Are you looking to explore drone technology for commercial use? The Business Solutions Centres, partnered with Rheinmetall Unmanned Systems Training Academy (RUSTA) are delivering a CAA approved Remote Pilot Certification SUAS (RPCS) course via our Visualisation Centres leading to Permission for Aerial Work (PFAW) thus providing commercial drone pilots with the skills and qualifications needed to operate safely and legally within UK airspace.
The RPCS course is designed to teach you everything that you need to know to become a commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) pilot. The theory phase of the course will last for two and a half days and will cover a range of subjects that will enable you to gain the legal, as well as the practical, knowledge to be a safe drone pilot. Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Day 1 - Introduction, Air Law, Principles of Flight, Meteorology, CAPS and Lithium Polymer Batteries
Day 2 - Emergency Procedures, Operations Manual, and Introduction to Human Factors
Day 3 - Theory Examination (half day)
Post Day 3 - Operations Manual Evaluation and Approval, and Flight Assessment
There are limited spaces for this course so book now to secure your place.
Venue: Visualisation Centre, Glaisher Dr, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
A Series of Mentoring Workshops designed to support and help grow your business.
Monday 3rd October - Thursday 3rd November - Tuesday 6th December.
The purpose of this series or mentoring workshops is to help your business, whatever its size and specialism, to grow and become more profitable. Businesses need firm foundations to succeed. Only companies with a stand-out marketing message, a solid sales process and robust office procedures will make the grade. These workshops will build on your passion for your product or service by ensuring business essentials are not only in place, but are working effectively for you – leading to better profits and a smoother-running operation.
The three mentoring workshops will develop your skills constructively through the series which take you on a strategic journey. Mentoring Workshop One - Monday 3rd October – A Marketing Strategy
Create a marketing plan, which prospects to target, how to generate them and where to start
The series will be delivered by Doug Daubrey, the founder and Managing Director of Executive Training and Consultancy Limited. Since starting his business in management consulting eight years ago, Doug has helped more than 70 different companies across a variety of sectors in the UK and Europe. His tailored consultancy packages range from short-term project work to full 3-year company growth programmes, depending on the needs of each client.
Venue: Black Country Chamber Of Commerce, Creative Industries Centre, Wolverhampton Science Park, Wolverhampton, WV10 9TG
All three sessions are £30 + VAT members or £60+VAT for non-members
Are you looking to explore drone technology for commercial use? The Business Solutions Centres, partnered with Rheinmetall Unmanned Systems Training Academy (RUSTA) are delivering a CAA approved Remote Pilot Certification SUAS (RPCS) course via our Visualisation Centres leading to Permission for Aerial Work (PFAW) thus providing commercial drone pilots with the skills and qualifications needed to operate safely and legally within UK airspace.
The RPCS course is designed to teach you everything that you need to know to become a commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) pilot. The theory phase of the course will last for two and a half days and will cover a range of subjects that will enable you to gain the legal, as well as the practical, knowledge to be a safe drone pilot. Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Day 1 - Introduction, Air Law, Principles of Flight, Meteorology, CAPS and Lithium Polymer Batteries
Day 2 - Emergency Procedures, Operations Manual, and Introduction to Human Factors
Day 3 - Theory Examination (half day)
Post Day 3 - Operations Manual Evaluation and Approval, and Flight Assessment
There are limited spaces for this course so book now to secure your place.
Venue: Visualisation Centre, Glaisher Dr, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
The West Midlands Manufacturing Club, in partnership with 123 Insight Ltd, invites you to a free Evaluation Workshop at the Wolverhampton Science Park. The event is aimed at all types and sizes of manufacturing companies that are looking to improve their existing manufacturing processes in areas such as:
Stock control and reduction
Reducing lead-times
Traceability and quality control
Reducing paper and data fragmentation across systems
Reducing labour costs or increasing the ability to handle more work with the same resources
Complete visibility across a common system, from enquiry through to invoice
Integrating MRP to Accounts and/or CRM
A business framework for obtaining ISO or other quality accreditations
The Evaluation Workshop is suitable for companies either running and existing MRP/ERP system or those that are still using paper or spreadsheet-based systems. If you're looking for real improvement in the above areas without employing teams of consultants, or making any significant IT investment or organisational upheaval, then there is an alternative solution.
