Fresh Business Thinking LIVE!

Supporting Partners:

Think of it as an MBA in a day!

Running a business is not easy in the best of times; 

You need to wear many hats and you have to keep on top of the latest information, techniques and ideas.

Fresh Business Thinking LIVE! brings together a host of experts under one roof for one day in September covering all the essentials that will enable you to grow or improve your business.

“I found all the talks interesting and a lot of help”
Morrisons Solicitors LLP

Clinics, Workshops and Presentations

In today’s uncertain economic environment you need to self-educate to keep ahead of your competition.  

You should attend this event if;

• You are an entrepreneur
• You own or manage a business
• You are looking to raise funds
• You want more sales
• You want to avoid unnecessary litigation and tribunals
• You want to better understand technology

Our expert speakers will cover the following topics;

• Finance – How to raise funding for your business
• Legal & HR – Understanding your responsibilities and avoiding disputes
• Sales – Use your network and increase sales
• Marketing – PR, Direct Marketing, Branding & design
• Leadership – How to lead your business in difficult times

Our Expert Speakers

Steve King, Regional Director, Santander Corporate Banking

Steve King has 25 years of banking experience in a wide variety of roles, including corporate and commercial banking, sanctioning, internal audit/inspection and special investigations. Steve has been running front line, customer-facing teams of managers for eleven years, at both RBS/NatWest and Clydesdale, prior to joining Santander. He has been working on the front line in London since 1993. Whilst at RBS his managerial positions included; Director of their Commercial Banking West London Property Team where he managed a property book of £1 billion; Director of one of their Professionals Teams; and a Not for Profit Team, managing deposits of £350 million. Steve was then headhunted by Clydesdale to open their new office in Knightsbridge and subsequently took over their Paddington office in addition. He sat on the Bank's Property Steering Committee and also represented the London Management Team on the Corporate, Structured & Acquisition Finance Forum covering the South of England. Steve is now Regional Director, London for Santander Corporate Banking.

John Rosling, UK CEO of Shirlaws 

John Rosling is the UK CEO of Shirlaws, the international business coaching organisation, and combines that role with coaching a small number of CEOs, Boards and Partner Groups to achieve the strategic clarity, vision and laser focus that allows for rapid businesses growth and maximum equity valuation.

Brian Livingston, Director and Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Smith & Williamson

Brian Livingston is a corporate finance specialist with in excess of 20 years experience and over 100 transactions under his belt. The vast majority of Brian’s transactions have involved buying from or selling to the private equity community, where he is known for his straightforward and practical approach. He has also completed a significant number of fund raisings, assisting entrepreneurial and growth businesses with their ‘buy and build’ strategies and leading them through successful exits. Brian cut his teeth at 3i, where he spent an enjoyable and informative 13 years, prior to joining Smith & Williamson in 2003. He now heads up their Mergers & Acquisitions team in their London office.

Guy Rigby, Director and Head of Entrepreneurs, Smith & Williamson

Guy Rigby is an experienced chartered accountant and an entrepreneur. He has been a director and part owner of a number of different companies, including businesses in the IT, property, defence, manufacturing and retail sectors. In an unusually varied career, he has been the senior partner of two accountancy firms, a finance director, a sales and marketing director and an adviser and mentor to many entrepreneurial businesses and their owners. Guy joined Smith & Williamson in 2008 and leads their entrepreneurial services group, advising entrepreneurs and their businesses and coordinating their activities in this increasingly important market.

Modwenna Rees-Mogg, Owner, AngelNews

Modwenna owns and operates AngelNews, a media business focused on business angels, VCs and early stage funded companies. Modwenna is the author of Dragons or Angels the unofficial guide to Dragons’ Den and a handbook for people wanting to become or raise money from business angels. Prior to founding AngelNews, Modwenna has run an angel group and been an angel investor.  She started her career as a corporate financier at Kleinwort Benson.

Guy Aston, Business Director. Mid-Corporate Solutions, Huthwaite International
 
Guy has over 35  years of experience in sales and marketing and has specialised in the SME market for the last 17 years.  What Guy has found, in his role as Business Director,  Mid-Corporate Solutions , is that much of the skills development Huthwaite offers to multinationals is just as valuable for SMEs and is delighted to be able to provide them with the same quality solutions. In business as in life, Guy brings enthusiasm and energy to all his interactions.

