< Previous40 Business Link www.blmforum.net Corporate events are an important ingredient in building lasting relationships with clients and employees - vital for a business’s growth. They offer a personal method of strengthening bonds and loyalty while enhancing brand recognition in a way that social media, emails and phone calls cannot replicate. From employee teambuilding days to product launches, celebratory parties, fundraisers, seminars and conferences, all these events require some basic event management to succeed, from research and planning to gathering feedback. Here, Business Link takes you through some useful tips for organising your unforgettable event. To start, those arranging corporate events should nail down the occasion’s purpose; what you wish to accomplish. To provide a meaningful experience, consider why you are hosting an event and set goals and objectives - are you looking to attract new customers, educate, or reward staff for example. From here you will be able to decide the kind of event most suitable for your audience, select what will resonate with them, and this will guide everything from decorations to speakers. Deciding your target audience is also key - will it involve executives, potential or long-term clients, or is it an internal party? When you are able to pinpoint your audience, you can work out the ideal way to reach them, establish how many guests to invite, and arrange an event program that is tailored to them, their interests and needs. At the beginning of the planning process firms must additionally set a budget, which will determine the kind of event you can organise. It is wise to have a cushion for unexpected extra expenses that arise. With a budget in hand, deciding where to allocate funds and what may require more resources to reinforce the event’s purpose is next. One will need to balance money to ensure the budget isn’t blown on a single aspect, perhaps decorations to the detriment of entertainment and refreshments, or not being able to afford a tech crew. With all this considered it’s time to select the event’s theme or topic and format, with an event that is interactive and varied, such as a conference with roundtables, panel discussions and networking, much more likely to be a success. Themed events can help narrow down your choices for other aspects of the event, for instance food, and make it more cohesive, but should also align to your event’s goals, featuring memorable activities. One will then be ready to choose a venue to suit your event, its mission and Any corporate event requires solid planning to triumph. CORPORATE HOSPITALITY www.blmforum.net Business Link 41 size. Venue choice can have a major influence on attendance and will set the tone. Providing a location that is unique and exciting can boost numbers, adding to an event by offering an experience that departs from the overdone to make a lasting impression. This will give guests something to talk about too and make them more likely to discuss the event once it’s over. However, where the venue is positioned must be factored in. It’s all well opting for a quirky manor house in the countryside, but in order to achieve the best attendee numbers it is usually advisable to seek somewhere convenient with good accessibility that is close to transport and accommodation if necessary. For those with lower budgets, consider holding events at less popular times and days, such as organising breakfast seminars, and securing the venue plenty of time beforehand to take advantage of any price deals for advance booking. The ‘when’ is of course another important factor - will your guests prefer to set aside time on a weekday, weekend, evening, or afternoon? While looking for a venue remember to enquire about equipment, what will be provided for you and what you will have to source and set up yourself, such as audio-visual elements, stages and lighting. You may further need to make a decision on in house or external catering, with in house tending to work out cheaper and simpler. When picking food ensure to think about dietary requirements, whether you will be offering a set menu or asking attendees to choose beforehand, and how you want the food to be served - on trays with canapés, as a buffet or sit-down meal. In preparation for the day, you will also need to contract any necessary reputable specialists - caterers, audio-visual technicians, photographers et cetera, as well as booking any speakers, presenters and entertainers - and draw up the agenda for the event, sharing this with your team and determining who is responsible for what. When it comes to the agenda, look to form a balance between giving guests freedom and keeping them engaged with a schedule and variety. Use of technology to help your event go off without a hitch should additionally