An informal buffet lunch will be provided after the event, giving you the opportunity to network with other forward-thinking local manufacturers.
Venue: Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Attendance is free but spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended
Nominet Trust’s Social Tech Seed fund opens for applications on 22nd September 2016. The programme offers entrepreneurial organisations early-stage investment – up to £50k – plus business support to develop innovative projects harnessing the power of the internet and digital technologies to deliver significant social change. Social Tech Seed supports projects tackling pressing social challenges such as the environment and sustainability, education, employment and healthcare.
Before investing time applying, why not register for our event at iCentrum in Birmingham to discover how well your project fits the bill? It’s a great opportunity to find out more about our Social Tech Seed programme and what we will be looking for in successful applications, as well as a chance for you to ask us your questions.
Join us for the first of three specialist keynote events delivered by the Climate KIC project at the Innovation Birmingham Campus.
This entrepreneur focused keynote series will educate and inspire delegates who are looking to grow and develop their business or start-up. These events are free to attend. Registration prior to the event is required.
Agenda
17:00 – 17:30 – Registration and Welcome
17:30 – 17:40 – Intro by John Cooke, Entrepreneur, Coach and Mentor
17:40 – 18:15 – Speech by James Alexander
18:15 – 19:00 – Q&A with James Alexander
19:00 – 20:00 – Networking with food and drinks
About James Alexander James is an experienced entrepreneur and business advisor. He is currently a core team member of FutureAgenda.org, the world’s largest open foresight programme and an advisor to a number of innovative finance payers including Seedrs, Spacehive, LandBay and Tandem. He also advises a number of social ventures and charities including the RSPB (where he was previously a Trustee), the GoodLab, GreenThing and as Chair of Gen Community Ventures.
James was previously a co-founder and Executive Director of Zopa, the world’s first and Europe’s largest P2P lender, and prior to this Strategy Director at Egg.
He has also worked as a growth strategy consultant at both The Foundation and LEK Consulting, where his clients included Tesco, Eurostar, Barclays, HSBC, Save the Children, The Guardian, Redburn, M&S and Just Giving.
James holds an MBA from INSEAD and a 1st class honours degree from University College, London. He is also a birdwatcher and was fortunate enough to be part of a 3-person team who re-discovered three species of bird, previously considered by many to be extinct.
Are you looking to explore drone technology for commercial use? The Business Solutions Centres, partnered with Rheinmetall Unmanned Systems Training Academy (RUSTA) are delivering a CAA approved Remote Pilot Certification SUAS (RPCS) course via our Visualisation Centres leading to Permission for Aerial Work (PFAW) thus providing commercial drone pilots with the skills and qualifications needed to operate safely and legally within UK airspace.
The RPCS course is designed to teach you everything that you need to know to become a commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) pilot. The theory phase of the course will last for two and a half days and will cover a range of subjects that will enable you to gain the legal, as well as the practical, knowledge to be a safe drone pilot. Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Day 1 - Introduction, Air Law, Principles of Flight, Meteorology, CAPS and Lithium Polymer Batteries
Day 2 - Emergency Procedures, Operations Manual, and Introduction to Human Factors
Day 3 - Theory Examination (half day)
Post Day 3 - Operations Manual Evaluation and Approval, and Flight Assessment
There are limited spaces for this course so book now to secure your place.
Venue: Visualisation Centre, Glaisher Dr, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Introduction
Factors to be considered to ensure successful importing
What is an import? - EU and non-EU shipments, Permanent and Temporary Imports
The questions an importer must be able to answer
The vital sources of information and importer must use
Record keeping and administration – the “audit trail”
Placing the import order – “getting it right –right from the start”
Meeting the legal requirements for importing
The import licence and other legal considerations
The importance of the commodity code – a study
The costs an importer may incur
Building up the final import price and ensuring all costs are covered
How does the importer pay for goods?
An overview of the methods of payment and when they would be required
Cash with order
Documentary Credits
Documentary Collections
Open Account
Ensuring the goods are dispatched and received successfully
The import route (the seven steps)
Incoterms 2010
Dealing with forwarders and calculating freight charges
Cargo Insurance considerations
What documents an importer need to be aware of
Documentary content – what the terms mean
The common import documents – with examples
How an importer meets the requirements demanded by HMRC (Customs and Excise)?
