Seminars and Workshops
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How To Theatre

The How To Theatre

The ‘How To’ seminar theatre is a 100 capacity seated area of informative and entertaining seminar sessions. Topics include HR, Sales and Marketing, Finance and IT. These sessions are relevant to all areas of business and will include workshops and role plays. You can dip in and out of any seminar that you wish.

Day 1 - Wednesday 28th October 2009

Time

Seminar

9:20 - 9:50

Using Apple for Everyday Business

Stephen Owen - Apple Business Manager – On behalf of GBM Digital Technologies

Learn why Mac is the perfect business partner, delivers real value for money and frees up your day so you have more time to build your business. See how using the latest technology can be benificial to your business, from simply producing your accounts to running a full commercial studio.
10:00 - 10:45

Creativity, it’s a serious business

Paul Girling - Managing Director - New Habits

This session looks at creating opportunites in challenging times.  All successful companies tap into the creativity of their people to challenge the accepted 'rules'.  It will be presented in a practical but fun way with audience participation!  We will be asking: 

1. What is creativity? 
2. Do we need creativity at all? 
3. How creative are we? 
4. How can we be more creative?  

We will show you that you can use creative techniques in the workplace to challenge the norm and be able to identify opportunities to maximise business benefits.
10:55 - 11:30

Pensions - the next big thing? 
How to prevent your business suffering additional costs and expense.

Harris Frazer and Robert Higginbotham - Directors - Manson Financial Services

In 2012 the government plans to introduce compulsory employee enrolment and compulsory pension contributions for all employees aged 22 or over and earning above a certain amount (currently £5,035pa). All the major political parties broadly agree with the proposals so it will happen! Employers will have a daily duty to identify and enrol “eligible” employees with fines (up to £50,000) for failure to do so. 

This means that virtually every employer will be affected by the changes, which will mean extra costs and a potential administration “nightmare” for them. If you employ people your business will be affected and doing nothing or waiting is not a sensible course of action. The time to start planning is now. We will explain how the proposed reform will affect your business and the strategies that you can put in place before the changes take effect to make sure that your business is not adversely affected.
11.35 - 11.55

Protect Your Business – Strategies for Employers

Marlene Hession – Head of Employment - Fruhman Davies Livingstones

Do you want to spend your precious time protecting and growing your business, or spending your time with lawyers devising ways to defend expensive and time consuming proceedings? Can you afford the publicity generated by a discrimination claim? The unlimited damages that are regularly awarded destroy businesses.

Did you realise that if a director does not have an employment contract, and a company goes into liquidation the Liquidator can argue that any monies paid to a director are unauthorised loans? By training your staff in equal opportunities your business can be protected from costly discrimination claims. With the Equality Bill passing in to law later this year there will be 30 grounds upon which to base a discrimination claim. If one such claim is successful the damages are unlimited and hard won reputations destroyed.

With the current financial climate disgruntled and opportunistic employees do not hesitate to utilise the legal process to issue proceedings against their employers. Banks are reluctant to make monies available to finance compensation awarded against your business.

Do you have Insurance to protect your business against legal costs, and compensation that can result from claims?
12:00 - 12:45

"Are you being served?" 

Audrey Henry - Course Developer - Newcastle College

It is particularly important in today’s economic climate that businesses get exactly what they want from their training provider. To ensure that businesses have a cost effective investment in training, motivating and incentivising their employees they need to consider a range of solutions focussed on their particular business requirements.

The needs of the organisation should be at the centre of any training programme with solutions focussing on meeting these needs. Are you getting what you want or what your training provider has available?

What you need to know:

1.Qualifications can be ‘off the peg’ or customised to your needs – they are not ‘set in stone’
2.Qualifications can keep pace with the needs of your organisation
3.Customised provision may be available to accredit your employees’ current workskills
4.Your Sector Skills Council – they are a great source of information
13:00 - 13:45

Managing Foreign Exchange Exposure in Uncertain Times

Tejus Oza - Senior FX Specialist -  Moneycorp Ltd

In this period of unprecedented market volatility, every business that has international payment requirements is at risk from currency fluctuations – irrespective of the size or complexity of their trades. You can’t control foreign exchange fluctuations, but you can plan for them. 

In this seminar, Moneycorp will discuss a number of key measures that organisations can take to help protect themselves against foreign exchange risk.  Moneycorp, the UK's leading currency specialist, has been helping companies manage their foreign exchange exposure since 1979. With 30 years’ industry experience, our experts will help your business plan for the future.
14:00 - 14:30

How to get Free Software Legally!

Dr Ben Clayton - Director - Irax Ltd

Open Source software is generally available without license fees, so immediate cost savings are available to users.  These are not, however, the only benefits to be gained from Open Source software – it can also be superior in security, functionality and efficiency when compared to proprietary systems, such as Microsoft Small Business Server. This presentation is intended to increase awareness of Open Source software, and the benefits businesses can realise through using such software.
14:30 - 15:00

How to sell online securely

Jonathan Forde - Business Development Executive - Realex Payments

Selling online securely has to be a major aim of all businesses operating online. Realex Payments help thousands of businesses process their payments securely on the web.  Presenting some of our client stories as case studies, we will discuss and demonstrate the different integration options, the different levels of security that can be put in place and their relevance to your business.
15:00 - 15:45

Putting you in effective control of your business
Understanding Employment Law hot topics and giving you the answers to those everyday questions

Linda Kenyon - Employment Law Consultant - Mentor Employment Law

Does it sometimes seem that your employees have all the rights and you feel like you should have more control as an employer?  In this workshop Mentor will prepare you to handle those everyday 'difficult' employee situations and give you answers:

