Business Link West Midlands provides free business events and workshops in the West Midlands region from April to June 2011. The document lists 10 upcoming workshops on topics such as keeping employees motivated, cost-effective marketing, social media success, and online sales. Each workshop provides key steps and strategies for businesses and is delivered by an expert presenter. Businesses can easily book onto the free workshops by phone or online.

1. Business Link West Midlands
Take your Business Further in 2011
FREE Business Events
April-June 2011

2. Inspiring Presenter
Paul Harris,
Real Success Ltd.
5 key steps to keeping Paul is an enthusiastic and lively presenter, working as a
your best staff
business coach, speaker and mentor with many businesses
across the West Midlands. He has a deep understanding of how
to get the best from people through over 20 years of experience
managing and leading large teams.
workshop Paul now helps businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to
established, to master the art of real leadership in a challenging
and competitive market. Paul is passionate about people and will
Is most of your time spent managing people, not leading them? demonstrate how easy it can be to “lead your team” .
Do you struggle to get the best from your team? Or are you just
finding it difficult to keep your best people?
This interactive session provides a 5-step practical framework Event Suitability:
e aSaoutrmaearllwith
c ic y
On tod y nd au o lettte
to help you develop, motivate and retain your employees.
Businesses trading 1 year + Register monthly enews advice.
So, whether you are just about to take on your first employee or if our nd
you are looking for some new ideas on how to inspire them – this
Businesses who have small or receive business tips a
workshop will share simple strategies that will help you get the
large teams/looking to recruit FREE
employees
best from your staff - and keep them!
Delivered by:
You’ll discover:
Paul Harris on behalf of
• How to build a solid rapport with your team Business Link West Midlands
• The importance of alignment of business goals
• An overview of appraisal systems and their role in team Times:
development Registration - 9.15am
• The WHY™ triangle of effective leadership Start - 9.30am
• How to motivate and use it effectively Close - 1pm
• 7 critical factors for keeping your best staff.
Dates & Venues
3 May 2011 Walsall Football Club, Bescot Crescent, Walsall, WS1 4SA
Event Booking
11 May 2011 Park Inn Hotel, Forgegate, Telford Centre, Telford, TF3 4NA
26 May 2011 Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester, WR3 8ZE
Booking onto one of our free workshops is easy:
9 June 2011 Ramada Solihull, The Square, Solihull, B91 3RF
simply call 0845 113 1234*
or visit www.howtowithbl.co.uk
14 June 2011 The Stone House Hotel, Stafford Road, Stone, ST15 0BQ
*Lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday.
Calls are charged at local rate.
3

3. Inspiring Presenter
Cost-effective Debbie Bliss,
Barrington Bliss Consulting Ltd.
marketing to grow Since graduating in Business and Computing from Aston University
in 1985, Debbie has held a number of roles in Cadbury, Kraft, 3M,
your business Moulinex and Krups. Her experience spans general management,
consumer marketing and communications, trade marketing, sales,
category management and much, much more.
workshop Debbie launched Barrington Bliss Consulting in 2008 to provide
marketing, capability and change management support to
businesses, both large and small. As the Commercial Panel
Are you confident about which marketing options are right for your representative on The Manufacturing Advisory Service’s Gateway
Panel, Debbie also provides expert sales and marketing support to
business? Do you know how to use them? If it’s all a bit of a minefield and manufacturing businesses on a regular basis, across the region.
you would welcome some expert guidance, then this workshop is for you.
We shall take you through the stages to implement a number of Event Suitability:
techniques that will reach both new and existing customers to get Businesses trading 1 year +
the results you want. Businesses that are new to
marketing or would like a
Find out how to: greater understanding of
• Understand the needs and wants of your customer base marketing techniques
• Position your products/services to offer your customers Delivered by:
what they really want
• Choose the best marketing techniques that will support your Debbie Bliss on behalf of
business objectives Business Link West Midlands
• Create communication materials that your customers will
Times:
notice and act on
• Use what you have learnt to grow your business by: Registration - 9.15am
• Increasing sales with existing customers Start - 9.30am
• Identifying and attracting new customers. Close - 1pm
Dates & Venues
12 May 2011 Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester, WR3 8ZE
25 May 2011
Event Booking
The Stone House Hotel, Stafford Road, Stone, ST15 0BQ
7 June 2011 Park Inn Hotel, Forgegate, Telford Centre, Telford, TF3 4NA
Booking onto one of our free workshops is easy:
21 June 2011 Walsall Football Club, Bescot Crescent, Walsall, WS1 4SA
simply call 0845 113 1234*
28 June 2011 St John’s Hotel, 651 Warwick Road, Solihull, B91 1AT
or visit www.howtowithbl.co.uk
*Lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday.
Calls are charged at local rate.
5

