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A Spotlight On: Jo Ferriss, Events and Marketing Coordinator

A Spotlight On: Jo Ferriss, Events and Marketing Coordinator

This month we’re pleased to speak to Jo Ferriss, who is part of the Events and Marketing team. We ask Jo about her role here at the Growth Hub, what businesses can expect from attending one of our workshops and find out more about the exciting new events programme she’s been planning with colleague Sue.

What does your role involve and what’s a typical day like for you?
My role varies from day to day. One day I could be discussing new workshop ideas with trainers or researching venues across Norfolk and Suffolk. The next I could be on the road at 6 am heading to a workshop location to set up and get ready for our trainer and attendees. Other days I’m in the office taking care of general event and marketing administration and, of course, catching up with what’s been happening with the great team in the office.

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What’s the best thing about working at the Growth Hub?
The Growth Hub team are a varied and interesting group of people. The advisers are only in the office occasional so it’s always nice to see them and catch up on how we can help them with more leads. I am also lucky that I get to see a lot of the two beautiful counties we work in.

Can you tell us about an event you’ve been working on recently?
Recently Susie and I have been very busy planning and organising our new events programme, starting in September 2019.

What can businesses expect when they attend a Growth Hub workshop or seminar?
You receive a friendly and welcoming greeting on your arrival and then get to meet one of our Business Advisers who will speak about how the Growth Hub can help and support you and your business. They’ll tell you that we do so much more than grants! Our workshops and seminars aim to help SMEs run their business more successfully. We frequently have attendees who end up helping each other with ideas for their businesses.

What are some of the goals and focuses of the Growth Hub’s future events programme and what are you most looking forward to?
Recently there has been a slight change of focus with the workshops we’ll be organising. Our new focus is operational management of a growing business which will include HR and employment law, marketing and brand management, finance and business growth as well as management and leadership skills. I’m really looking forward to working with our regular trainers, as well as some new ones and helping businesses to grow and expand.

What have you found most interesting about working with businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk?
Working in Events and Marketing gives me the opportunity to meet lots of people from all kinds of businesses. I’ve also had the opportunity to get involved with some projects with the New Anglia LEP which has given me a better understanding of how our local LEP helps business and communities across Norfolk and Suffolk.

What’s the best piece of business or career advice you’ve been given that you’d like to pass on?
I’ve had a very varied career, from running corporate hospitality around UK air shows to working in war zones and refugee camps, as well as working in shipping, haulage, outside catering and hotels. I’m very happy to now be part of the team at the Growth Hub. Having all these different roles has made me realise that you don’t need to be focused in one direction in your career and it’s fine to follow your heart or the direction life takes you – just have an open mind. Along the way, you benefit and learn from the different experiences. My parents were self-employed and this taught me a great work ethic and to give any job my best effort. They also taught me that doing a good job can often take you away from your original agreed role, but if that’s what a company or organisation needs, you need to do your best to help towards their success and take on the task with a big smile!

If given a chance, what job would you like to do for a day?
I’d love to relive a day working in a refugee camp but with the experience and skills, I have now, instead of the 24/25 year old I was back then!

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