Customs’ clearance procedures
Paying duties and VAT – including calculating charges
Suspension and relief from paying duties and VAT
The impact of the Uniform Customs’ Code – and AEO Status
How importers can benefit from temporary import procedures
What are temporary imports?
Customs’ warehousing
Inward Processing relief
Other procedures
Keeping statistical records
Intrastat and the C88
Review of programme and further actions
What to do next once the programme ends
Includes refreshments and all delegates receive detailed course notes and copies of the presentation slides. Delegates are welcome to seek further advice & information from the trainers after the workshops are completed.
Venue: TBC Wolverhampton area
£200 + VAT per Chamber member and £250 +VAT for non-members
The concept of the Smart City is well known and is used to describe many initiatives and projects. Population growth and resource constraints mean that cities are been driven to provide services in a smarter and more integrated manner that deliver low carbon adaptive solutions.
Following our successful event in Glasgow this event will explore what Smart means now in Birmingham and the emerging themes for policymakers of Smart People need Smart Places: infrastructure and technologies integration; exploiting the economic potential of Smart; financing change and the value of new public-private partnerships/collaborations.
Venue: Universities Centre, Faraday Wharf, Holt Street, Birmingham,B7 4BB
To help people save for their retirement, the Government requires companies to automatically enrol their employees into a workplace pension scheme. You will need to take action.
To find out what you should be doing, you are invited to a free seminar, hosted by Thomas Morgan DipPFS, an Independent Financial Adviser from one of the UKs leading financial planning led wealth managers, AFH Wealth Management.
Event timings
09:00am Arrival and coffee
09:30am Welcome and introduction to the Black country Growth Hub
09:40am What does Auto Enrolment mean for your business?
10:40am Q&A, plus one-to-one's
AFH Wealth Management is a trading style of AFH Independent Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Venue: The Black Country Growth Hub, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV10 9RU
Join us for a Business Breakfast Briefing, where the Chamber’s Alliance 4 the Black Country will present the results of the Chamber's Black Country Business Indicator and explain the implications for our local economy.
The survey is extremely well respected and influential and is used by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee and a number of government departments. By taking part it ensures that the issues that affect Black Country businesses specifically are heard at the highest level. The results are given coverage by local, national and international media.
The British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic survey is designed to monitor key economic performance indicators such as domestic trade, exports, employment, levels of investment, cash flow, prices and business confidence. The breakfast is also a chance to give your opinion on the key external issues which affect you and your views on our future relationship with Europe.
A key part of the meeting is an interactive voting system which allows attendees to vote in confidence on the key questions of the day – these are recorded and Black Country Chamber can monitor and feedback changes and trends live on the day.
The British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic survey anticipated the onset of the two recessions since the early 1990s before they began and continues to act as a reliable indicator of national and regional economic performance. The data revealed by it is timely, accurate and invaluable for anyone wishing to understand the subtle shifts in the economic climate for businesses in the Black Country, West Midlands and beyond.
The survey itself comprises 23 tick box questions covering demand, employment, confidence, investment and external factors and takes just two minutes to complete. No detailed information is required and the survey is completely anonymous. Completion of this is encouraged to increase the profile of the Black Country nationally.
Venue: Park Inn Birmingham West M5 Jct 1, West Bromwich, B70 6RS
FREE to PassPort Holders
£10 + VAT for Chamber members and £20 + VAT non-members
Get Set For Growth In Partnership with NatWest will be delivering this exciting workshop...
You’ve no doubt heard that Content is King; ‘everyone’s a publisher now’. The business benefits are clear: content marketing can raise your profile, boost your SEO, support conversions and deepen relationships with prospects and customers. In this high impact session, you will explore these benefits in more detail and cover how to audit your existing website content, develop audience personas to improve engagement and plan & execute an editorial calendar.
You will also cover:
Factors transforming buying behaviour today
Auditing your existing website and content
Developing audience personas to improve engagement
The cornerstones of compelling content: copy, audio, video, imagery
Innovation Birmingham invites you to a Serendip Smart City Incubator event announcing its latest partner: Open Future_ Midlands, powered by Wayra.
The launch event will give you the opportunity to visit the Serendip incubator space, hear from Gary Stewart, Director of Wayra UK and Telefónica OpenFuture_ UK including details of the support available via the Wayra team and connections as well as how to respond to the #WayraCall and apply.