be considered. There are plenty of event management software options to streamline planning but also for creating interactive features during the event like live polls to boost participation. In the lead up to the event, make sure to promote it creatively. For smaller occasions a simple invitation may be enough, however for a larger soirée you might want to do something louder with emails, ads, social media, blogs, promo videos, adding events to industry listings, getting sponsors and media on board, and encouraging the business’s team to promote the event when visiting clients. Ensure to create a website for the event or a new landing page on your own site and in promotion use the same hashtags and branding across platforms and consistent messaging. After the event is over, there are a couple of final checkboxes to tick off to evaluate your success. A debrief with your team and gathering feedback from guests are important and will allow you to uncover whether the event met its original goals and objectives and if it had an impact on attendees. The lessons learned from this will be crucial to refining your next event. © stock.adobe.com/ Anton Gvozdikov © stock.adobe.com/ deagreez42 Business Link www.blmforum.net events Adding More Value to Your Recruitment Wednesday 9 August Online It is becoming extremely common for businesses to shift away from a traditional recruitment model to more of a talent acquisition model, focusing on the big- picture needs of an organisation, rather than hiring only to address short-term needs. This free webinar will cover: what the current recruitment landscape looks like and what is needed to engage Gen Z candidates further; how apprenticeships can add value to your recruitment by addressing skills gaps and injecting new life-blood into an organisation; how Knowledge Transfer Partnerships give your organisation so much more than recruitment by ensuring new skills and expertise are embedded in your organisation during and post project; recruitment considerations post COVID and what organisations need to put in place for their employees now. For more information visit www.businesslincolnshire.com/ events/event-details/?id=4248&navigated FromSearch=true How to Retain and Engage Your People Thursday 17 August Pro-Development, Forest Farm Business Park, Fulford Employe engagement has been identified as one of the biggest challenges for small to medium sized businesses and yet it is key to the growth of the UK economy. Whether you are looking to recruit in the future or already have a number of employees, Michelle Mook, from Pro-Development, will share ideas for releasing more of the capability and potential of the people you work with and show how this links directly to your bottom line. This workshop will provide you with a framework to understand the key drivers for employee engagement and give you the opportunity to consider what you can do to bring out the best in your teams and increase your productivity and sales. For more information visit https://heygrowthhub.com/ event/how- to-retain-and-engage-your-people/ Roundtable with Dame Rosie Winterton MP Friday 8 September Thorpe House, Doncaster This roundtable event will provide attendees with a chance to engage directly with Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central. There’s no rigid agenda for the session, meaning that businesses get to decide the conversation topics. If there is anything you want to raise about the issues that are affecting you or the current economic climate, then this is your chance to make your voice heard so that Rosie can better represent you. Your input and insights will be used to influence Doncaster’s future. For more information visit https://business.doncaster- Netwalking - Saltaire Thursday 7 September Saltaire West & North Yorkshire Chamber are partnering up with The Canal & River Trust to give you a mix of fresh air, exercise and a different way to network in Saltaire. The netwalking will take in the scenic canal and head towards Hirst Lock and Hirst Wood where the canal becomes more rural. The area is known as a habitat for otters and herons, so a great chance to spot some wildlife as well as make new connections. For more information visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chamber-netwalking- saltaire-tickets-661133717747?aff=ebdsoporgprofile © stock.adobe.com/ Carole chamber.co.uk/events/details/roundtable- with-dame-rosie-winterton-mp-6745 Chamber Means Business Expo Thursday 21 September AESSEAL New York Stadium, Rotherham The Chamber Means Business Expo is the must attend event for businesses looking to grow their network and expand their business in Barnsley, Rotherham and South Yorkshire. This year’s expo promises to be bigger and © stock.adobe.com/ lovelyday12www.blmforum.net Business