All The Help You Can Get

All the Help You Can Get Business Support Show is the perfect event to start discovering the abundance of support available to help you or your business through the Hertfordshire Growth Hub, whether you are just starting out or growing and scaling.  

 

Over 20 organisations will be exhibiting, providing opportunities for networking with organisations including Suffolk Chamber Sizewell C Supply Chain , Wenta, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, University of Hertfordshire, Visit Herts, Opportunity Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Step2Skills, STANTA,  Barclays Eagle Labs, NatWest, Herts Healthy Workplaces, Hertfordshire Libraries, FSB, Innovate UK EDGE, Ellenbrooke, Better Business for all, Estu, CB4 Media, The Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre and The Department for International Trade.

 

The show will formally open with an address from Adrian Hawkins, OBE, Incoming Chairman of the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Chair, Skills and Employment Board. Through a panel discussion led by Adrian, we will hear from several local business leaders on the challenges they are facing, how they are overcoming these and their experiences of taking advantage of opportunities in the County.

Our mission for this years show is to provide businesses in the county with information, advice and connections to stay resilient and ahead of the competition into 2023 and beyond.

 

Our All The Help You Can Get Business Support Show is next week! Spaces are filling up so don't miss out and click the link below to register your interest!

 

There will be a number of interactive bite-sized workshops taking place throughout the morning on a range of topics including:

 

Net Zero and Supply Chain

Practical Tools and Resources to Start Your Net Zero Journey  - Fernando Centeno, Senior Innovation & Growth Specialist, Innovate UK EDGE

During this session you will hear about the following: 

 

• A greater understanding of Net Zero and carbon jargon. 
• Practical tips on how to measure organisational carbon footprint and start a net zero journey. 
• List of useful resources to expand your knowledge on net zero. 

 

Fernando has extensive background in innovation and sustainability. Fernando is a highly experienced entrepreneur, consultant, coach and mentor with the track record of bringing innovation to market in the clean-tech and circular economy sectors.  A Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist with Innovate UK Edge, Fernando has advised a pool of start-ups and SMEs on strategy, marketing, equity finance, grants, product development and sustainability, reshaping companies into innovative and disruptive organisations. 

 

UK EDGE is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. High-growth, innovative businesses benefit from the skills and experience of a dedicated innovation and growth specialist to identify the most effective ways to accelerate its growth. Innovate UK EDGE brings a range of services to help ambitious, high growth, innovative SMEs scale and grow. 

 

An Introduction to public sector tendering – David Hatmil, Tender Assist

During this session you will hear about the following: 

 

• Learn what the Public Sector is and how it operates 
• Have a better understanding of the process of bidding for a Public Sector tender  
• Informed as to the wealth of opportunities provided in the Public Sector                                                                                                                              

 

David Hatmil has been working on Public Sector tenders since 2003, and since establishing Tender Assist Ltd, has completed a considerable number of tenders for an array of business sectors.  

 

The company maintains an average of 30-40 clients at any one time, and there are no barriers to the types of organisations it works with, resulting in a highly diverse clientele. Such clients can be any business that wishes to embark in Public Sector tendering.  

 

Tender Assist Ltd’s mission is rather simple; it hopes to provide a customised solution to improve client opportunities to bid for Public Sector contracts.

 

 

Leadership and Management

Motivating Your Team and Getting Their Best Performance –Laura Wheatly, Head of Coaching, Infusion Group

 

During this session you will hear about the following: 

 

• Secret staff formula that unlocks the 4 key ingredients of high performance. 
• An understanding of how to re-motivate and re-energise their team.  
• Practical tips on how to tackle their current ‘top of mind’ people challenge. 

 

Laura is an outstanding communicator and our coaching guru. She’s a Master Practitioner of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and DISC practitioner, so knows very well how to get the best from everyone she works with. 

 

Infusion Group want every business leader to have all the tools they need to make their business truly brilliant. Our range of solutions focus on improving people and performance, helping our clients to become smarter, more profitable businesses today, and setting them up for a brighter tomorrow. 