Event Agenda:
5:30pm – 6:00pm: Registration and networking
6:00pm – 6:20pm: Gary Stewart, Director of Wayra UK and Telefónica OpenFuture_ UK
Welcome to our new Birmingham home, the Wayra mission and values. Gary will speak on the support and expertise start-ups will be able to secure.
7:05pm – 7:15pm: Cliff Dennett, Head of Business Development, Innovation Birmingham Campus
Innovation Birmingham partners with Wayra UK to deliver new Serendip Smart City Incubator quarter – why start-ups in an incubator environment are far more likly to succeed than those who go it alone.
7:20 – 7:30pm: Hear from Wayra start-ups and partners
7:30pm – 9:00pm: Drinks and networking – a chance to see the start-up and co-working facilities first hand
How to get involved:
The #WayraCall is a cross-industry call for start-ups developing innovative digital products, services and technologies that help shape the digital society in which we live.
In support of high growth businesses and their founders across the Midlands, Wayra is proud to officially launch its brand new Midlands base as part of the Serendip® Smart City Incubator at iCentrum.Open Future_ Midlands, powered by Wayra at Serendip will provide both the physical space and expertise to allow early stage and established entrepreneurs to really flourish. The facility will incorporate unique co-working spaces to include:
Co-working space: Free for the first six months
Networking: Over 180 annual events to mingle with industry influencers
Mentoring: 1-2-1 business advice from our experienced Serendip commercial partners
Market insight: Access to our commercial partners impressive databases of market influencers. Clients and collaborators.
Workshops: Specific start-up and innovation focussed sessions
Meeting room and event space facilities to support project launches and pitches
Connectivity with 30Gb/sec internet and super-fast Wi-fi connectivity
There really isn’t anything else quite like this in the city centre. This new partnership will present entrepreneurs with a unique opportunity to commercialise their ideas and concepts.
Our monthly early evening networking event. This event is a chance to introduce yourself to other Chamber members, to hear from local businesses and build up your contacts.
Venue: TBC
Chamber PassPort Free - £10 + VAT per Chamber member & £20 + VAT for non members
Rob Marris MP, Emma Reynolds MP and Pat McFadden MP invite you to meet with representatives from HMRC to discuss government changes to the tax system through the Maxing Tax Digital plans and how they may affect your small or medium-sized business.
Making Tax Digital (MTD) plans include a requirement from April 2018 for businesses to maintain tax records digitally and to update HMRC quarterly. HMRC says that MTD will introduce "simple, secure and personalised digital tax accounts".
Consultations conclude on 7th November. This meeting is your chance to find out more and to discuss changes with HMRC.
Registration will run from 8am to 8.30am and teas and coffees will be provided.
Venue: Civic Centre, Committee Room 3, Civic Centre, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SH
This event is now FULL - but please email about future events or to go onto the waiting list...
Sandwell Council would like to invite you to a procurement e-sourcing event on 14 October
The event will cover how you can:
Promote your company and become an accredited supplier
Be alerted to new tender opportunities
Save time by not wading through paperwork; juggling spreadsheets and relying on the post
Have direct support from Sandwell Council’s e-sourcing team
Hear more of what Think Sandwell’s Business Growth Team can offer
Would you also like more support with bid writing? At the event you will hear from a ‘bid-writing specialist’ demonstrating an over view to how you can become a ‘winner’ in bid writing!
This event is open to all local businesses and SMEs that may be interested in learning more about the council's tendering process using Intend.
To find out more about the event or register please email think_sandwell@sandwell.gov.uk
Venue: Sandwell Business Solutions Centre – CAP Centre, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3LX.
So what is marketing and why is it so important for your business?
Well one way of getting your head around the concept is to think of marketing as a management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably. In simple terms it is about getting the right product or service to the right customer in the right place at the right time. But in today’s complex and uncertain world, marketing isn’t just a process it is in fact an attitude of mind. It requires that when making “marketing decisions” you look at these from the viewpoint of the customer. Why? Because more than likely, your business is operating in a crowded and busy marketplace where the customer is in control and much to your dismay spoiled for choice!
This half day course introduces you to the principle marketing activities and techniques necessary for your business to achieve and retain a competitive advantage.