Link 43 better than ever before, offering unparalleled opportunities for networking, learning, and growth. At the Chamber Means Business Expo, you’ll have the chance to connect with hundreds of business leaders from a variety of industries, including IT, healthcare, finance, training, marketing and more. Whether you’re looking to forge new partnerships, find new clients, or explore new markets, the expo is the perfect place to make it happen. For more information visit: www.scrgrowthhub.co.uk/event/chamber-means-business-expo/ Curry Club Wednesday 27 September Curry Mahal, Barnsley This is an informal event for local business people to come and meet like-minded individuals in a relaxed environment with some tasty food! There will be a set menu (selection of starters and main courses) and you can also purchase drinks on the night. For more information visit www.scrgrowthhub.co.uk/event/chamber-curry- club-barnsley-5/ Networking Business Breakfast Thursday 28 September ergo Business Centre, Hessle Hosted by the University of Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC), working to bring businesses together, this free breakfast event offers a chance to network, grab a bite to eat, get an update on the latest big topics affecting businesses in the Humber region, and find out how you can get support for your business from the University and ERYC. For more information visit https://heygrowthhub.com/event/networking-business-breakfast/ Charity Golf Day Thursday 31 August Owston Hall, Doncaster Join a day of golf, fun, and giving back to the community at the Doncaster Chamber Charity Golf Day, held at the Owston Hall Golf Course. Gather your friends, colleagues or clients and create a team of four to enjoy a round of golf on this stunning course. Start your day with a delicious breakfast before heading out onto the greens. And when you’ve finished your round, unwind with an evening BBQ. Not only will you have a fantastic day out, but you will also be supporting a worthy cause. The Charity Golf Day is in partnership with the Eve Merton Dreams Trust, a charity that works tirelessly to make dreams come true for people suffering from cancer in the Doncaster area. For more information visit https://business.doncaster- chamber.co.uk/events/details/doncaster- chamber-golf-day-8210 Lincolnshire Construction & Property Network Tuesday 19 September Simons Design, Lincoln From sole traders to large housing associations, construction and property businesses come together to talk business at the Lincolnshire Chamber’s Construction Network — meet up to 60 construction related businesses in one room. Attending the Construction Network for two hours every month is one of the most productive ways that you can keep up to date with project news and new business and tendering opportunities amongst contractors and suppliers. For more information visit www.lincs-chamber.co.uk/events/lincolnshire-construction-property- network-september/ © stock.adobe.com/ VadimFEATURES Food & Drink Industry Spotlight Finance Office Solutions Net Zero Focus Education & Training REGULARS Commercial Property Motoring Corporate Hospitality Watch out too for the latest news from across the region in every sector Next month in September 2023 - Deadline 23rd August Visit us at www.blmforum.net where you’ll find the latest news as it breaks – and why not subscribe to our newsletters so you can have the latest news emailed to your inbox, in between printed issues?MARKETING OPPORTUNITY Business Link Magazine Group is currently seeking a focused driven and enthusiastic individual to join our busy team. This exciting role involves networking with a wide variety of diverse businesses, developing relationships and ensuring the highest possible level of advertisements are generated. You will explore new business opportunities and contact existing clients to promote the company’s portfolio of services. Duties will include: l Acquiring and developing a portfolio of local key accounts l Growing business from existing and new clients l Developing a high level of knowledge of your territory As an account executive you should also have the ability to work to deadline and have good IT skills and proven negotiation skills. In return for your commitment we offer a competitive salary and great career prospects. Please contact Angie Cooper on 01472 310310 WWW.BLMFORUM.NET/CAREERS april 2023 yorkshire & lincolnsh £3.50 hire’s leading business ma agazine VOLUME38ISSUE04 .blmgroup.co.ukwww Keep it in theoductivityThe key to pr ficefof oductiveDesigning a pre family V w INTERN NATION AL gro Hea h althy th lth in s growth g uncFttional ingreedients yupplSyychai spotlight Caps and cl osurCaps and clees T AP£2.95 PRIL2023 GdGarden Homes & Air Amb Lincs & Family M bl Ntt Mtt BLM www.blmgroup.co.uk What’s O O