Workshops
All of our workshops are being taken by experienced business women, keen to share their particular expertise and top tips with other Enterprising Women members. Each session is an hour long with four workshops to choose from in the morning and in the afternoon. You can let us know your first two preferences for each session in the online registration process.
Topic |
Description |
Who |
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Morning |
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1: |
Growing your sales pipeline |
Customers are vital to business success and they don't just appear – you have to find prospects, make them aware of you, nurture them, interest them, sell to them, deliver real value, and then keep them for repeat business! This workshop will show you how to build a sales pipeline, or "funnel" and how to use what marketing communications tactics – and when. You'll learn how to understand whether – and when – to use press and PR, online and emarketing, events and exhibitions, ads, telemarketing, direct mail, word of mouth, to build your business. Growing businesses need to ensure that their marketing spend will deliver good results. |
Bev Hurley, |
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2: |
Sex, royalty and religion – how to get your news into the press? |
What makes something a 'story'? How do you identify publicity opportunities in your business? And what are media organizations looking for? This workshop will show you how the media works – the importance of knowing when publications go to press, what time of the day and which day are best for sending things in, as well as what format to send things in. Gain tips on how to write a press release and create a press contacts list. Understand the differences between regional, national, magazines, etc... to build a strategy that communicates with all sectors at the right time. Learn how to build long term relationships with journalists – and provide them with what they want when they need it plus the do's and don'ts of dealing with journalists. |
Liz Hollis, |
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3: |
Creative thinking – maintaining your entrepreneurialism |
Entrepreneurs are by nature "Creative Thinkers" but seemingly insurmountable barriers, long hours, short deadlines, lots of "no thank yous" and the 'current economic climate' are just some of the 'energy drainers' that can affect our focus, frame of mind and performance. In this interactive workshop we will explore the characteristics of entrepreneurs – positives and negatives, and consider ways in which we can re-charge our 'business batteries'. |
Eileen Lennon, |
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4: |
Growing pains – personal stories from each stage |
This session will showcase three businesses at different stages of their lifecycle. From growing beyond one to expansion above 30 people, the speakers will share their business journey from the early days through to future aspirations. Explore with them the successes and tribulations faced along the way, and gain hints and tips to succeed in business. Kate and Claire were colleagues, but decided to take the risk to leave employment, and set up Active Marketing and Design in 2006. Why did they do it, and what have their first two years been like? Gillian Blackmore bought her company CyberAid in 2002 from its previous owners, and is a big fan of local recruitment. With over 20 staff now, Gillian says her Mum was a very important role model, though she wishes she’d realised it more at the time…. Content Consultants, co-founded by Daphne Metland, now employs over 40 permanent and freelance specialists. Among many achievements, launching www.babycentre.co.uk was followed a few years later by The Good Spa Guide - perhaps one thing leads to the need for the other! |
Kate Elliott and Claire McDermid, Active Marketing and Design Ltd Gillian Blackmore, Daphne Metland, |
Afternoon |
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5: |
Taking the horror out of HR! What you need to know about growing from 1 to more |
Want to take advantage of more business opportunities but can't find the time? Do you feel up to your neck in admin but have no one to pass it onto? Too scared to go on holiday because there is no one to mind your baby (your business) whilst you are away? This workshop will guide you through the process of taking on your very first staff member. It will: provide information on your employment law and health and safety obligations; point you to free websites where you can obtain more detailed advice/guidance/document templates; help you avoid the most common mistakes made by first time employers; correct many common misconceptions about employment responsibilities that often make the idea of employing someone too daunting to contemplate; and enable you to expand your business to exploit more business opportunities because you know how to get employment right. |
Karen Woodbridge, |
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6: |
Top Tips for Tendering and how to pitch with success |
Success at competitive tendering can help you to grow your company by winning contracts that provide a steady income. But where should you look for these opportunities and how do you create your response? This workshop will increase your understanding of the process and guide you towards preparing tender submissions that hit all the right buttons and present your organisation's capabilities in a powerful and compelling way. Interactive exercises will give practical help on how to assess and respond to a tender document and provide the basis from which to construct your own bids and win new business. |
Isabel Moritz, |
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7: |
Cold Calling Masterclass |
Engaging with new customers is essential to every business, but it's not very often, especially for start-ups, that the customers find you. Telemarketing is a highly cost effective and productive means of finding your next customer, however it is often thought of as the preserve of the nuisance caller, hard sell tactics, and the very thought of making these very important calls freezes some people into inaction or poor execution. This session takes the "chill" out of cold calling, helping you re-frame the philosophy of this activity and providing ideas and actions to help you become more proficient at obtaining successful outcomes, even though it may never be your favourite activity. Content includes personal insights and case studies from 20 years experience in a range of industries including B2B and B2C markets. |
Libby Mitcheson-Smith |
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8: |
Your question time – ask the panel |
Our panel of experts will include a mix of business advisors to cover almost any questions you might have. This is your chance to ask the panel what you want to know and to learn from others' questions too. |
Vandy Massey, Anne Miller, Anne Rivett MBE, Bev Hurley, YTKO Lou Cessford, Lesley Crisp, Charlie Adams, Lloyds TSB |