Part 1:
Understanding customers - (how they make buying decisions and the important role of market research)
Understanding the Product – (thinking in terms of features and benefits & lifecycles)
Understanding the Environment – (a practical solution to help you keep ahead of the competition!)
Part 2:
Segmenting, targeting & positioning - (maximising your chances of selling your wares)
The importance of pricing and branding
The communication mix (a few ways of getting your key messages across to the right people)
The Facilitator:
Barry D’Souza currently enjoys an international reputation as a results driven leadership and management specialist. His approach to working is relaxed, jargon free and focused entirely on the client and is backed up with the company’s guarantee to deliver exceptional value to its clients.
By combining leading edge business thinking, with 20 years of professional experience, and strategies drawn from the areas of NLP and Emotional Intelligence, he delivers compelling and experiential based solutions that never fail to exceed client expectations.
Barry holds an MBA, is a Master Practitioner of NLP, Executive Coaching and Hypnotherapy and is a Chartered Manager. His contributions to the fields of training, coaching and management have been recognised in the form of fellowships from the Chartered Manager’s Institute, The Institute of Leadership and Management, The Institute of Consulting and the RSA.
About the Providers:
Walking Among Giants provides bespoke training, consultancy and coaching packages to businesses throughout the West Midlands and the Iberian Peninsula.
Operating within the context of leadership and management, their areas of specialism are Business & Financial Strategy, Marketing, Operations Management & Personal Development.
Your data will be shared with Walking Among Giants for this event.
Venue: Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
The Digital Garage on Tour will arrive in Dudley to give local businesses the chance to attend a free masterclass and learn crucial skills for the digital age.
Experts from Google will run a seminar that offers advice and tips to local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs on making the Internet a growth engine for their business.
The Digital Garage on Tour has been designed to support and advise businesses regardless of their technical expertise – from complete tech novices creating their first website through to improving an existing website and online marketing.
We are delighted that this month we will have a special behind the scenes tour of the Black Country Living Museum. Innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and manufacturing prowess made the Black Country 'the workshop of the world' and The Museum is keen to work in partnership with today's businesses too. Join us for a bespoke tour of the Museum like you’ve never seen it before. See how a huge variety of heritage spaces across the 28 acres can be used for small private meetings through to conferences and seminars or corporate evenings where the Museum can be yours exclusively.
We’ll finish the evening sampling some local craft beers in the candlelit Bottle & Glass Inn, a building which originally stood in Brockmoor and thought to have been built between 1774 and 1776. Wash these down with some local Black Country nibbles and an opportunity to network amongst like-minded local businesses whilst sharing your experiences of the Black Country living Museum.
Venue: The Black Country Living Museum Trust, Tipton Road, Tipton, West Midlands, DY1 4SQ
Chamber PassPort Free - £10 + VAT per Chamber member & £20 + VAT for non members
MIPIM UK 2016 takes place at Olympia London from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 October.
The UK's largest gathering for property professionals will have a special Midlands delegation this year. For the first time, the Greater Birmingham regions are joining forces at the exhibition to showcase their leading investment offer.
Throughout the three days of MIPIM UK, a range of multi-million pound development opportunities will be highlighted by representatives from Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country, with connectivity forming the central theme.
The event will see Greater Birmingham’s £1bn Curzon Investment Plan (designed to leverage opportunities created by HS2) being promoted amongst the country’s leading investors, agents and developers.
Following our previous successful Intelligent Mobility event in Spring 2016, this is a great opportunity for those interested in Intelligent Mobility, Transport, Mobility as a Service or Connected Autonomous Vehicles to hear about new developments in this area and to meet and network with like-minded individuals, start-ups, SMEs and organisations who are pushing this exciting agenda forward.
This free event will be held in at Innovation Birmingham Campus’ iCentrum building, home to the Serendip Smart City Incubator.
Serendip is actively working with West Midlands Combined Authority to provide free support for start-ups and entrepreneurs working within the Intelligent Mobility sector.
More information on incubation support at Serendip and how to apply will be available at this event.
Agenda:
16:00 Registration, Coffee & Networking
16:30 Welcome: Chris Perry, Transport for West Midlands
16:35 Keynote Speaker: Stuart Lester, Transport for West Midlands “Developing Connected Autonomous Vehicles in the West Midlands”
17:05 Monique Seth, Conigital “CAV and Project Insight in Birmingham”
17:15 Beth Garner, Viaqqio “Car Freedom and Pick and Mix projects”
17:25 Dr Ralf Kernchen, Accelogress “Save a Space project in the West Midlands”
17:35 Speaker to be announced
17:45 Panel – Q&A with our speakers
18:05 Summary: Chris Perry, Transport for West Midlands
Tech Wednesday is our monthly meet-up for the Technology and entrepreneur community within Birmingham.
