Yesterday saw the successful launch of our brand new Flying Start Business Network, a new initiative led by our Business & Accredited Training Centre team which seeks to enable businesspeople and social entrepreneurs from across Lancashire to come together to share knowledge, have peer support opportunities and build your networks.
Over thirty attendees from businesses and social enterprises from across Lancashire were in attendance at the event, chaired by Leah and supported by Selnet and Boost, which featured four terrific guest speakers: –
Mike Kenny is the Associate Director of Innovation and Industry Partnerships at Health Innovation North West Coast within the NHS. Mike supports NHS bodies to adopt innovative solutions to improve health and care, including in medical technology and digital.
Alistair Clarke MBE is a Boost business advisor and entrepreneur, who serves as a director of five companies including four social enterprises, building upon a twenty year career in radio broadcasting across the North West.
Emma Bolton has twenty years experience working in Human Resources across the public and private sector and currently operates BoltonHR, providing HR solutions to SMEs.
Glen Duckett of Growing Resilience CIC is a social entrepreneur and regeneration specialist who has a strong track record of developing and managing a wide range of partnership programmes. Glen was instrumental in facilitating our recent restructure as an organisation, having been the facilitator at a two-day consultation with our staff and volunteers in November 2022.
The event also featured a Business Card Raffle, with delegates invited to enter simply by putting their business card into The Box (superbly decorated with dinosaurs!) for a chance to win one of a number of great prizes (Ammara wasn’t one of them – we’re keeping Ammara!). Congratulations to Glen who was yesterday’s lucky winner.
Plus, as an added bonus – if we may – that’s quite the enviable looking business brunch!
It was so positive to see so many people making use of the networking opportunity afforded by this event. We’re keen to have as many people as possible taking advantage of this opportunity so, please, do share this with colleagues to let them know.
The next Flying Start Business Network is scheduled to take place on Thursday 7th November from 9.30am to 12 noon at the Boulevard Centre. We would love to see you there.
