Previous events
Thursday 4 November 2021
“What motivates people and how can you use this knowledge to enhance your communication?”
Tamsin Regnes, MBTI® Certified Practitioner
Thursday 7 October 2021
“Flexible working – does it work for everyone?”
Matt Jenkin of Moorcrofts LLP
Thursday 2 September 2021
“Route to net Carbon Zero”
Richard Dormer, BCR Associates Ltd
Thursday 5 August 2021
“Carbon negative departure”
Grant Notman of Kept Assets Ltd
Thursday 1 July 2021
“Stress in the work place – addressing the challenges created by the pandemic”
Diksha Chakravarti of FixMe Ltd
Thursday 3 June 2021
“Pivoting a multi-million pound business in a pandemic”
Hugo Tilmouth of The Up Company
Thursday 6 May 2021
“Corporate Social Responsibility, ESG, SDG, what does it all mean for your business. How does CSR help your business increase turnover and profit?”
Owen Hughes of EWO Communications Ltd
Thursday 1 April 2021
“Digital Marketing & content workshop”
Craig Thatcher of Strawberry Finch
Thursday 4 March 2021
“The importance of online activity – LinkedIn update workshop”
Tony Silver of Solid Silver Solutions
Thursday 4 February 2021
“Berkshire Recovery & Renewal Plan” (launched on 3rd Feb)
Tim Page, Head of Economic Strategy & Research of Thames Valley Berkshire LEP Ltd
Thursday 7 January 2021
2021 catch up in break-out rooms
Thursday 3 December 2020
“Unlimited leave as part of a growth culture”
Derek Rodgers of Gardner Leader LLP
Thursday 5 November 2020
“Collaboration – Crowd sourcing new ideas to extend or enhance our market offering” workshop facilitated by Susan Elliott of the British Business Bank
Thursday 1 October 2020
Business Development Forum
Topics discussed were:-
1. “What will the new ‘normal’ office be like and how will businesses adapt?”
2. “People buy from people: how do we get to know and trust our prospects, customers, partners, suppliers if we never meet them face to face?”
3. “What will an entrepreneur look like in 2021? Who will take advantage of the new opportunities?
Thursday 6 August 2020
“Replacing risk with re-assurance – one brick at a time”
James Bishop, Simon Claxton and Ben Butler of Macbeth’s
Thursday 2 July 2020
“People v Human Remains: making every stage count in the people lifecycle within a business”
Julie Marsden of HR Solutions
Thursday 4 June 2020
“Really?! – Are you trying to frustrate me?”
Tamsin Regnes, MBTI Practioner
Thursday 7 May 2020
Online meeting discussing furloughing, government support schemes and what the world of business will look like post lockdown.
Thursday 2 April 2020
One to one meetings
Thursday 5 March 2020
“Six questions to ask your Head of Marketing”
Dan Holt of Boss Digital
Thursday 6 February 2020
“The emotion of performance”
Dr Lindsay Joyce of The People Project
Thursday 9 January 2020
“Five IP mistakes & how to avoid them”
Stephen Carter of The Intellectual Property Works
Thursday 5 December 2019
“Business as Unusual – securing your Brand’s future”
Craig Thatcher of Greenfisher
Thursday 7 November 2019
“Running a business is a Marathon and not a Sprint”
Richard Knight of Lionheart Management
Thursday 3 October 2019
Update on the work of the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP
Tim Smith, Chief Executive of the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP
Thursday 5 September 2019
“Making Better Decisions: examining our natural biases, patterns of thinking and short cuts, with strategies to offset them”
Jonathan Bowring of Riversight
Thursday 1 August 2019
“How to get your LinkedIn to work for you”
Tony Silver of Solid Silver Solutions
Thursday 4 July 2019
“Executive Search: what is it and how does it add real value to a business?”
Jonathan Ross of Ross Search Consulting Ltd
Thursday 6 June 2019
“The Only One”
James Nathan of The James Nathan Experience
Thursday 2 May 2019
“Failing to plan is planning to fail – the realities of planning & implementation in creating a successful business”
John Fairley of JFP Strategic Planning
Thursday 4 April 2019
“The importance of thinking Brand not bland…”
Phil Strachan of Strangebrew
Thursday 7 March 2019
A day in the life of this Solicitor
Jonathan Davis of Clifton Ingram LLP
Thursday 7 February 2019
“Are you ready to pursue more of your personal dreams? Tips on planning for a successful exit”
Jo Croft of The Alternative Board
Thursday 3 January 2019
“‘So here’s what I think…’ – a simple man’s ideas on running a business”
Steve Munden of Business Keys Ltd
Thursday 6 December 2018
“Energy – what does the future hold for us and can we afford it?”