WWWLINCWWW.LINC OLNSHIRETOOLNSHIRETO ODAYNETODAY.NET Business Link 45 www.blmforum.net LABELS • Plain / Printed Labels • Lasersheets • Fanfolded Labels • Thermal Transfer Ribbons • Barcode Labels RECRUITMENT WEDDINGS To receive a copy of the county’s most prestigious, full colour Wedding Guide, send a S.A.E. to: Lincolnshire Today Wedding Guide, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, North East Lincs DN31 2QE Alternatively visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/weddings where you can view the whole guide online If you are getting married then this guide is your must have accessory. It’s full of advice, hints and tips from the county’s top wedding specialists and will provide you with inspiration for your big day. fortheBid The essentialgu d Gr f LINC. WWW otb COLNSHIRETODAY WEDDINGS/ NET.Y S Planning for your special day? Businesses across the UK are looking at their day to day operations, asking how they implement best practice as they begin to recover from this pandemic. For those in the hospitality industry, food safety plays a key role in protecting your customers and staff, as well as gaining consumer confidence. Contact Peter Cussans at Chemex Lincolnshire for support and guidance on reopening safely, without breaking the bank! peter.cussans@chemexuk.com | Tel 07941733201 FOOD SAFETY For All Your Motoring Needs Rear of: 120 Daubney Street, Cleethorpes DN35 7NU T: 01472 240 800 Em: johnsmithautos@live.co.uk www.jsmithautorepairs.co.uk • Servicing • Repairs • MOTs • Diesels • Catalysts • Specialist Engine Tuning Family run business for over 20 years MOTORING NETS The UK’s most versatile manufacturers of tailor-made nets and netting solutions for more than 30 years. 01469 575804 netting@renco.co.uk www.renconets.comAnd finally The world of Frazer The best bosses Though the desire for job satisfaction is common, many employees are unhappy in their roles, and often this can come down to who your superior is. New research, however, has sought to uncover which industry truly loves their boss the most, showing which sector we should be moving into! Experts analysed survey data to gain insights into staff members’ perceptions of their bosses and the underlying factors influencing these sentiments, revealing that employees working in the Media and Internet industry like their boss the most, with a significant 84.4% expressing a positive opinion. The Charity and Voluntary sector ranks as the second most satisfied industry, while bosses in the Information Technology sector secure third place. On the other side of the coin, Sales industry workers are the least fond of their bosses, with only 24.7% of employees admitting to liking their boss. 46 Business Link www.blmforum.net The workers of the future When cracking on with work at our desks it is easy to forget about posture, the importance of screen breaks, and the need to get up to walk around every now and again — especially when working from home, which sees many sitting on their sofas and beds. However, with researchers now creating the stuff of nightmares for remote staff, Frazer has certainly been frightened into taking all these key health considerations more seriously! A study has produced a model showing what people who work from home could look like by 2100, and it’s not pretty. Poor ‘Anna’ has a hunchback, dark, red and swollen eyes, claw-like hands and swollen limbs — all as a result of consistent use of technology, screen exposure and bad posture. She has also put on weight and has developed a weak immune system due to inefficient fresh air and exercise. It is sure to scare one or two into ensuring they have a proper place to work from at home! A 14th century holiday request With summer upon us, many will have submitted holiday requests to their employers months ago, ready to take a trip with the family. But did you know, dear reader, that the concept of the holiday request has been around for much longer than you might think, and has even been written by the hand of literary geniuses? A 14th century document requesting time off work has now been confirmed as the only surviving handwriting of Geoffrey Chaucer, according to a leading scholar. Submitted by the Canterbury Tales writer for King Richard II’s approval, while working as a civil servant, it was perhaps a slightly more high stakes note than the emails, forms and portals we use today. © stock.adobe.com/ benjaminec © stock.adobe.com/ Artem Varnitsin © stock.adobe.com/ NastassiaCHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS To find out how to get your business on the up visit www.dextersharpe.co.uk Offices in Boston, Bourne, Horncastle, Lincoln, Louth & Skegness We pride ourselves on providing a pro-active, friendly and accessible service. 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