 

We work with your teams collaboratively, so everyone feels part of the process and invested in the outcome. Everything we do is designed uniquely for your business, so our solutions are practical and straightforward for you and your teams to implement, ensuring you achieve exceptional results.

 

Help to Grow Approach to Building a Growth Action Plan – Dr Chris Brown, Help to Grow: Management Programme Facilitator for Hertfordshire Business School

During this session you will hear about the following: 

 

• What makes a successful business? 
• The two ways of scoring your business (Challenges/Trends)? 
• The Art & Science of developing a Growth Action Plan – the Help to Grow Approach! 

 

Funded by HM Government and delivered by the Chartered Association of Business Schools the Help to Grow: Management programme offers a blend of online and face-to-face learning at the University of Hertfordshire. To be eligible for the programme businesses should have between 5-249 employees, be trading for a minimum of 1 year and have at least one link of management in the business structure.

 

Recruitment, Workforce Development and Inclusion

Building your Talent Pipeline - Claire Scarisbrick and Philippa Shaw, Hertfordshire Opportunities, Hertfordshire LEP

During this session you will hear about the following: 

• Using Apprenticeships to attract and retain. 
• Engaging with Education to build your future talent. 
• Funded skills to enhance and build your existing workforce 

 

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership is delivering the county’s flagship programme Hertfordshire Opportunities, aimed at supporting employers to strategically assess their workforce needs.  

 

Led by a team of skills experts, your business can get involved with activities including apprenticeships, engaging with education and understanding opportunities and funding to upskill existing employees - from technical/professional qualifications through to management.  

 

The team also provide expert advice on broadening reach to a wider talent pool and building a workforce with diversity and inclusion in mind. Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal, the gateway for exploring careers, employment and skills programmes, is at the project's core.

 

Disability Confident: myth busting, recruitment and retention and what you can do?  - Anne Tinker, Step2Skills

During this session you will hear about the following: 

• Myth-busting. 
• Recruitment and Retention. 
• What you can do 

 

As part of Hertfordshire County Council, Step2Skills adult community learning and employment support service provides opportunities for adults in Hertfordshire to get involved in learning and employment within the community. We aim to work with people who face barriers to education and employment such as low skills, learning or physical disabilities and mental health conditions. 

 

Marketing

What's at the heart of your business? – Vida Barr-Jones, Focus 7

During this session you will hear about the following: 

• Message (what) – Purpose led. 
• Market (who) – Know your audience. 
• Media (how) – Know how to reach them.  

 

We help businesses define their strategy and create business alignment towards growth ambitions. Igniting their brand and implementing the road map for activation, automation and delivery.  
We get to the heart of your business and make it beat faster. We only work with the most courageous leaders who want to deliver meaningful change and growth. 
Through our series of workshops, planning sessions and seminars we’ll define your blueprint and set the businesses agenda for growth. Helping the heart of your business beat faster.

 

Writing a 60 second pitch – Stewart Smith, NatWest 

During this session you will hear about the following: 

• Come away with a clear understand around what to put in and leave out  
• How to structure your pitch for maximum impact.  
• Receive all the tools, tips and hints for you to crack on with writing a pitch you’re confident in and proud of straight away.  
• Receive some great practical tips when pitching to an audience of 1 or 100 

 

As a Local Enterprise Manager, Stewart supports businesses within the local area. Working closely within the business marketplace to support, develop and add value to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by providing business advice, bringing together local businesses and hosting regular events. Events are open to all businesses and you don’t have to be a NatWest customer to attend. 

Stewart works collaboratively with local enterprise partners, growth hubs and business support organisations, proactively spending time supporting businesses. As well as hosting local events to boost businesses and help them to grow, Stewart can provide you with expert insight on business funding and can also help provide access to additional expertise, support and training. 

 

NatWest are there for our customers as they start, grow, and manage their businesses. Our innovative products and services help customers achieve their growth, environmental and social targets. We deliver a high-quality sales and service experience through our expertise and deep engagement, locally, regionally, and nationally through face-to-face, direct and digital channels.

