Diane Savory, Chair of Gloucestershire LEP
Gloucestershire leaders to speak at Connect Business
Four of Gloucestershire’s business leaders will demonstrate their support for local companies by speaking at the second Connect Business exhibition, which takes place in Cheltenham on 27 September 2012 and is organised by community organisation Cheltenham Connect.
Diane Savory, chair of Gloucestershire’s Local Enterprise Partnership , Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood and Gloucestershire Echo editor Kevan Blackadder will all speak at the free event, which aims to connect small businesses in South Cheltenham with other businesses in the area to encourage local sourcing and grow the regional economy. The event will be opened by Cheltenham’s Mayor Colin Hay.
Connect Business will include 18 exhibition stands, seminars on issues such as social media, and a networking lunch. Attendance is free, and visitors can drop in for half an hour or stay for the entire day. Following last year’s inaugural event at Cheltenham Bowling Club, which was attended by over 200 people, the event is moving to a larger venue at the Maxima Forum for 2012.
“We’re delighted that Colin, Diane, Martin and Kevan are supporting our smaller businesses, which play a key role in the local economy,” says Belinda Wilson, spokesperson for Cheltenham Connect and director of GlosJobs.
“Many organisations would like to work with more local suppliers, but don’t have time to search out the right people. This event is an opportunity to meet a wide range of companies in one place, discuss how they could help you meet your business objectives and pick up new ideas.
“There are lots of benefits in working with local suppliers – they can respond quickly, come in to see you at short notice when an urgent project comes up and their costs are extremely competitive. You’re also likely to find yourself working directly with an experienced professional, rather than having the majority of the work done by a junior member of staff.
Connect Business takes place on Thursday 27th September 2011 from 10am – 3pm at the Maxima Forum, Lansdown Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JA. For further information and to book a free place go to www.businessconnect.org.uk or email belinda@cheltenhamconnect.co.uk
Connect Business is organised by Cheltenham Connect, a community initiative which aims to strengthen and empower the residential and trading community of South Cheltenham. Please follow Cheltenham Connect on Twitter @CheltConnect and #ConBiz for more details about Connect Business, or join the Connect Business group on LinkedIn.
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For further information contact Debbie Smith on 07778 790015 or email debbie.smith@helixpr.co.uk