Ian Newall, Open Course Manager, Huthwaite International

Ian is Huthwaite's Open Course Manager.  Prior to his current role, Ian worked as a senior consultant for Huthwaite in Africa and more recently in the UK. He has worked as a professional mediator and arbitrator .  The perspective that he gained from mediation combined with his experience as a negotiator have meant that Ian is able to give some unique insights into negotiation.  Before joining Huthwaite, Ian  had an appointment as a Commissioner for the South African Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Craig Goldblatt, Motivational Business Speaker

All people in business will experience change at many levels. Craig will ensure your team changes with power, speed and determination. Growing a business is about focussing on the belief in the ability to succeed and Craig’s programmes and key notes are masterful at pumping enthusiasm into your company, ensuring rewards for the business and the team. His programmes help you to break through weaknesses, fatigue and barriers and come out absolutely firing to succeed. Craig is a rare speaker who through his amazing work has driven both himself and the people he travels with to great results. Coaching and working with a speaker at this level changes lives.

Mike Southon, Best Selling Author, FT Columnist and Entrepreneur Mentor

Mike Southon has thirty year’s experience of sales in every type of business environment. In 1984 he co-founded his own business, The Instruction Set, responsible for sales and marketing, growing the company to 150 people before selling it to what is now Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. Since then he has been in charge of sales in seventeen start-up ventures. Mike is a Visiting Fellow in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at London South Bank University. He has made frequent appearances on television and radio and has a weekly column on entrepreneurship on Saturday in the Financial Times.

Lara Morgan, Founder and Ex.CEO Pacific Direct Ltd now Fun-ctionality

Lara Morgan is an entrepreneur with a passion for small to medium sized business growth acceleration through maximisation of people potential. Previously as founder and CEO of Pacific Direct, Lara sold a majority share 99% holding of the company for £20 million in 2008. Lara will inspire business leaders around the world through sharing business measures looking to mentor on a grand scale. Lara has been featured in the Times for taking her staff to Barbados when they hit £1m profit, she has been a finalist in Ernst and Young Entrepreneur 3 times and in 2005 she was a finalist in the Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year Award.

Nigel Miller, Partner, Fox Williams LLP

Nigel Miller is a partner in City law firm Fox Williams LLP.   Nigel specializes in intellectual property, information technology, commercial contracts, data protection and e-commerce. Nigel works with clients to add value to their businesses by protecting their intellectual property, managing legal risks and defining commercial relationships.

Mark Watson, Partner, Fox Williams LLP

Mark Watson specialises in employment law, acting for both employers and senior executives.  He has specialist expertise in the employment aspects of business and share sales, and outsourcing agreements/TUPE, and advises many businesses on restrictive covenants.   Mark supports HR teams, senior management and in-house counsel in dealing with the multitude of employment issues that arise in the workplace.

David Bloom, Co- Founder and CEO of fd unlimited

With over 20 years working with fast growth public and private companies including; Getty Images, Glu Mobile, Keystone Software PLC and KPMG, David is a highly experienced commercial international CFO in media and technology. David and Co- Founder Adam Bloch set up fd unlimited in 2008 and the company continues to grow rapidly with over 50 clients across North America, UK and EMEA. Combining their expertise and passion for Finance, HR and Operations,  fd unlimited provides high calibre and cost effective part-time, interim and full-time Finance Directors, Financial Controllers, Finance Managers, Board Advisors and Back-office Services to dynamic companies with aspirations for growth.

Caprice Bourret, Lingerie Entrepreneur

Having graced the cover of over 300 international magazines, Caprice was once the most photographed model on the planet. She won countless accolades such as GQ’s Woman of the Year and Maxim’s International Woman of the Year three years on the trot. But after two decades as a hugely successful model, Caprice quit the catwalk. Since then, Caprice has rebranded herself as a successful lingerie entrepreneur and business is seriously booming. ByCaprice Lingerie is the biggest selling brand at Littlewoods and ASOS and she now has plans to expand into America. Watch this space!.

Speaker Highlights

Steve King - 'Planning the future? Where's the money coming from'

In the new post credit crunch economy many companies are finding it increasingly difficult to secure or re-negotiate the finance they need to gear up for the future. In this session you'll be given practical advice about how to apply for funding more effectively, the types of funding available and how to access it. You'll also see why a strong client/bank relationship is important, why you should consider managing your interest rate risk and gain some invaluable tips for improving your 'pitch' to the bank.

John Rosling - 'Innovating your Product'

As we come out of recession how can you be certain to be a star of the next economic boom?  In this session John Rosling will share the experience of working with thousands of successful entrepreneurial businesses in 26 world markets to show that the businesses that catch the boom will be those that are innovating now. The session will explore: how successful businesses understand the unique “intellectual property” that is the rocket fuel of their business; how they use that knowledge to drive extraordinary future revenues; why innovating the way you package what you sell is the fastest way to secure new markets at this stage in the cycle; how product evolution and looking “beyond service” will create clients for life; and how the businesses that fail will be the ones that simply carry on selling the same product in the same way at the same price.

