Facing the challenge - now’s the time to ask
Scottish Enterprise, together with Business Gateway and other partners, is running two free events which will offer insight into a broad range of issues and topics facing local businesses in the difficult economic downturn. They include raising finance, cash flow management, finding costs savings, generating effective sales and marketing and retaining the talent within your workforce.
Speakers, with considerable business knowledge and expertise, will be on hand all day to give their take on actions that may help you to manage your business through the economic downturn.
They include:
- Ellis Watson, Managing Director, Menzies Distribution
- Richard Palmer, CEO of Borderfields -( only available at Borders event)
- Caspian Woods, Chairman, Editions
- Johnny Leach, CEO of Winning Pitch Plc
- Colin Burns, Former Head of Studio, IDEO
Businesses will also have the opportunity to network with other delegates and speak with representatives from the Business Gateway, local Banks, Accountants, Carbon Trust, Business Angels, Envirowise, Energy Savings Trust, Federation of Small Businesses and the Chamber of Commerce.
Two events are being held over the south of Scotland :
- Tuesday 2 December 2008 9.30am – 4pm
Duncan Rooms at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries - Wednesday 3 December 2008 9.30am – 4pm
Tweed Horizons Centre, Newtown St Boswells
Jim Robison of Scottish Enterprise said “Waiting for the storm to pass is not an option. We are working with companies to help them reduce costs, improve processes, increase efficiencies, develop new products and look at opportunities to target new markets domestically and internationally. These events are open to all businesses in the south of Scotland and we would urge companies to take advantage of this opportunity even if they are not feeling the credit crunch yet.”
Places are free, please call 0845 607 8787.
Register online for either the Dumfries or the Newtown St Boswells Facing the Challenge event
Speakers Biographies :
Ellis Watson, Managing Director, Menzies DistributionThe media and distribution industries have been hit hard in recent times. Menzies Distribution operates in these fields as the leading provider of added value distribution and marketing services to the newspaper and magazine supply chain in the UK. The good news is that Ellis Watson is in charge of their destiny.
Ellis was the Marketing Director for the Sun and News of the World, reporting directly to Rupert Murdoch. He helped reverse a decline in sales and launched a number of cutting edge initiatives. Ellis will share his experiences in creating good times and insights into how to manage more challenging times. Ellis is practical, hands-on, and has proven to provide successful advice to companies across all sectors, sizes, and backgrounds.
Caspian Woods, Chairman, EditionsCaspian has started a range of successful businesses. As Chairman of Editions, a financial marketing agency, working with the UK’s leading banks he has a unique insight into the current market downturn.
Caspian is the author of the UK’s best-selling business growth guide ‘From Acorns’ published by FT Prentice Hall, now published in 14 countries. His lessons draw from his own experiences and those of leading entrepreneurs. He offers insights, ideas, tools and techniques on how to be successful in business, overcome challenging times and make money.
Colin Burns, Former Head of Studio for IDEOTimes are tough out there and it’s time to be different. Colin Burns is the former Head of Studio for IDEO London. IDEO has won more awards for innovation than any other company in the world. Innovations have varied from Vodafone services to the first ever laptop.
Colin now works with a range of SMEs across industry to help them make money by innovating. Whether it’s the introduction of a new service, product, business model, marketing method or finding a new successful way of making a positive change in your business Colin’s knowledge, experience, tools & techniques work; it’s as simple as that!
Johnny Leach is CEO of Winning Pitch Plc.The first thing that often suffers in turbulent times is winning business. Winning Pitch is an award winning company that helps companies increase their sales. They focus on building high performance individuals and organisations to achieve profitable breakthroughs in revenue performance.
Johnny’s knowledge and experience is based on the application of tried and tested methods used by the world's most successful entrepreneurs. They deliver practical high impact solutions that are proven to create sustainable growth in sales and business development performance. Johnny is passionate about sales and has helped 100s of companies increase their pipeline and sales conversions.