A very warm welcome to the 2011 North West Women's Enterprise Day Event

As those of you who joined us for this fabulous day last year will know, with just 250 tickets available, this event sells out very quickly so please do book now to avoid disappointment.

This amazing event, which won an Outstanding Impact Award from Enterprise UK in 2010, will inspire you, challenge your thinking and offer practical help to enable you to grow (or perhaps start up) your business and overcome your obstacles to doing so.

This year we have an exciting programme for you with a 'pick and mix' format that enables you to choose your speakers, workshops and other sessions to suit your personal objectives and interests . Do as much or as little as you wish! On your 'menu' you will find:

Inspirational speakers in our Speakers Corner:

A fantastic line up of inspirational women who will share their stories and experience:

• Ruth Clemens - The Pink Whisk -  our keynote speaker who will address us all - a self confessed Manic Mummy Baker Extaordinaire. Following being a finalist in the 2010 BBC2 series, The Great British Bake Off, Ruth has gone from stay at home mum to write a popular baking blog 'The Pink Whisk', work with major UK brands on baking related projects and recipe development ,and to teach a variety of banking courses. 
• Jo Berry - Building Bridges For Peace - who turned the death of her father, Sir Anthony Berry in the IRA bombing of the Tory Party Conference in 1984 into a force for good. From an initial 3 hour meeting with Pat Magee, the man who planted the bomb, Jo has worked with Pat and on her own in prisons, schools and organisations to help individuals and teams recognise the power of radical listening, own their choices, find the courage to transform their lives and to help people find alternatives to violence and blame. Jo is qualified in mediation skills, difficult dialogue and story-telling as a metaphor for change. She has worked with a wide range of organisations including Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Forgiveness Project; the all parliamentary group on conflict issues; the Basque movement and Combatants for Peace. Jo's story was told in the BBC documentary, 'Facing the Enemy', was featured in the film 'Soliders of Peace' and inspired 'The Bomb', a play by Kevin Dyer
• Kim Chamberlain - Successful Speaking and Chrysalis for Women - there probably aren't many women who would leave their comfortable established life and move to Uganda with their husband and 2 children, with nowhere to live, no work to go to  and no schooling arranged - just a suitcase each and 2 days accommodation in a guest house, plus the belief that it would 'work out'. Kim did and will share with you her experiences including the steps she took to be able to take such a risk, how she counteracted bemused friends with 'well how difficult can it be?' ,and a 3 step formula for taking more risks and achieving more.
• Shari Royle - DieselFrog - who owns a successful online gifts business. At 20 Shari was involved in a horrific near fatal car crash. Her incredible spirit and determination pulled her through, and her astounding determination, stoicism and never say die attitude got her to where she is today. 
• Naomi Timperley - Baby Loves Disco UK Ltd - a Dragon's Den veteran, Naomi turned down an offer of £100k from Deborah Meaden and has gone on to enjoy huge success across the UK, including an award for best new activity from Whatson4littleones Alongside this Naomi is a schools speaker, business advisor at Salford University and a volunteer for Young Enterprise NW.

Practical workshops

 An exceptional set of practical interactive workshops:

• Tickover or takeoff - how to build a multimillion pound business - Caroline Hampson, Inspo Ltd
• Following extensive research with more than 30 entrepreneurs who have grown their own multimillion pound businesses this workshop will share with you a simple and inspiring philosophy to help you prepare for takeoff. Put yourself 1 key step closer to building the successful business you want
• Find your business diamonds- Paula Turner and Ann Mulhaney, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School Centre for Excellence

• A highly interactive growth session. Join the 10,000 Small Businesses business growth programme team to dig, discuss and declare your business diamonds - your key strengths - in 4 categories: innovation; knowledge and skills; people and leadership; customers and suppliers; and assets, resources and systems

• Tax efficient ways of running your business - Claire Kennedy and Louise Nunn, Beever and Struthers, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors

• When planning for your business, tax may not be your top priority, but by taking a few simple steps, and using the available reliefs and allowances, you can make a huge difference to your profits and cash flow.

• Want to know a secret? You too can win Public Sector contracts - Melanie Bryan, WhyNotChange
• If you heard of a client who spends £236 billion a year with suppliers and won't go bust you'd probably want an introduction. Well, the good news is that you can - it's Public Sector. If you've ever wondered whether you could win Public Sector work then come along and join us as we separate the fact from the fiction, help you understand what you need to have in place to bid, show you were to find contracts free of charge, and share local small business success stories.
• What is a community interest company? It's obvious isn't it? - Sara Burgess, Community Interest Company Regulator
• There are over 5000 Community Interest Companies in the UK and numbers are growing despite the economic downturn. Don't miss this opportunity to hear about this exciting movement, how you can set up your business as a CIC, use its profits to benefit your community and earn a living whilst you do so

• Twitter your way to business growth in just 20 minutes- Karen Adams, Social Media Expert

• Learn how to make twitter - the low cost, potentially high impact marketing and research tool - work for your business in just 20 minutes a day

• Presenting with impact; how snakes, icebergs and a pen trick can make you a better speaker - Kim Chamberlain, Successful Speaking