4. e aSaoutrmaearllwith
c ic y
On tod y nd au o lettte
Register monthly enews advice.
The secrets of social our
receive business tips a
F REE
nd
media success
workshop
Has your business ventured into the world of social media? Do you know
how to maximise its potential to generate sales? Or are you still not
convinced that social media really works for your business?
If so, then this workshop is a must. Join us and learn the secrets
of how to get more from social media and its digital tools to Event Suitability:
enable you to identify new customers and win business.
Businesses trading 1 year +
Businesses which have experience
Inspiring Presenter
Find out how to:
in online marketing
• Create winning online profiles
(for LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook) Delivered by:
Annmarie Hanlon,
• Manage and develop the media you own Annmarie Hanlon on behalf of
(websites and social media) Business Link West Midlands
• Retain existing customers
• Find new prospects and start conversations Times: Evonomie Ltd.
• Enhance your online marketing strategy – at minimal cost. Registration - 9.15am
Annmarie Hanlon has been providing online and offline marketing consultancy
This session has been designed for businesses that are already Start - 9.30am
services for 20 years, to more than 250 clients in a diverse range of industries.
using social media but might not be getting the results they want Close - 1pm
Qualified in e-marketing, Annmarie has written an ‘easy-to-use’ book and
or who are looking to improve their knowledge.
iPhone App-Quick Win Digital Marketing and is also a tutor with Oxford College
of Marketing, focusing on online and digital marketing. She has many practical
and local examples of businesses using online tactics to increase sales and
Dates & Venues understands what really works for smaller businesses.
13 April 2011 Birmingham City Football Club, St. Andrew’s Stadium, Birmingham, B9 4NH
4 May 2011
24 May 2011
Moat House Hotel, Lower Penkridge Road, Acton Trussell, ST17 0RJ
Event Booking
Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester, WR3 8ZE
Booking onto one of our free workshops is easy:
Village Hotel Coventry, Dolomite Avenue, Coventry Business Park,
1 June 2011
Coventry, CV4 9GZ simply call 0845 113 1234*
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Molineux Stadium, Waterloo Road,
or visit www.howtowithbl.co.uk
30 June 2011 *Lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday.
Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR
Calls are charged at local rate.
7

