Funding for Derbyshire Businesses

At the MBC business group meeting this week we had an interesting update from Michael Reardon, Senior Transport Officer (Smarter Travel), Derbyshire County Council Sustainable Travel team

Michael gave us an update on capital funding for cycle facilities that available to local businesses.  He has sent me further details so I am sharing them with you here.


Derbyshire County Council’s Sustainable Travel team currently have capital funds available to improve cycle facilities at tourism businesses across Derbyshire.
Eligible businesses include bed and breakfasts, hotels and self catering establishments, as well as visitor attractions and other tourism based facilities.
Examples of typical projects:
* Cycle storage, including sheffield stands and shelters.

* Associated amenities, including storage lockers.

* Improvements to gates and pathways where appropriate.

Other proposals with clear cycle related benefits – especially those which encourage longer distance cycle leisure trips and overnight stays – will also be considered.
The funding is strictly limited, and available on a 50/50 basis.

If you feel that your tourism business could benefit and would like to find out more, contact:
Sustainable.travel@derbyshire.gov.uk
Tel: 01629 538156


Notes.
* There is no specific closing date, nor any long application form.
* Funds are available on a first come first served basis, up to a maximum of 50% of total capital costs (ex VAT).
* There is no specific upper or lower limit of funding applications, although a typical cycle shelter costs between £1,500 - £2,500 + VAT.
* Facilities could benefit both visitors and staff.
* Interested parties should contact The Sustainable Travel team (as above) in the first instance.

Henmore Marketing is Social Media speaker at Business Peak District event

Henmore is very proud to be speaking at the upcoming Business Peak District event:

An Introduction to Social Media

Please note, this event by Business Peak District is only available for businesses located or trading within the wider Peak District.

This seminar is designed for any small and medium-sized Peak District businesses wanting to develop online marketing who would benefit from an overview of social media to find out how it can help grow a business. No technical knowledge is required.

This seminar is presented in a jargon-free, easy-to-understand format and includes presentations from companies that are using social media in a successful way.

Network Events organised by Business Peak District

Wednesday 19th September (10 am - 12 noon)

The Royal Hotel Hayfield

'Marketing - bringing your website alive and keeping your customers happy'

details

Wednesday 26th September (10 am - 12.30 pm)

Bakewell Business & Agricultural Centre

Bakewell, DE45 1AH

'Social Media - an introduction'

booking online

Wednesday 10th October (10 am - 12 noon)

Buxton TBA

'Celebrating local food and drink supply and distribution'

Tuesday 27th November (10 am - 1 pm)

Beechenhill Farm, Ilam

'Renewable Technologies - all you need to know and planning out business risks, a survival kit'

Netwalking in Churnet Valley

More opportunities to improve your work life balance!

- work bit is making/strengthening your connections with local business people
- the life bit is enjoying some fabulous scenery and getting some exercise by walking for an hour or so
- the balance bit is the consumption of refreshments afterwards!

So this is what to expect from netwalking!  Plus the easy, stress-free nature of this form of networking resulting from the format that Paul arranges.

Next netwalking: 23rd August - Churnet Valley, Staffordshire

meeting in Alton at the Parish Church to set off at 12.30pm.  
Walking for about an hour with a quasi-formal facilitated networking structure.    Booking via netwalking booking form

Comments about the network following the Carsington Water netwalk

Sort of small print:
Paul, the netwalking leader that we have partnered with (www.skylarkactivities.com), has a netwalker code:

You are your own best medical expert.
Accept the need for the group to make the journey together – being outdoors there is a shared responsibility. Alert fellow netwalkers to any hazards along the way.
Share your expertise - if you spot something interesting.

Help people over difficult patches or obstacles – like up inclines or over stiles.
Set your own pace and re-group every now and then.
Choose what information you want to share, who with and how.

Networking - the merits of connecting locally

Networking locally has been a useful activity for us at Henmore, even though are clients are UK wide, in Europe and USA.  As a result of local networking we have:

• formed associations with marketing specialists to offer a wider marketing service 
• worked collaboratively on new projects with the people we’ve met 
• been invited as a guest speaker at UK events and conferences 
• strengthened relationships with existing clients 
• gained many new business referrals that have generated new customers (thank you to those that have supported us) 
• built a network of ‘champions’ who help us spread the word about our local marketing training events and programmes 
• gained insight and feedback on our ideas 
• kept abreast of issues and events taking place in our local area 
• made some new friends

After trying various groups and organisations I have settled on a select few groups in my local region of Derbyshire and Staffordshire that suit my style.  I regularly visit these groups:  WiRE, Matlock Business Club, The Business Cub, at Chatsworth, Moorlands Networking, SPDTA.

