The following seminars will take place starting at 13.00 in the Nidd Room at Pavilions of Harrogate. Booking is not required - places will be allocated on arrival.

(See also FREE Business Link Taster Workshops which run from 09.30 on 26th April. Book direct with Business Link using links on that page.)

What is the point of public relations? Di Burton, Cicada Communications Ltd 13.00

Every organisation, no matter how large or small, ultimately depends on its reputation for survival and success. In today’s market, reputation can be a company’s biggest asset – the thing that makes you stand out in the market and gives you a competitive edge. Effective PR can help manage reputation by communicating and building good relationships with your customers and suppliers. Di Burton, accredited PR practitioner, will explain how, whatever your budget, public relations can help your business.

Di Burton is the managing director of Harrogate-based Cicada Communications Limited, an all-service public relations agency which she founded in 1987.  A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), Di leads several CIPR workshops, covering topics from employee engagement to managing teams.  Di is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and advises at board level on leadership issues and stakeholder management for a range of blue chip and public sector organisations.  As an industry expert, Di has worked at 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, and is a regular speaker at national and international conferences.

Make marketing work for you right now! Siobhan Lees, Brighter Marketing Ltd 14.00

Stop wasting time and money on those marketing activities that don’t deliver results, find out about the right marketing tools that will work for your business. During this interactive session Siobhan Lees will challenge and get you thinking about how you can ‘jump start’ your marketing efforts that will ultimately lead to more business. She will explore why potential customers should…… Read or listen to you? Believe what you have to say? Do anything about what you’re offering? Act now?

You owe it to your business to attend this exciting session that will give you ideas and guidelines on how to improve your own marketing approach. Siobhan Lees became a Chartered Marketer in 2002 and is Managing Director of Brighter Marketing Ltd. She specialises in marketing consultancy for small to medium sized businesses, and provides one-to-one coaching to enable individuals to enhance their marketing and business development skills.  Siobhan understands the needs of businesses and brings a ‘real world’ understanding to how marketing can really have a positive impact on business performance. She shares real life marketing stories and easy to use techniques that can be put into action straightaway.

Networking With Skill & Confidence Nick Bramley, Managing Director of NBA4Business 15.00

Nick Bramley, Managing Director of NBA4Business, one of the region’s premier business development practitioners will host this highly entertaining and memorable workshop session, one of the most popular in his repertoire, aimed at providing lifelong tips for confident and successful networking…….  The session will cover; Principles & Rules of Networking Entering the Networking Zone With Confidence Making Your Opening Shot Memorable Approaching Solo’s / Two’s / Three’s / Groups Not Getting Lumbered - Parking & Dumping With Dignity What Is Your Networking Strategy - Where & When to Network? Making Yourself Visible & Memorable Be honest, have you ever returned from any networking event without any new business appointments in the diary, but had a good breakfast or lunch?  Have you seen others “working the room” and wondered how they seem to effortlessly make best use of the time, space and number of available options? Do you want to know how to make the most of each networking opportunity, without trying too hard and by building the type of relationships that deliver results?  If so, this session is guaranteed to improve your confidence and performance.

Nick Bramley is the Managing Director of NBA4Business, an Associate Lecturer in Sales & Business Development at both Bradford School of Management & the University of York as well as being a former Chairman of the Institute of Directors North Yorkshire Branch.  Nick is a renowned Sales, Business & Management Development Specialist with a national reputation for delivering excellence in senior level sales and business development training, coaching and mentoring. A knowledgeable, practical, innovative and hands-on Consultant delivering tailored development programmes, training and coaching, all of which are designed to have a positive impact on the performance of the client organisation, Nick is a renowned communicator, presenter and persuasive facilitator and orator with an extensive knowledge of sales, business development and the wider business environment. Nick is also in demand as a keynote speaker at Conferences & Events.