Each month we also have ‘Show ‘n Tells’: a couple of tech start-ups/people with side projects from the region will be demoing their stuff to the group for feedback and discussion. If you want to present, then get in touch!
We meet at 5.30 pm at Innovation Birmingham. If you’re not sure where we are, then just ask at reception and a friendly face will point you in the right direction. New faces always welcome.
For more details, please visit the dedicated profile on meetup.com
Agenda:
5.30 – 6.00pm – Registration and networking
6.00 – 7.00pm – Talks (see details of speakers below)
7.00 – 8.00pm – Networking with pizza and beer
This month’s speakers are:
David Burden – Virtual Reality, what is really going on?
Adam Callow – The 5 biggest mistakes I made from bootstrapped to VC funded
James Ellis – Why don’t we train in the Creative industry
MIPIM UK 2016 takes place at Olympia London from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 October.
The UK's largest gathering for property professionals will have a special Midlands delegation this year. For the first time, the Greater Birmingham regions are joining forces at the exhibition to showcase their leading investment offer.
Throughout the three days of MIPIM UK, a range of multi-million pound development opportunities will be highlighted by representatives from Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country, with connectivity forming the central theme.
The event will see Greater Birmingham’s £1bn Curzon Investment Plan (designed to leverage opportunities created by HS2) being promoted amongst the country’s leading investors, agents and developers.
Promote cohesion in a period of particular uncertainty
In an age in which organisations are more diverse than ever, Andrew will discuss how leaders can adapt and refocus in a changing environment with new challenges.
Andrew will share insights gleaned from research focused on some of the most stressful and high-pressure jobs in the world, emergency room doctors, astronauts, submarine crews, and apply them to the challenges of the modern, diverse workforce.
Drawing on his experience in designing training for high-stress team scenarios, including NASA, the U.S Army, and Navy, along with his own research on diversity in organisations, he will present attendees with practical and useful advice.
Attendees will learn best practices and strategies to manage diverse teams and promote teamwork and cohesion in a period of particular uncertainty and stress.
Venue: Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET
Black Country Transformational GOLD business grant scheme for SMEs launching on Thursday 20th October.
Full details of what’s on offer for Black Country SME businesses and how to apply will be announced at this Breakfast Launch Event.
Black Country Transformational GOLD is designed to assist SMEs deliver transformational projects, with the aid of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) support. It can provide capital and revenue grants of 30% of total transformational, job creation project costs. Grants available range from £1,500 and £9,000.
The scheme is managed by the City of Wolverhampton, working in partnership with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council and Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council.
Black Country Transformational GOLD is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is a follow-on from the previous highly successful Black Country GOLD grants project.
Places are limited and demand is likely to be high so businesses are advised to register to attend quickly.
Sandwell College, in collaboration with Think Sandwell, is pleased to announce its next 'Get Connected in Sandwell' networking meeting on Thursday 20 October from 9.30am to 12.30pm at Central Campus.
There will be three fantastic guest speakers:
Alan Taylor from MiGlass
Barry Mapp, EQ coach and speaker
Simon Gee from Acutec.
As always, there will be opportunities for all delegates to network. A free lunch will be provided.
So what is marketing and why is it so important for your business?
Well one way of getting your head around the concept is to think of marketing as a management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably. In simple terms it is about getting the right product or service to the right customer in the right place at the right time. But in today’s complex and uncertain world, marketing isn’t just a process it is in fact an attitude of mind. It requires that when making “marketing decisions” you look at these from the viewpoint of the customer. Why? Because more than likely, your business is operating in a crowded and busy marketplace where the customer is in control and much to your dismay spoiled for choice!
This half day course introduces you to the principle marketing activities and techniques necessary for your business to achieve and retain a competitive advantage.
Part 1:
Understanding customers - (how they make buying decisions and the important role of market research)
Understanding the Product – (thinking in terms of features and benefits & lifecycles)
Understanding the Environment – (a practical solution to help you keep ahead of the competition!)
