Expert advice on hand at major event, including how to go for London gold

August 24, 2010

A major networking event which will also show businesses how to tender for work - including for the 2012 London Olympics - will take place early next month.

Enterprise agency Erewash Partnership is holding its popular annual autumn networking event in conjunction with Erewash and Broxtowe Borough Councils.

Derbyshire Economic Partnership is co-sponsoring the event at The Village Hotel, Chilwell, on Tuesday, September 7, along with the University of Derby through the Ingenuity and Innovation Axis programmes which are designed to improve business performance through access to expertise and resources.

The event is a chance to give advice and information to businesses and encourage representatives to network with others, making new contacts as well as meeting old friends.

But there is an added theme of procurement, exporting, and new opportunities. So businesses will be able to learn how to tender for work with the two borough councils and the 2012 London Olympics with the chance to compete for various contracts on offer.

Derek Hogg, the Partnership’s senior economic development officer, said: “These are challenging times but there are still many opportunities out there. This event will help businesses identify potential openings and maybe look at areas they haven’t considered before".
“There will also be a lot of practical support available that will help people develop their skills and their business and we will have details of our winter programme available.”

More than 20 exhibitors from both the public and private sector are so far lined up for the event, which includes a free buffet.

Any companies in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire interested in exhibiting or attending the event, which takes place from 11.30am-2.30pm, should contact Erewash Partnership on 0115 944 3944.
 

Arts and craft fair is extra attraction for town leading up to bank holiday


LONG EATON will have an extra attraction for shoppers in the days leading up to the August Bank Holiday weekend.

For the second time this year an arts and craft fair will be held in the town centre supplementing the shops and market stalls and offering a wide range of products for sale.

The event, which is supported and promoted by regeneration agency Erewash Partnership and the borough council, will be held on Friday August 27 and Saturday August 28 ahead of Monday’s public holiday.

It will take place in High Street as an extension to the town’s popular traditional weekend market.

Up to 30 designers and makers will have stalls displaying their wares. These will include items such as paintings, photographic prints, books, candles, dried fruit wreaths, ceramics, jewellery, hand-made chocolates, metal castings, lavender and health products, children’s items and wooden toys.

Paul Calladine, Erewash market towns co-ordinator, said: “These colourful arts and crafts fairs are now well established among the attractions of Long Eaton’s vibrant town centre and have proved to be a hit with shoppers.

“They offer a varied selection of creative items for people who are looking for something different that they cannot usually find.

“They also bring people from other areas to the town to visit the traditional shops and market stalls, so everybody benefits.”

Admission is free to the fair which will take place between 11am-4.30pm on Friday, and from 10am-4pm on Saturday.
 

Expert advice at special free seminar held to help local businesses export


A special event aimed at introducing businesses in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to exporting will be held later this month.

The seminar and exhibition looking at what is called ‘the great untapped opportunity’ will take place at The Novotel, Bostock Lane, Long Eaton, on July 14.

It is organised by enterprise agency Erewash Partnership and Erewash and Broxtowe Borough Councils and sponsored by the University of Derby under its Ingenuity Programme.

“Exporting has traditionally been seen as the domain of big manufacturers and corporate plcs such as engineering companies,” said Derek Hogg, the Partnership’s senior economic development officer.

“But with the shift in business over the years nothing could be further from the truth. A huge amount of exporting is done by small to medium businesses from a wide range of sectors, particularly the service and creative industries such as the arts.

“With the internet expanding market opportunities for businesses in the UK, more and more companies are looking abroad to do business.”

The keynote speaker at the meeting will be John Proud of UK Trade and Investment, which has a presence in 96 countries. John has a wealth of experience helping businesses explore exporting for the first time, identifying opportunities, and taking businesses through the process.

He will talk on the possibilities offered by exporting, what help and support is available and will also talk about what happens on a trade mission to help businesses access new and exciting markets.

“Starting to trade overseas can be a daunting business and hard work but, as many UK businesses are finding, the rewards are worth it,” said Derek. “There is no reason why firms in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire should not grab a share of this success. This event will help them do that.”

The free event starts at 5pm and includes a buffet. It is open to all businesses in the two counties, whether or not they are members of the Partnership.

Anybody interested in attending should contact the Partnership on 0115 944 3944.