 

Why video is your most important digital marketing content? - Michael Niles, Michael Niles Training and Media

During this session you will hear about the following: 

• How social networks prioritise video. 
• Key stats about the dominance of video. 
• Why your website needs them too 

 

Michael is a freelance trainer, business advisor and public speaker specialising in digital marketing, leadership and communication for start-ups and SMEs. He delivers content for diverse organisations including Google Digital Garage, Lloyds Bank Academy, Media training and local growth hubs. 

 

Protecting your Business

Risks and opportunities - Business Assurance for you and your Customers – Ian Sparks, Ellenbrooke

During this session you will hear about the following: 

 

• How taking a risk-based approach isn't "just too risky" 
• How to assure customers, and yourself, that you're great at what you do  
• What practical steps to take to sustainably manage risk and drive business improvement 

 

Ian is an IRCA qualified and highly-experience lead auditor, consultant, and trainer with over 30 years’ technical, regulatory, operational and strategic leadership experience in both public and private sectors. He is passionate about learning and development, performance excellence and providing innovative solutions with and for clients. 

 

Protect your Assets – Paul Lopez, Head of Cyber and Innovation, The Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre

During this session you will hear about the following: 

 

• A greater understanding of the current threat of cyber-attacks against businesses in the UK. 
• The keys things you need to understand to start building your business’s resilience. 
• What free tools and services are available for businesses 

 

Small doesn’t mean safe when we’re talking about cybercrime. In 2022, 42% of small businesses fell victim of cybercrime, we want to help your business not be one of them. 
 

The Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre (ECRC) is a policing-led, not for profit, membership organisation that is a part of a national network of centres, established by the Home Office to help businesses, charities and schools of all sizes tackle the rising threat of cyber-attacks. 
 

Our FREE core membership provides practical advice on building your cyber resilience, including free Little Steps training, regional and national threat alerts and signposting to free tools and resources. 

 

Finance and Funding

Looking for Funding? An Overview of the Leading Funding database GrantFinder – Kieran Thorpe, Growth Account Manager, Hertfordshire Growth Hub

During this session you will hear about the following: 

 

• Types of funding you can search for on GrantFinder. 
• How you can access this portal for free through the Hertfordshire Growth Hub website. 
• Understand how the Hertfordshire Growth Hub can help you navigate the range of support available for your business.  

 

Kieran has worked across a range of private and public sector positions. Kieran’s background is in PR, and he has a wide range of experience working in business advisory roles since 2007,  including as a Business Information Advisor at Business Link East and Enterprise Information Advisor for Inspire2Enterprise, a support service for social enterprises in the East of England. He uses his knowledge and skills to help advise local SMEs in Hertfordshire and knows the issues these SMEs face and how to tackle them. 

 

Want to start or scale up a business? Hertfordshire Growth Hub is the entry point to all business support advice, information and resources in the county. As the trusted growth experts, we join up national and local business support making it simpler for you to find the help you need, when you need it.  

Since 2015, we have helped over 9,000 businesses achieve their goals and our team of knowledgeable business advisers are on hand to provide tailored support. Part of Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the Growth Hub service is brought to you by a team of business support specialists pooling their expert knowledge.

 

Effectively Manage and Forecast your Cashflow – Luke Parker, Partner, Gilberts Chartered Accountants

During this session you will hear about the following: 

 

• Takeaway tips and tricks that will help you to effectively manage and forecast your cashflow. 
• Identify common pitfalls and how to avoid them.  
• Examples of best practice 

 

With over 100 years of experience across a wide range of industry sectors, at Gilberts Chartered Accountants, our team of experienced partners and senior accountants take the time to understand your business and provide you with a personal and trusted accounting service, whether accounting compliance, accounts preparation, VAT returns, taxation & tax-related services, business advice, business planning or strategic consulting, that helps you take control, and drive your business forward.