More than just booking rooms: Life as a New Anglia Growth Hub Events Business Adviser
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By Jo Barnard, New Anglia Growth Hub
When people ask what I do as an Events Business Adviser for the Growth Hub, I often get a puzzled look. ‘So, you organise events?’ they ask. Well, yes, but that’s only part of the story.
My role is all about helping businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk access the support, knowledge and connections they need to grow. One of the main ways we do this is, is through our programme of free business workshops, designed to tackle the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses today.
A Workshop for Every Stage of Business Growth
No two businesses are the same, which means no two workshops are ever quite the same either.
Throughout the year, I organise workshops covering a wide range of topics. These might include digital marketing, social media, LinkedIn, sales, recruitment, AI, productivity, leadership, cyber security and much more. The aim is always the same: to provide practical advice that business owners can put into action straight away.
Whether it’s a sole trader looking to increase their sales or an established business wanting to embrace new technology, we want our workshops to offer something valuable for everyone.
From Norwich to Ipswich and Everywhere In Between
One of the best things about my role is that it takes me all over Norfolk and Suffolk. You might find me hosting a workshop in Norwich one week, helping to coordinate an event in West Norfolk the next, or working with partners in Suffolk to deliver support to businesses across the region. The variety is fantastic. Every town, every venue and every audience brings something different to the table. And yes, after years of organising events, I can confidently say I’ve become very good at finding extension leads and locating the elusive venue Wi-Fi password!
What Happens Behind the Scenes?
While attendees see the finished event, there is quite a lot that happens before the first delegate arrives.
A typical workshop involves sourcing expert speakers, booking venues, promoting the event, managing registrations, liaising with attendees and making sure everything runs smoothly on the day. Sometimes it means rearranging furniture. Occasionally, it means trying to persuade technology to cooperate.
Business owners often tell me how effortless an event feels when they attend. I’ll take that as a compliment.
Why Workshops Matter
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is hearing how businesses have benefited from attending a workshop. Perhaps they’ve discovered a new way to market their business, made valuable contacts, improved their recruitment process or gained the confidence to try something new. Sometimes a single idea shared during a workshop can have a significant impact on a business’s future. That’s why we focus on delivering sessions that are practical, relevant and led by people who understand the realities of running a business.
More Than Just Events
The workshops are just one part of the support available through the New Anglia Growth Hub. Behind every event is a wider network of advisers and specialists who are passionate about helping businesses succeed. My role allows me to bring people together, introduce businesses to new ideas and help them access support they may not have known existed. That’s something I’m incredibly proud to be part of.
The Best Part of the Job?
Without question, it’s the people.
Every workshop introduces me to ambitious entrepreneurs, passionate business owners and inspiring individuals who are working hard to grow their organisations. Their energy and determination are what make the job so enjoyable. Of course, there are occasional challenges. Speakers get stuck in traffic, projectors develop a mind of their own and there is always someone who arrives just as the refreshments disappear. But that’s all part of the fun.
At the end of the day, if a business leaves one of our workshops feeling more informed, more confident and better equipped to grow, then we’ve done our job.
And that’s what makes every early start, venue visit and last-minute logistical challenge worthwhile.
Interested in attending one of our upcoming workshops? Find out what we have planned and sign up. We’d love to see you there.
If you are a micro or small business that is looking to grow, we offer one-to-one advice and coaching, get in touch if you need business support.
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Lesley van Dijk