Part 2:
Segmenting, targeting & positioning - (maximising your chances of selling your wares)
The importance of pricing and branding
The communication mix (a few ways of getting your key messages across to the right people)
The Facilitator:
Barry D’Souza currently enjoys an international reputation as a results driven leadership and management specialist. His approach to working is relaxed, jargon free and focused entirely on the client and is backed up with the company’s guarantee to deliver exceptional value to its clients.
By combining leading edge business thinking, with 20 years of professional experience, and strategies drawn from the areas of NLP and Emotional Intelligence, he delivers compelling and experiential based solutions that never fail to exceed client expectations.
Barry holds an MBA, is a Master Practitioner of NLP, Executive Coaching and Hypnotherapy and is a Chartered Manager. His contributions to the fields of training, coaching and management have been recognised in the form of fellowships from the Chartered Manager’s Institute, The Institute of Leadership and Management, The Institute of Consulting and the RSA.
About the Providers:
Walking Among Giants provides bespoke training, consultancy and coaching packages to businesses throughout the West Midlands and the Iberian Peninsula.
Operating within the context of leadership and management, their areas of specialism are Business & Financial Strategy, Marketing, Operations Management & Personal Development.
Your data will be shared with Walking Among Giants for this event.
Venue: Sandwell Business Solutions Centre, Cap Centre, Windmill Lane, Smethwick, B66 3LX
We are delighted to announce that Malcolm Preston, Global Head of Sustainability Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers will deliver the keynote address at this year's prestigious lecture - in partnership with the Chartered Management Institute.
Malcolm will discuss:
What is sustainability?
The role of business in society
Measuring impact
A whistle-stop tour of the Sustainable Development Goals
Programme
6.00pm: Refreshments and networking
7.00pm: Introductions and presentation of CMI Rosebowl Award
7.10pm: Lecture
8.30pm: Event concludes
Venue: The Forum, Lord Swraj Paul Building, University of Wolverhampton Business School, University of Wolverhampton WV1 1SG
MIPIM UK 2016 takes place at Olympia London from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 October.
The UK's largest gathering for property professionals will have a special Midlands delegation this year. For the first time, the Greater Birmingham regions are joining forces at the exhibition to showcase their leading investment offer.
Throughout the three days of MIPIM UK, a range of multi-million pound development opportunities will be highlighted by representatives from Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country, with connectivity forming the central theme.
The event will see Greater Birmingham’s £1bn Curzon Investment Plan (designed to leverage opportunities created by HS2) being promoted amongst the country’s leading investors, agents and developers.
Running for over ten years, the event has secured a reputation for being a prestigious and well-established networking event, attracting leading business people from across the region.
Guest speaker: Kevin Thelwell, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
We are pleased to announce that Kevin Thelwell of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, will be joining guests to discuss what his role entails as Sporting Director, plus an insight into the future plans of the first team.
This could be a fantastic opportunity to treat your customers and colleagues to a ticket for this well-attended event, by hosting a table of 10 at a cost of £220. Alternatively, it is possible to book a single delegate ticket for £22.
Improve your business by increasing profit and efficiency, adding further value to your customer!
Implementing Lean Manufacturing tools and Continuous Improvement Techniques will help you develop your company further.
The session will help you to understand how your manufacturing business can benefit from the tools and improve its performance. This will be achieved by:
Creating a culture of pro-active improvement identification.
Reducing waste and increasing productivity.
Enhancing customer service.
Improving environmental best practice.
Improving Health and Safety.
Defining Customer Value.
The session is designed to be interactive session where you will be guided through live case studies and will also have the opportunity to direct any questions to the Lean experts.
West Midlands Manufacturing Club has teamed up with LEAD (Lean Education And Development Ltd) to bring you this informative, engaging and measurable workshop.
You will also find information about LEADS fully funded 12 month programme available to all SMEs which aims to help you address and improve every aspect of your business performance.
The programme is designed to help small cross functional teams with the principles of Lean and Continuous Improvement. Teams will be trained in using Lean tools and techniques, and will work on areas of improvement in a structured and supportive environment.
The programme gives you the opportunity to develop and upskill your workforce and also offers national qualifications to all participants
Venue: Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
West Midlands Manufacturing Club has teamed up with Lean Education and Development Ltd to bring you this informative workshop, come along and get to grips with Lean.