I am the facilitator of Matlock Business Club, which has enabled me to observe many people’s approach and consider my own.

Here are few thoughts about networking:

Attend with an open mind, go with the flow.  Some people seem to judge an event by the number of business cards they collected.  After assessing the benefits to Henmore of our networking activities, I am not convinced of that as an evaluation criterion.

Be friendly – you would think this would be obvious!  Be friendly even to your competitors.  I’ve heard some horror stories of people slinging some mud at their competitors (worse still dissing them in the one minute slot).  Don’t go there . . .

Be open and welcoming.  Approach those on the edge of the room; invite them into your conversations.  As an extravert, I have to remind myself that some powerful business people are not necessarily natural networkers, so don’t overlook those looking on from the sidelines. 

Stay calm.  If you spot an influential business person please don’t go all gaga around them.   I’ve seen this happen and it is just weird.

Allow yourself to move on.  Some people will monopolise you so be kind to yourself, and to them, and move them on to someone else or request permission to continue networking in the room. 

Keep your business card in reserve.  I am not a fan of ‘card slinging’ networking events. Some people look for quantity rather than quality, but that doesn’t suit our business model.  Unless it suits yours, save yourself the hassle of unsubscribing from a million mailing lists and hold back your details until you are asked for them.

Introduce people within and across your networks – be the real-life face-to- face version of LinkedIn and Facebook.

Source and share in your networks.  If you need something then ask from within your network of contacts.  It sounds obvious, but if it is so obvious why do so few people do it? 

In conclusion, I offer a gentle reminder that your network of contacts is not just a place to push your own wares.

Take a netwalk

How about this for work life balance?

work bit is chatting about business and making/strengthening your connections with local business people

the life bit is enjoying some fabulous scenery and getting some exercise by walking 2.5 miles.

the balance bit is eating cake afterwards!

So this is netwalking.  Try it with Matlock Business Club on Thursday June 30 and explore an unusual part of Derbyshire. Refreshments (that's the cake bit) are included.

Rendezvous at the secluded Cliff Farm (Peak Serenity) with walking shoes laced up for 4.30 pm. Take in the fantastic views and explore the surrounding area with its woods, stone circles and mock beggars hall. We'll return to Cliffe Farm around 5.45 pm for refreshments and to carry on networking.

After a welcome briefing by netwalking leader Paul Hunt from Skylark Activities (www.skylarkactivities.com)we'll walk 2.5 miles along well defined paths and country lanes over typical Derbyshire hill farm country and through woods. A few stiles will be encountered but these shouldn't pose a barrier as you'll be in a group that helps each other and that's determined to see the points of interest in this part of Derbyshire.

Location and Directions : Cliff Farm is on the lane between Elton and Alport.

Directions : Post Code for Google Maps and satnavs : DE45 1LL

There is a small charge of £5 ,which includes refreshments, and is payable on the day to Matlock Business Club .  Book you place by email to info@colemanbradshaw.co.uk

Distance : 2.5 miles / 4 Kilometres

Terrain : Hill farm countryside of grassed fields and woodland.

Well defined paths and country lane; some wooden styles and some squeeze styles.

Points of Interest : Cratcliffe Rocks, Hermits Cave, Robin Hood Stride, Nine Stone Close Standing Stones , Harthill moor and woods

Join Matlock Business Club online > http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Matlock-Business-Club-2344019

Training and thinking, marketing forum 15th June, Derbyshire

Ideas + Strategies -----> Making Connections
We are planning a new style event on 15th June at Cromford Mill. We'll facilitate IT and Marketing-based subject discussions and provide the environment for you to join other forward-thinking business owners to take a little time out to concentrate on your business, generating ideas and workable strategies.

Broadly, the morning session will cover strategic marketing and IT subjects, delving into some how-to and top tips for success with the tools and techniques we showcase:

• Ways to keep in touch with your customers and create champions and referrers.
• Seamless ways to collaborate with associates and present work to customers.
• The mindset and toolset to create a more marketing-led organisation.