1.How much holiday entitlement do employees get during sickness leave?
2.How many hours can my employee legally work? 
3.What breaks and days off should my employees get?
4.What is allowed under family leave
5.How do I handle employees inviting witnesses to disciplinary and grievance meetings
6.What new law affects my business? e.g.when should you check criminal records?
16:00 - 16:45

‘Health and Safety and Going to Prison’ 
Duties and Responsibilities of Employers in the Workplace

Keith Hartis - Principal Health Safety Environmental Consultant - OHS Ltd

Duty to Care is the most important thing. But getting health and safety wrong can now also put Directors and Senior Managers in jail.This seminar covers how any company or organisation can make sure that they are full compliant on all legislation and keeps their employees safe within the workplace environment.It has the added bonus of teaching the bosses how they can keep themselves out of the clutches of Her Majesties Prisons. It will relate to the HSE policies and strategies and the importance of organising internal monitoring methods and it will never mention banning conkers or bed races once.
17:00 - 17:45 Think Green. Save Money 

Ciaran O'Doherty - Head of Local Business - Kinnarps (UK) Ltd

The Kinnarps presentation will focus on the benefits that local businesses can derive from a move to more sustainable thinking and embracing new ideas in the office.

‘Going green’ is often perceived to incur cost and take up valuable time… only adding value where customers are demanding it - plus a little ‘feel good factor’. The reality is that true sustainability originates from a natural desire to save resource, reduce waste and increase efficiency.

Kinnarps will briefly introduce their sustainability credentials – an interesting insight into what to look for when purchasing furniture – but then lead quickly to how organisations can save money by going green. From clever use of space to energy saving ideas and dynamic lighting, their ‘Green Ideas at Work’ form the core of a new Think Green. Save Money campaign.

The presentation will also show how ergonomics and people are at the centre of any working environment, leading to low absenteeism, staff efficiencies and higher motivation.  Any business leader who is looking to save costs and drive prosperity in all areas of their organisation will find something to take away from this presentation.

Day 2 - Thursday 29th October 2009

Time Seminar
10:00 - 10:45

Freedom to Focus on the Business: How Cloud Computing Can Help 

Robin Daniels - Senior Manager- Product Marketing - Salesforce.com

Hear why cloud computing is the perfect model for businesses in the UK and around the world, allowing them to get started fast, lower their overall costs, and grow their business. We’ll look at real-world examples of companies who are embracing the cloud with incredible results, including increased revenues, higher productivity, and increased customer satisfaction.
11:00 - 11:45

CICs - the way forward for your social enterprise

Sara Burgess - The Regulator - The CIC Regulator

This session looks at all you need to know about forming a community interest company(CIC). These are companies which operate with a social purpose and even in these difficult times are continuing to go from strength to strength. This is because the inclusive brand is recognised as embracing socially motivated companies from the embryonic to the fully fledged and all those in between. Join Sara to learn more about this exciting form of social enterprise. Sara will be discussing:

1.key features of a CIC
2.application process
3.eligibility criteria
4.types of CICs
12:00 - 12:45

Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Loans

Ewan Addison - Loans Account Manager - The Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust's 0% loans are designed to reduce carbon emissions by enabling businesses to overcome the capital barrier of purchasing energy saving equipment.  Loans are interest free, provided on an unsecured basis and you can borrow a sum flexible to your business needs of between £3,000 to £400,000.  Repayments are offered on a 12 to 48 month basis.
13:00 - 13:45

Creating and Managing a pipeline of sales

Paul Billington - Sales - Tre Solutions in conjunction with Conception Marketing

We will demonstrate 5 simple steps to generate and manage an effective sales pipeline.  Our  failsafe, 5 step process enables you to generate high quality sales meetings, increase your conversion rate and increase your average sale value.  We will show you how to create a target marketing definition, research and identify ”suspects”, qualify warm prospects, effectively promote to those prospects, generating meetings via a continuous contact cycle.
14:00 - 14:45

LEGAL TOOLS TO HELP KEEP YOUR CASH FLOW, AND YOUR BUSINESS, MOVING…

Richard Dawson-Gerrard - Commercial Litigation Partner -  Stephensons Solicitors LLP 
Sean Joyce -  Motoring Defence Partner -  Stephensons Solicitors LLP 

This session will offer legal solutions on how to tackle two issues which can dramatically impact on a business’ livelihood – poor cash flow and motoring prosecutions.

Businesses in the UK are having it tough. There is a growing late payment culture and many companies are waiting longer to be paid.  Commercial lawyer Richard Dawson-Gerrard will provide useful insights in how to proactively manage business debts and take control of cash flow, in order to put your business in a much stronger position and minimise the risk. 

Motoring lawyer Sean Joyce has saved businesses thousands of pounds by helping to keep their licences in tact and keep them on the road. If you are a business that relies on a fleet of vehicles, or a company car driver, Sean’s expert knowledge will prove invaluable.
15:00 - 15:45

Online branding and PR

Clare Williams - Director - D4PR

Due the economic climate during 2009, the marketing, PR, advertising and creative industries have been forced to change. Marketers and traditional PR's have been called into question. It is not acceptable to spend 25K on the event you were doing every year just because that is what the company has done every year since conception. Print budgets have been slashed, networking and event expenses have been cut and heads have rolled. In this seminar I will talk about how you close the gap between expenditure and your bottom line, how to influence your audiences and why people need to get up to speed with online PR.