Guy Aston and Ian Newall -  'Winning deals in the New Financial Climate - Sales & Negotiation Strategies for Success'

The future going to be very different from the past!  Customers are going to be thinking hard before spending, expecting maximum value for their money.  This situation will require focussed sales strategies to enable the creation of meaningful business opportunities.  Moreover,  negotiation is going to play a vital role in defending sales margin.  And not just negotiation skills; going forward, sales organisations will to have to consider their negotiation process and structure as well as sharpening their skills.

Winning deals in the New Financial Climate - Sales & Negotiation Strategies for Success will offer food for thought about how we operate in the difficult times ahead.

Guy Rigby - 'How to grow your business and live happily ever after'

Great ideas are two a penny, but great businesses are rare. It's not just the idea that makes a business successful, but the way it's developed, implemented and managed. In this session, Guy Rigby, Head of Entrepreneurs at Smith & Williamson, will look at the key drivers of business success, as well as examining some of the more common reasons for failure. He will explain how to build a strong and sustainable business, the opportunities that will create and how you can use these to help you live happily ever after.

Craig Goldblatt - 'Leadership: Seizing Every Opportunity'

Craig’s presentation will be packed with extremely valuable tools as to how to be really successful in this volatile environment.

You will find out how to attract valuable clients and the right people; how to be successful; how to seize every opportunity, how to work smart and increase your work rate; how to gain real focus and clarity; how to win clients in difficult situations; how to read situation fast; how to speak and deliver your message with power.

In order to grow and develop both yourself and your business in this ever changing environment, this session will deliver real powerful truths about how to lead the pack and create a winning ethic for yourself and others around you!

Lara Morgan - 'Growing Business'

Business is a team game played competitively and those whom dare, win! Train well, practice relentlessly, stay fit, always be prepared to adapt. Your competition game plan and team players are secrets to success. Businesses leaders fail to reach their potential through trying to play it solo, due to a lack of disciplined application and procrastinating over tough stuff.

Lara will give bag loads of hints, tips and practical advice with her refreshing “Ronseal” approach. She has proven with little bit of gumption you can wing it all the way through exit whilst having fun.

Nigel Miller - 'In harm's way:  director's duties (and liabilities)'

The Companies Act 2006 introduced major changes to the position of company directors and their potential exposure to increased claims. For example, what does the duty to "promote success" mean? What are the "fiduciary" duties? When might a director incur personal responsibility? We will also explain the new provisions about when shareholders can bring a claim against the directors.

Mark Watson -  'Hiring and firing - how to save your business £65,300'

Employment disputes are the bane of every employer's life. They cost money, directly through compensation awards and legal fees and indirectly through lost management time. Prevention is the name of the game, and taking a few careful protective measures will help stand your business in good stead if it is faced with a problem. This session will cover some key practical tips for employers from the start of the employment relationship, where contracts are often overlooked, through disciplinary procedures during the employment, and on to dismissals at the end.

Modwenna Rees-Mogg - Understanding investors so they will invest in you!

In an entertaining and interactive discussion Modwenna Rees-Mogg will take you into the mindset of venture capital and angel investors, explaining what makes them tick and what buttons you will need to press to raise investment from them.  Based on facts and figures, as well as deep knowledge of the investment market this talk will give you the ammunition you need to win not fundraising battle.

Caprice Bourret - From Model To Business Woman

Caprice will be talking about how she evolved from a model to a business woman, trials and tribulations through the recession and how business is for her now.

David Bloom - Finance for Non-Finance Directors

Whatever stage your business is at, whatever sector, good times or bad, understanding your numbers is critical.  If you don't know your current financial position and haven't mapped out where you need to get to, you could end up in the arms of a liquidator.  This session will equip you with essential tips and tools including: the basics of reading a p&l, balance sheet, and cash flow, how to calculate margins and breakeven, forecasting do's and don'ts, and an overview of the basic financial reporting requirements and taxes in the UK.

Brian Livingston - “The Exitist”

A frightening tale of entrepreneurialism, raging emotions and money.  Who is starring in this melodrama? You are!

We will cover how to sell your business, when to sell it and how to navigate the emotional roller coaster that is the sale process.  We will look at the exit routes that might be available (from float to partial exit, from trade sale to Management Buy Out), how you can make your business more attractive on sale and how to construct a process that maximises your exit value.  Finally, we look at venture capital and why you might want it and, perhaps even more importantly, why you might not!

All this in one session.  You say it can’t be true, but it is - join me in a session that may be exhilarating, entertaining and possibly even life changing.  Alright, the last statement may be a bit of an exaggeration, but with a build up like this you really can’t afford to miss it.

More Highlights coming soon...

What other delegates said about our previous events:

If you have any questions, please call Fanny on 0845 5000 328

Alternatively you can email live@freshbusinessthinking.com