Richard Dormer of BCR Associates
Thursday 1 November 2018
“Thriving communities drive business value”
Susan Elliott of VitalSix Ltd
Thursday 4 October 2018
“From start-up to Award-Winning….”
Judith Tinker of M-Four Promotions
Thursday 6 September 2018
“What are the tax challenges for consultants? Is the gig economy throwing up new tax challenges?”
Alan Ross, Tax Director, Wilson Partners Ltd
Thursday 2 August 2018
“Nutrition & employee performance – the link between eating well and employee performance”
Sarah Zorab of Sarah Zorab Nutrition
Thursday 5 July 2018
“Public speaking is easy – if only more audiences were interested in what we were saying….”
Peter Francis of On Your Feet Presentations Ltd
Thursday 7 June 2018
“CSR and how to use it to manage your reputation”
Owen Hughes of EWO Communications Ltd
Thursday 3 May 2018
Update on the work of the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP
Bill Hicks, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Thames Valley Berkshire LEP
Thursday 5 April 2018
“Avoid complacency – keep an eye on your business!”
Gary Fisher of GEFConsult Ltd
Thursday 1 March 2018
NO meeting – cancelled due to snow
Thursday 1 February 2018
“No plan survives contact with the enemy – a more adaptive approach to strategy management”
Sarah Wicks of New Road Consulting Ltd
Thursday 4 January 2018
“What’s the Big Deal with Data & Analytics?”
John Morton of CPM Ltd
Thursday 7 December 2017
“Myth Busting Employment Law”
Matt Jenkin of Moorcrofts LLP Solicitors
Thursday 2 November 2017
“The Internet of Things”
Charles Paumelle of Point.io
Thursday 5 October 2017
10th Birthday Business Forum Showcase Event
Thursday 7 September 2017
“Everyone has an App in them!”
Ross Wilson of Wilson Partners Ltd
Thursday 3 August 2017
“A spotlight on mental health & the workplace”
Alison Foster of Brighter Berkshire
Thursday 6 July 2017
“Data Protection doesn’t apply to me … does it?” GDPR – the impact of the new legislation on your business
Regina Lally of Databasix UK Ltd
Thursday 1 June 2017
“Are you listening to me?”
Jonathan Bowring of Riversight Ltd
Thursday 4 May 2017
“Royal Elm Park development at the Madejski Stadium”
John Stafford Mills of The Communications Group
Thursday 6 April 2017
“Six seats on the bus – who do you want to take?”
Christine Elgood of Elgood Effective Learning
Thursday 16 March 2017 – Business Forum Digital Transformation Group
“Disrupt or be Disrupted”
Andrew Grill, Global Managing Partner, IBM Social Consulting
Thursday 2 March 2017
“Bringing the Gigabit City to Reading, Wokingham & Bracknell”
Emma Salomon of BtL Communication & Nick Gray of Cityfibre
Thursday 2 February 2017
“Cyber-attacks – it couldn’t happen to me… could it?”
Peter Gaskin of Team Discovery Ltd
Thursday 5 January 2017
“Ever wondered what management style is ‘best’ for the CEO/MD of an organisation?”
Rod Willis of Assentire Ltd
Thursday 1 December 2016
“Complexity & how it’s buggering things up…”
Mark Foden of Foden Grealy
Tuesday 13 December 2016 – Christmas Lunch
Lt General Sir Robert Fulton KBE, CEO of the Global Leadership Foundation
Thursday 3 November 2016
“The Western Heathrow spur rail link”
Emma Harmsworth of Network Rail
Thursday 6 October 2016
“Broadband and the future in Berkshire”
Colin Batchelor of Superfast Broadband
Thursday 1 September 2016
“Continuous Branding”
Craig Thatcher of Greenfisher
Thursday 4 August 2016
“The rise of the subscription economy – Pants, Bacon & Innovation”
Mark Mars of Perceptive Flow
Thursday 7 July 2016
“Intellectual Property & Intangible Assets – recognising the hidden value in your company”
Pippa Tolfts of Coller IP
Thursday 2 June 2016
“In or Out of the EU? What are the impacts for your business?”
A panel drawn from both sides of the debate including John Redwood MP & Anneliese Dodds MEP
Thursday 5 May 2016
“Everybody loves a good story”
Abhi Arumbakkam of Lifesize Videos
Thursday 7 April 2016
“It’s not business as we know it!”
