Networking Events Evolve!

New event series launched: 'Breakfast at Caffe Carluccio's'

The GWE Business West Events team, led by events programme manager, Amanda Davey, manage a full cross-regional programme of varied events designed for business.

The team are in the process of evolving the events programme to reflect the current economy, changing markets and customer expectations. Event attendance prices have been reduced across the programme, where possible, and the team have also introduced a number of exciting new networking opportunities into the calendar.

GWE Business West Events remain one of the top reasons why members join our Chambers of Commerce network and provide a dynamic range of business to business networking opportunities to the business community across the region. In fact, event bookings show an 8% increase during the period Nov – May 08/09, as compared with the previous period for 07/08, despite the current economic climate, with the events team managing an astounding 4265 delegate bookings in the last 7 months.  

The economy has simply challenged the team to adapt our networking opportunities and formats to match evolving markets and to suit business needs.

New events in the programme include ‘Breakfast at Caffe Carluccio’s’, a new monthly breakfast series open to all businesses for just £8.69 + VAT, which offers a fresh format where delegates can present on their business for two minutes. The first event took place yesterday, already generating positive feedback from members.

Emi Carmichael, account director at SiteClick Ltd told us. ‘Yesterday’s Speed Networking and today’s Carluccio’s Breakfast were by far the best day-time events I’ve attended! Networking is about business, and the bottom line is that I met many like-minded, positive decision makers this morning.  I’m confident that I’ll be meeting, recommending and doing business with some of the people I met at Carluccio’s today. I would personally recommend this event to any business that is looking to network and raise their profile in Bristol – I’m just off to book my place at the next event as I’m sure it will sell out soon!’ 

Another member, Alastair Sawday, chairman of the Alastair Sawday Publishing Company Ltd says. ‘I hugely enjoyed my breakfast at Carluccio’s, the breakfast was delicious, service excellent and generous, and the format of giving us all 2 minutes to say our piece was stimulating as well as entertaining. In fact, where else can you listen to a dozen people briefly and efficiently telling you about their commitment and passion for their work? I learned a lot, was provoked into generating some powerful ideas, and made some contacts that I will certainly follow up. Two hours well spent!’

A further opportunity is a new regular event format designed as part of our Women’s Networking series, ‘Just a Minute!’ Dedicated to women in business, delegates wishing to present for three minutes can place their business card in a hat on arrival at the event to be drawn at random when the event is opened.

To view our full programme of events visit http://www.gwebusinesswest.co.uk/