past 15 years he has started three businesses learning valuable lessons about the real world of entrepreneurship. Practising what he preaches he has established a Community Foundation as an innovative 'Enterprise Colony' for young businesses

During his presentation he will tell how he has successfully built his businesses using other people's money, ideas and hard work or as he calls it 'business alchemy'.

The evening starts at 6.30pm and is free to Connectworker members and £10 for non-members. Numbers are strictly limited so please book early by calling : Cathryn O'Donnelly on 01954 201029 or email: cathryn@Connectworker.co.uk

Notes to Editor
1. Robert Ashton is an entrepreneur and business author with a passion for young businesses. His books include:
· Achieving Business Alchemy' - Hodder & Stoughton Aug 2002
· 'Copywriting in a Week' - Hodder & Stoughton Nov 2003
· 'How to Sell' - Hamlyn Aug 2004
· 'The Entrepreneur's Checklist' Pearson Oct 2004
For more about him visit www.robertashton.co.uk
…more

2. Connectworker is an East Anglian networking club for small businesses, portfolio workers, freelancers, independent consultants and people considering starting their own business. For more information visit www.connectworker.co.uk or call 01954 201029.
3. Robert Ashton's talk is the second in a monthly series planned for 2004. Last month personal performance trainer Ken Marshall gave a stunning presentation called 'How to make the best impression in a competitive market'. For more information contact chrisdodson@mightier.co.uk

The next meeting of the East Cambridgeshire Management Development Network takes place on Tuesday, 10^th February 2004 from 6.00pm – 8.00pm at The Maltings, Ely. Refreshments will be available from 6.00pm and the following presentation will take place between 6.30pm and 7.30pm.

Employment Law Update

There is no doubt that employment legislation places a particular burden on smaller employers but it is something that cannot be ignored because of the potential penalties you and your business may face from Employment Tribunals.

There has been a clear shift to a litigious environment due to the increase in “no win, no fee” solicitors’ offers, employees wanting their day in court and having an increased awareness of their own employment rights. During this session you will be provided with an informative but pragmatic insight into meeting your legal requirements along with a look ahead at changes on the horizon.

The session will be led by Aidan Walmsley who is Managing Director of the “The Profile Partnership” which provides a number of different services to employers including HR consultancy services. He is a Corporate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CMIPD) with 18 years HR and consultancy experience across financial services, engineering, utilities, shipping and IT services sectors.

Booking is easy, all you need to do is complete your details and fax to 01480 846478,
e-mail fiona.rickard@cambs.businesslink.co.uk or telephone 01480 846409.

Companies can only sustain success if the are able to continually bring new attractive products to their market place. This means the careful management of the processes needed to produce an ongoing stream of new products. This seminar will be illustrated by examples of new product creation such as the bass beer widget and Tetley's round tea bag.

JEREMY CLARE works with Young Enterprise to take business experience into schools. He retired from full time employment in 1999 after 15 years working for Cambridge Consultants Ltd. After working on two start-up opportunities he held a part time research post at University of Nottingham investigating innovation management in small to medium sized enterprises. He continues to lecture at Nottingham for the Institute for Enterprise and Innovation.

Employment Law Update There is no doubt that employment legislation places a particular burden on smaller employers but it is something that cannot be ignored because of the potential penalties you and your business may face from Employment Tribunals.

Employment Law Update

There is no doubt that employment legislation places a particular burden on smaller employers but it is something that cannot be ignored because of the potential penalties you and your business may face from Employment Tribunals.