Chris Farrance of Chris Farrance Associates
Thursday 3 March 2016
“One year on – Thames Valley Berkshire LEP – from strategy to implementation”
Bill Hicks, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Thames Valley Berkshire LEP
Thursday 4 February 2016
“HR – Defenders of the Faith & Keepers of the Get of Jail Card (HR’s loyalty card!)”
Julie Marsden of HR Solutions Ltd
Thursday 7 January 2016
“Social Media hasn’t gone away!”
Ellie Selby of MAXX Design
Tuesday 15 December 2015
Christmas lunch
Dame Stephanie Shirley
Thursday 3 December 2015
“Coffee from across the world!”
Alex Cox of Raw Bean Coffee
Thursday 5 November 2015
“The Referral Revolution”
James Nathan of the James Nathan Experience
Thursday 1 October 2015
“Tapping into Telecommunications”
Emma Salomon of Between the Lines Communication Ltd
Thursday 3 September 2015
“Why zebras don’t get ulcers…”
Diksha Chakravarti of FIXme Ltd
Thursday 6 August 2015
Tributes to Stephen Green
no speaker
Thursday 3 July 2015
“Business support and funding for growth””
Tim King of The FSE Group
Thursday 4 June 2015
“What it’s like to be a CEO for four months!”
Malcolm Wicks of Three Step Consulting
Thursday 7 May 2015
“A Party Political broadcast on behalf of the Green Party!”
Stephen Green of Greenfisher
Thursday 2 April 2015
“What’s in a story?”
Mark Mars of Perceptive Flow
Thursday 5 March 2015
“Thames Valley Berkshire LEP – aims, objectives & projects”
Bill Hicks of the Thames Valley LEP
Thursday 5 February 2015
“A new idea without successful implementation is just an invention… making a successful business out of innovation”
Susan Elliott of VitalSix Ltd
Thursday 8 January 2015
“From good to great – the inside story on the value of putting clients at the heart of your business”
Beth Hughes of Making Change Stick & Derek Rodgers of Gardner Leader LLP
Thursday 16 December 2014
Christmas lunch
Thursday 4 December 2014
“What have the Romans ever done for us?”
Stephen Green of Greenfisher
Thursday 6 November 2014
“How mood makes Money!”
Mary Fenwick, Journalist & Business coach
Thursday 2 October 2014
“A topical European issue”
Richard Ashworth MEP
Thursday 4 September 2014
“HR is crap! – justifying HR’s existence to small businesses”
Julie Marsden of HR Solutions
Thursday 7 August 2014
“The Human Element of your organisation, group or team”
Rod Willis of Assentire Ltd
Thursday 3 July 2014
“Top tips for capital gains planning and profit extraction for the entrepreneur”
Helen Riley of Riley Tax Consulting Ltd
Thursday 5 June 2014
“Effective partnership: One plus One equals half a million”
Tuna Celik of Zaptext.com
Thursday 1 May 2014
“Cost Management – is your profit draining away?”
Geoff Dale & Tim Halfhead of Auditel
Thursday 3 April 2014
“What value is the Apprenticeship Scheme bringing to the development of businesses and young people?”
Cathy Jenkins & Alice Cole from MAXX Design, Karen Dodd of PDM Consultancy & Bill Dormer of Hale Hamilton Valves
Thursday 6 March 2014
“Digital killed the analogue star”
Stuart Thackray of Video Conference Services Ltd
Thursday 6 February 2014
“Some top tips for your business and personal finances in 2014”
Gary Hewitt of St James’s Place Wealth Management
Thursday 9 January 2014
“Tales from the Genetic Frontier”
Paul Denny of Gene Effects
Monday 16 December 2013
Christmas lunch
Mark Foster, Commissioner for the Independent Commission for Aid Impact
Thursday 5 December 2013
“Are you a ‘Super Trooper’ or a ‘Boiling Frog’?”
Chris Farrance of Frontier Coaching
Thursday 7 November 2013
“What business owners can learn from successful sports people”
Norman Jackson of JFP Strategic Planning
Thursday 3 October 2013
“The Preparation Principle”
Peter Francis of On Your Feet Presentations
Thursday 5 September 2013
“From fork to fork – is your business complying with the Waste Hierachy?”
Gwen Powell of Kompost
Thursday 1 August 2013
Networking – no speaker
Thursday 4 July 2013
“Help, my boss is a socks manic!”
Marc Reid of Mediation4
Thursday 6 June 2013
“Trends in Digital Marketing”
Mark Mars of Perceptive Flow
Thursday 2 May 2013
“Thank you seems to be the hardest word… (or two)”
Dave Pywell of Motivational Performance Ltd
Thursday 4 April 2013
“Why signs? Influence is what matters!”