Get to grips with the principles of Lean and Continuous Improvement and understand how your manufacturing business can benefit from this problem solving methodology by:
Creating a culture of pro-active improvement identification
Reducing waste and increasing productivity
Enhancing customer service
Improving environmental best practice
Focusing on health and safety
You will be guided through live case studies and you will have your chance to question the Lean experts.
Venue: Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV10
The Essential Guide to Letters of Credit (A practical workshop for exporters)
Course Objective
Our Essential Guide to Letters of Credit one day workshop is aimed all key people involved in handling Letters of Credit, ie: export sales, project teams, export managers, administrators, finance teams, shipping and customer services.
The training will ultimately help you to
• understand how letters of credit work
• confidently request letters of credit from overseas buyers
• incorporate workable and favourable terms for your business
• prepare documents which comply with the most challenging of terms and most importantly......
• REDUCE BANK FEES AND TIME SPENT ON ADMINISTRATION!
Delegates will receive training delivered in a highly interactive, practical and engaging format delivered by an experienced practitioner in letters of credit.
The training will include a range of recent letters of credit case studies with a focus on how to avoid the common pitfalls. Bring along your own examples for discussion and we can help you to develop your future strategy for managing L/Cs!
All delegates will receive detailed course notes (including templates and checklists) and copies of the presentation slides. You will also receive a complimentary copy of the ICC ‘rules’ UCP 600.
Venue: To be confirmed in the Dudley or Wolverhampton Area
£200 +VAT per Chamber member; £250 +VAT for non-members
Popular mid morning Brunch networking meeting. This event is a chance to introduce yourself to other Chamber members, to hear from local businesses and build up your contacts.
Venue: The Venue 171-173 High Street, Dudley, DY1 1QD
Chamber PassPort Free - £10 + VAT per Chamber member & £20 + VAT for non members
Innovation Birmingham, Beatfreeks and Doink have been scoping the potential for a digital arts incubator to be based at the Innovation Birmingham Campus’s iCentrum building. With support from Arts Council England, we have been mapping arts and tech nationally, understanding what artists need and want through co-design sessions, and visiting examples of best practice, we will share our learnings and findings in an attempt to add to collective knowledge in this area. We’ll be launching our proposed plans for an arts and tech incubator in 2017 and we will explain how we will drive innovation in the region through supporting new talent.
The event will include a comment from Gary Topp on how this feeds into the wider ‘young, diverse and digital’ agenda in the Greater Birmingham region as well as workshops with Virgin Start Up*. Be inspired by digital performance art and hear from Birmingham Children’s Hospital on their ideas for digital input into The Big Sleuth in 2017.
Agenda:
12:30pm – drinks, lunch and networking
1:00pm – opening presentation from DH and AH with handouts
1:20pm – comment from Gary Topp Cultural Central
1:30pm – performance
2:00pm – optional workshops (choice of workshop A, B or C)
3:00pm – event close
Please RSVP and share with any colleagues who might this event useful to attend. Email any queries directly to anisa@beatfreeks.com
Geoff Ramm, Multi-Award Winning Speaker & Author of ‘Celebrity Service’ and ‘OMG Marketing’
A keynote evening with Geoff Ramm experienced entrepreneur and business advisor.
Join us for the second specialist keynote events delivered by the Climate KIC project at Innovation Birmingham Campus.
This entrepreneur focused keynote series will educate and inspire delegates who are looking to grow and develop their business or start-up. These events are free to attend. Registration prior to the event is required.
About Geoff Ramm
Geoff is the creator of ‘Celebrity Service’ and ‘Observational Marketing’. He is also the author of OMG (Observational Marketing Greats) and a multi-award winning keynote speaker who has inspired audiences around the world including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Geoff uses real life marketing and customer service stories and observations, that not only enthral and enthuse, but leave audience members’ minds buzzing with new ideas which will help them to gain and retain more customers by standing out from the competition.
Geoff works with high profile clients across industries including banking, retail, travel and manufacturing. He has launched start-up enterprises without a budget, created marketing ideas which have become legend, and marketed global giants including Honda, Toyota and Chrysler.
Prepare to be entertained, energised and enlightened as Geoff takes us on a journey of memorable marketing ideas, that will inspire you to make the most of a limited marketing budget and take your business and brand to the next level.