. . . and it will be lively and interactive with presentations, case studies, thought-provoking exercises, peer group discussion. More than that we have built into the agenda an extended 'let's take that off-line' break-out session designed to be free flowing. Choose between the opportunity to pose detailed questions to the experts or engage in discussions and networking with other attendees.

Ideas & Strategies – Marketing and Technology

9.30am – 12.15pm Facilitated interactive sessions (as above)
12.45pm – 2pm Freeflow and break out sessions - Marketing and IT questions answered and debated.
£15 + VAT (book in advance cw@cwoodhouse.com)
Lunch and refreshments available at the on-site cafes

Why not arrive early and include some breakfast networking taking place in the same room.
7.30am - 9am Matlock Business Club – networking and business support group meets
£5 including breakfast payable at the door (book in advance web@henmore.co.uk)
Call or email us to reserve your places at these events.

Networking

I haven't been to any networking events recently for one reason or another, but this week I'll be going to two and James will be attending another two. It must be the time of year.

I was amused at an event during the spring when a veteran networker stood up and announced, while firmly looking in my direction, that his business does no marketing and relies 100% on referrals. Having given his spiel he worked the room handing out lots of business cards. His morning included a networking presentation, business cards given, business cards taken and all useful contacts were probably followed up by email and logged in a database. That was probably more marketing done in a morning than many businesses do in a year.

This man is an interesting case study: he has considered his target market of local businesses; educated his network (us) about his business; positioned his business as successful and popular (so much so, remember, that it does no marketing but gets plenty of business from referrals); and found a low cost form of marketing that brings in sufficient enquiries to meet his one-man-band capacity. He works very hard at his marketing (I mean networking) and I imagine this commitment pays off.

It would be rare for us to recommend to a client that they put all their marketing eggs in one basket in that way. We prefer clients to undertake a number of different marketing activities, backed up by suitable information (online and offline), and evaluate the results. If, however, your business is restricted by lack of available time or budget for a broad range of marketing activities, and you have made a decision to concentrate on one form of marketing, it is essential to commit to it and do it well.

There are numerous guides to using networking in your marketing and they all recommend preparation. My extra word of advice is first to review the basics: your business offering; your target market; your key messages. Then consider who will be in the room with you, and how much all this will make sense to them. After you've presented who you are, what you do, and who you do it for remember to be clear what it is you'd like the assembled networkers to do for you - buy from you themselves or refer suitable customers to you?

I hoped I had been doing all this for Henmore and thebestof sites we manage in Derbyshire, but I've realised I've been makimg a hash of it. Chatting to someone who knows me quite well, I was asked a simple question the answer to which I address every month in my networking presentation. This is disheartening feedback, but I'll endeavour to take it positively and review my presentations for my networking week ahead.

Staffordshire Moorlands Business Networking Evening

Henmore took the initiative in school fundraising by running a local networking event in Staffordshire Moorlands.

Catherine Doel, MD of Henmore Marketing and Chair of the local Pre-school Playgroup, broke out of the mould of the usual school fundraising by arranging a business-focussed event.

"The challenge with school fundraising is to find ways of getting people from outside the immediate parent group to part with their cash to help meet running costs. So we organised an event and invited businesses and entrepreneurs from across Staffordshire and Derbyshire to meet and make business connections. Paying £5 per head plus £5 for trade space represents a great return on investment from a company's marketing budget; that £10 then has a huge impact at the school because it pays for another hour or so of top quality care and education for local pre-school children."

Energetic fellow parent Nicki Mosley was involved with the organisation and Louise Cliff, another businesswoman parent, who owns Whiston Hall Golf Club and Mansion Hotel, kindly donated the venue.

Some 40 people came along to experience this relaxed and informal business networking event where people doing business in the Staffordshire Moorlands took the opportunity to mingle and chat to fellow business people. Most also made a brief presentation about their businesses to fellow guests. Some also put up a trade stand or made a table display to present products and services on the night.

The event raised just short of £200 for the organisers' chosen local charities (Ipstones Pres-school Playgroup and St Leonards School). We are very grateful to Whiston Hall for generously providing the venue and facilities

If you would like to receive an email invitation to the autumn event please use the Newsletter Sign up box on the right and select the list for Staffordshire Moorlands Networking Events.