Simon Butcher of Sign-A-Rama Thames Valley
Thursday 7 March 2013
“Technology – disrupting our Lives, Businesses and Countries”
Guy Whitcroft of Business Advisors & Services Ltd
Thursday 7 February 2013
“What can the aliens teach us about change?”
Beth Hughes of Making Change Stick
Thursday 3 January 2013
“Cut the baby in two!”
Jonathan Davis of Clifton Ingram LLP
Thursday 6 December 2012
“Will the English Baccalaureate better prepare young people for working life?”
Dr Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College
Thursday 1 November 2012
Meet the 4Ps – a focus on marketing & branding”
Stephen Green of Greenfisher
Thursday 4 October 2012
“I’m not crazy – I’m just not you!”
Liz Palmer of Summit Coaching & Consulting
Thursday 6 September 2012
“The future of Telemarketing as a Sales Tool”
Thomas Hughes of Connection2
Thursday 2 August 2012
“International Sales – giving birth to a baby elephant and managing the herd!”
Bill Dormer of Hale Hamilton
Thursday 5 July 2012
“Real Life CRM – what I learnt from Kylie Minogue and a Boys Night Out!”
Mark Hardman of Zaptext.com
Thursday 7 June 2012
“What customers really care about!”
Malcolm Wicks of Simple Plans
Thursday 3 May 2012
“The Bribery Act – how to avoid an orange jumpsuit!”
Mark Blunden of Boyes Turner
Thursday 5 April 2012
“How we communicate – learn the differences that make the difference”
Elvira Vilarini of E-Motion NLP
Thursday 1 March 2012
“Why entrepreneurs and finance don’t mix!”
Catherine Wilson of the FD Group
Thursday 2 February 2012
“Mobile technology – changing the way you work and play”
Guy Whitcroft of Marmalade
Thursday 5 January 2012
“Preparing for successful interviews”
Jane Marshall of Imperial College
Thursday 1 December 2011
“Writing effective proposals”
Ken Newland of Newland Training & Consultancy
Thursday 3 November 2011
“The answer lies in the question….”
Stephen Green of Greenfisher
Thursday 6 October 2011
“LinkedIn is much more than an online CV – is your business making the most of it?”
Jon Davey of Social Media Director
Thursday 1 September 2011
“Ten tips for protecting your business from ex-employees”
Matt Jenkin of Morgan Cole
Thursday 4 August 2011
“The buyer/seller dance – how prospects control the sale
Ian Blackshire of Sandler Training
Thursday 7 July 2011
“What are your Intangibles and are they safe? – pinpointing the value in your business”
Dr Anna Denholm of Coller IP Management
Thursday 2 June 2011
“Motivation – what is it and why is it important for business?”
Dave Pywell of Motivational Performance Ltd
Thursday 5 May 2011
“Gone with the Wind – where did cheap energy go?”
Richard Dormer of BCR Associates Ltd
Thursday 7 April 2011
“From job vacancy to contract employment: navigating the minefield”
Julie Marsden of HR Solutions (JM) Ltd
Thursday 3 March 2011
“Innovation driven growth – which innovation might enable new capabilities for your business?”
Iain Taylor of HP
Thursday 3 February 2011
“Six steps on how to give constructive feedback”
Eleanor Yearwood of Key Talent Partners
Thursday 6 January 2011
“Business Vision – why working backwards gets you there faster”
Beth Hughes of Making Change Stick
Thursday 2 December 2010
“From Job Vacancy to Contract of Employment: Navigating the minefield
Julie Marsden of HR Solutions (JM) Ltd
Thursday 4 November 2010
“Is your relationship with HMRC a taxing one?”
Tony Butcher of Tony Butcher Tax
Thursday 7 October 2010
“Sales – is it different for small businesses?”
John Bycroft of Aorta Sales
Thursday 2 September 2010
“How valuable is your reputation top your business?”
Sue Viney of Viney Communications
Thursday 1 July 2010
“Putting the R into CRM”
Mark Hardman of Zaptext
Thursday 3 June 2010
“Why social media really works for business”
Naheed Hanif of Business Tendrils
Thursday 6 May 2010
“Using numbers to double the value of your business”
Trevor Wilson of the FD Group
Thursday 1 April 2010
“Conflict – what’s our ‘default behaviour pattern’ when handling conflict?”
Eleanor Yearwood of Key Talent Partners
Thursday 4 March 2010
“Are you realising the value from your Intellectual Capital?”
Jackie Maguire of Coller IP Management
Thursday 4 February 2010
“Would you like your presentation to achieve maximum impact? Learn the secret of the ‘Preparation’ principle”
Peter Francis of On Your Feet Presentations