  • Learn what makes a great speaker and an effective presentation; a no fail presentation structure; how to choose the best content and how to highlight your key messages.Leave able to confidently present with impact.
• The talent pool; sink or swim? - Ruth Abraham, Ecofish Designs Ltd
  • An interactive simulation where you will explore what motivates your risk-taking behaviours, your response to peer pressure and how leadership styles affect outcomes. During the simulation you will balance the risks and difficulties in achieving long term sustainability with short term profit making. You will be confronted with ethical, moral, sustainability, risk and economic challenges and will need to make quick decisions under pressure.
• Style yourself confident and stop 'making do' - Nicola Cupples, Your Style Companion
  • Learn how to make your wardrobe and image work for you and your business. Take back control over your wardrobe, mentally, emotionally and physically; break out of negative style ruts; save time and money
• Stop kissing frogs - Carmen Parkinson, The Referrals Institute
  • Do you waste time and energy networking with people who don't help you build your business, or worse still, suck you dry of your contacts or expertise? Do you get quality referrals predictably and consistently or just by chance? If you don't have a referral marketing plan - the most effective form of marketing for businesses with limited budgets - then this session is a must. Leave able to generate more sales in less time by doing business by relationships.
• Difficult dialogues- Jo Berry, Building Bridges for Peace
  • Sharing from her experiences of using her communication skills to 'disarm' the ex-terrorist who killed her father, Jo will equip you with tools to communicate with others in a way that increases your chances of being heard and provide you with the opportunity to practice these new skills in an emotionally safe environment.
• Approaching finance with confidence - Wendy Bowers, So Business Ltd
• How to obtain funding for your business and make the figures work for you as you grow

• Is your business fit enough to thrive? - Jane Stephens, Janus Business Solutions

• Quickly check the health of your business and learn techniques to focus on doing the right things for your business efficiently and effectively.

• Self belief and fate control - Sonia Bate, Edit Development Ltd
  • Discover your confidence robbers, boosters and stabilisers and learn techniques to overcome your personal barriers, build your confidence and use authentic assertive language.
• Save money and win business by going green - Vicki O'Kelly, Enviro-Mantle Ltd 
  • How being more resource efficient can save you money and win you contracts
• Get Britain working - Christine Munn and Debra Washington, Job Centre Plus
  • Find out how enterprising women across the North West can help to get Britain working and what help is available from the DWP to enable women to set up their own businesses
• How to get your business into the media for free - Rachel Johnson, Industry Insiders

• Do you read the newspaper and wish there was an article on your business? Do you listen to the radio and hear competitors talking about their area of expertise? Whatever stage your business is at, you should always be looking to get your business into the media. Learn how to get your business into the news for free; and gain expert hints and tips to get the most from press releases

• Coping with change and keeping perspective- Kerry Leigh, Laughology

• Have fun learning how a sense of humour is essential for a successful business. In this interactive, informative and fun session learn techniques and tools to use in your lives and at work that will help to enhance happiness, help you to deal with stressful situations and turn them into positive challenges  and encourage more positive communication. If you want to increase happiness for yourself, your clients and colleagues then this is the session for you

• Does your business pass the legal health check? Helen Brown and Emma Lewis, Slater Heelis

• Come along and see if your business passes the legal health check. Learn about the legal and commercial issues arising from diverse topics such as social media, employment, intellectual property and much more. An interactive session that will focus on the topics of particular interest to the room.

Living library

Borrow a person for 15 minutes to benefit from their expertise, experience and perspective. A fantastic opportunity for some private time with our speakers and experts.

Hands on zone

Benefit from demonstrations, practical tools, techniques and tips, and be inspired by a range of fascinating businesses all with a story to share.

Networking

With over 250 enterprising women in the room the possibilities are endless. We'll do our best to help you make the connections you need both during and after the event.

Artisan Avenue

Browse the wonderful gifts on offer in our artisan avenue. All are crafted here in the North West and perfect for a special someone or an indulgent treat for yourself.

Tickets

Tickets are heavily subsidised through the generosity of our main sponsor - Cheshire East Council - and are therefore offered at the incredible price of just £45 each. Your ticket includes:

• Entrance to the event
• Access to all zones
• Your choice of speakers, workshops and sessions - subject to availability - all bookable on the day
• Fabulous lunch and all day refreshments

Please note that tickets are not refundable.

Registration

Please note that registration will be from 8.15am with seating at 9.15am enabling the event to start promptly at 9.30am. The event will finish at 17.00 but you are welcome to continue networking beyond this.

Sponsors

This event could not take place and tickets could not be subsidised to make them accessible to every woman without the amazing generosity of our sponsors:

• Cheshire East Council
• WhyNotChange - Melanie Bryan
• Tickover or Takeoff - Caroline Hampson
• Beever and Struthers - Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors
• Slater Heelis -  Full Services Law Firm
• Manchester Metropolitan University Business School Centre for Enterprise
• National Westminster Bank
• Cheshire West and Chester Council
• Cranage Hall
• This Lady Loves - Tracey Thomas
• Progression Partnership Ltd - Dr.Emma Langman
• and those of you who know who you are but don't want to be named!