5. SOS Networking
Skills Inspiring Presenter
workshop
In just two and a half hours, through our interactive session, you will learn Tony Altham,
the practical ‘apply now’ skills that you can use immediately to increase AdGiftsOnline Ltd.
your career opportunities, business enquiries and profits.
Tony has over 20 years’ experience running his
own business and is the Managing Director of
an online business gift distribution company -
Networking is about using your time more smartly rather than just AdGiftsOnline Limited. Tony is also a business
working harder and we will demonstrate exactly how and why you networking coach and trainer who consistently
can use it to build your business and career opportunities. wins new business for his company by
applying his SOS Networking tools
Specifically you will learn: and techniques.
• WHY you should put networking at the heart of your personal Event Suitability: Through his experience and results, Tony
and business marketing approach firmly believes that implementing a
Businesses trading 1 year +
• SOS, TGR & HF - The formula for guaranteed networking success referral marketing approach at the
Businesses who want to gain more
• Networking etiquette and where to network heart of any business marketing
career and business opportunities
• How to make a great first impression - always plan can and will bring business
• The four essential things you need with you when attending events Delivered by: opportunities with other people’s
• The ‘1st Date, 2nd Date and Meet the Family’ principles help – which is crucial in the
Tony Altham on behalf of
of networking current marketplace.
Business Link West Midlands
• How to build your career, business and profits by referrals
and recommendations Time:
• How to mingle and meet people confidently 8am – 10.30am
• How to follow up
• How to become the Networking Super-Connector people think
of and contact first
• How to be the Networking GOTO and avoid being a Networking GAF
• How to HELP FIRST and use the POWER of RECIPROCATION to
build powerful long-term relationships.
Dates & Venues
Business Link, Advantage House, 19 Ridgeway, Quinton Business Park,
5 May 2011
Quinton, Birmingham, B32 1AL
19 May 2011 Windmill Village Hotel, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry, CV5 9AL Event Booking
Booking onto one of our free workshops is easy:
2 June 2011 Park Inn Hotel, Forgegate, Telford Centre, Telford, TF3 4NA
Business Link, Advantage House, 19 Ridgeway, Quinton Business Park, simply call 0845 113 1234*
16 June 2011
Quinton, Birmingham, B32 1AL or visit www.howtowithbl.co.uk
29 June 2011 Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester, WR3 8ZE *Lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday.
Calls are charged at local rate.
9

6. Take your online sales
to the next level
workshop
The internet is continually changing and no more so than in the area of
e-commerce. Social media platforms like Facebook, video and mobile
One Sour
devices are changing how goods and services are being sold online.
Registe ce
receive o r today and autom
ur m atic
FREE bus onthly enewslett ally
iness tips er
Is your business selling online? Would you like to learn how you and advic with
can attract even more visitors and increase sales using the latest e.
tools, including social media? Do you need to know how to get Event Suitability:
better conversions from using smart phones and tablets? Businesses trading 1 year +
If so, then this informative workshop is a must. Join us and learn Businesses that trade online and
how to take your e-commerce sales to the next level. want to grow their sales
Delivered by:
Find out how to:
Inspiring Presenter
Philip Oakley on behalf of
• Get the most from Google for your online business Business Link West Midlands
• Use Facebook and other social media sites to trade
online effectively Times:
• Understand the growing importance of video and YouTube
areas when selling online
Registration - 9.15am
Start - 9.30am
Philip Oakley,
• Take your e-commerce business further with a number
of free tools Close - 1pm Outserve Ltd.
• Optimise your website for mobile devices.
Over the last 12 years, Philip has specialised in all aspects of
e-commerce consultancy and now works with a number of businesses
to get the most from the internet. From working at BDO Stoy Hayward,
Dates & Venues Philip has taken his knowledge of accounting and coupled that with online
marketing, social media and web analytics to be able to give his clients
14 April 2011 Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way, Worcester, WR3 8ZE the best advice for selling online.
10 May 2011 Windmill Village Hotel, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry, CV5 9AL
18 May 2011 Moat House Hotel, Lower Penkridge Road, Acton Trussell, ST17 0RJ Event Booking
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Molineux Stadium, Waterloo Road, Booking onto one of our free workshops is easy:
8 June 2011
Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR
simply call 0845 113 1234*
or visit www.howtowithbl.co.uk
Menzies Strathallan Hotel, 225 Hagley Road (corner of Portland Road),
23 June 2011
Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 9RY
*Lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday.
Calls are charged at local rate.
11

7. JN. 11908
Business Link West Midlands
(West Midlands Brokerage Services Limited)
Advantage House,
19 Ridgeway,
Quinton Business Park,
Quinton,
Birmingham
B32 1AL
Telephone - 0845 113 1234*
email - info@businesslinkwm.co.uk
www.businesslinkwm.co.uk
*Lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday.
Calls are charged at local rate.
Company Number 5888908
© Business Link 2011
Text-only versions of this material can be provided on request in large print and Braille.
Please contact the Marketing Services Team on 0845 113 1234.