Boost Bulletin

Boost blog August/September (double bubble)

Ok the ever so slightly late even when you take into account that I purposely skipped August, best laid plans n 'all that!!! So once again I will try and skip through some of the highlights of August/September with an optimistic hope that the next blog will be timely (it probably won't, but maybe that is it's natural rhythm!!! (This would definitely be called out by my brothers who would suggest that I am "Fosing" (full of shit, talking out of my ar**) Enjoy the read, if you have got this far…

Lancashire Business View Round table, leadership: I LOVE doing these, they are always inspiring, stimulating and full of passion. I WANT to do more (and have some ideas for doing some unrecorded) and the absolutely best bit of this one was the end when we all shared a couple of our Lancashire leadership role models (this was not used in the article, but so powerful, imagine if you were one of those people – I want to find new ways to celebrate awesome and inspiring people, Richard hope you still have your thinking cap on for how we use this!!!

 https://www.lancashirebusinessview.co.uk/latest-news-and-features/leading-from-the-front

Blue wren – one of our Boost and Co. partners, Michael is always good value and I love catching up with him, always honest, but always positive and proactive. Was delighted to hear of his positive experience of the support offered through EdgeHill, and how this helped in the creation of a new product (plus I also managed to squeeze out a blog piece for Boost on process improvement!!!) Thank you.

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/inspiration/eight-steps-to-process-improvement-for-a-growing-business/

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/support/productivity-innovation-centre/

Moore and Smalley and Napthens: more boost and co(ers) – just one of those meetings where is all clicks and suddenly everything makes sense – ok I'm slightly gilding the lily but it's always refreshing to see that we can all share, work and collaborate and still remain distinct – there's room for everyone and  when we pull and share resources we all benefit – thank you Stephen, Chris and Judith (plus Amin)

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/boost-and-co/moore-and-smalley/

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/boost-and-co/napthens/

Oyster festival, I will just leave this there, thank you so much to Phil Griffiths for the invite, I had a blast, it was one of the remaining events in Lancashire that I had not witnessed, WOW lots of people/businesses: here's the obligatory oyster shot!

https://twitter.com/AndrewLeeming/status/1170310596333584394/video/1

Trading standards, sometimes it's worth looking closer to home, Chris Wilkinson sought me out as he was new the County but wanted to better understand how we can collaborate and work together particularly as we are both "interested in business" – coming from a different environment, there's always good practice to share and develop and I'm looking forward to see how we seep this into the Boost #GrowthConversations, there is a wealth of info available – welcome to #Lancashire Chris

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/

Sub 36 judging, as I write this (LATE) I was able to witness the delight on each winners face when the final pronouncements were made, if you are reading this but were unsuccessful don’t be too downhearted, it's never easy to pick the winners and the decision is always subjective however much we attempt to bring in some boundaries and rules. What I will say is that it is always a privilege to read and hear the stories of how people are always striving to be and do better, and let's not forget we all need positive strokes every now and then, and this is just ONE way we can do this. Congrats to everyone nominated – I can honestly say that there were almost fights as to who was even on the long list!

https://www.sub36.co.uk/event/finalists

Bibas, yes more awards, this is the annual Chambers celebration and it is always a spectacle, I seem to recall Jason Donavon popping onto the stage, but of course the real stars are as always the businesses themselves. It was particularly nice to see the VERY fabulous Ann Jordan (Dean) receive the Lancastrian of the year accolade, I think Ann was genuinely shocked, which just makes it all the more sweet. Keep up the great work Babs

https://www.thebibas.co.uk/news/the-bibas-2019-its-a-wrap

Sunshine! Preston docks, the desire to keep doing my steps (10000 every day, no excuses), two fabulous people (Sunny and James) and just a good old fashioned catch-up! Sometimes I can see people but not really talk to them, so we made a date and decided to simply walk and talk. Anyone who knows these guys will know that their enthusiasm is infectious, but their sound thinking and business know how is (wise thinking) is compelling - there's a reason they keep winning awards! But I'm also looking forward to seeing how their new venture takes off – there is absolutely a #GrowthConversation and the obligatory blog request pending!!!

https://www.sunshineevents.co.uk/

https://funatwork.co.uk/

Shout out to Maria and Ian, we finally caught up, they have so much going on and are so committed to collaborating and supporting - just a public thank you, I love seeing you expanding into our neighbouring sub regions and absolutely smashing it! Keep up the great work and thank you for being a Boost and co(er) - #GrowingLancashire

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/boost-and-co/shout-network-limited/

Amazing mentor. It's impossible (it's definitely not) to see and say thank you to each and every one of our fabulous mentors but whenever I get the chance I will always make time. Meeting with Amin Kamaluddin was a breath of fresh air and his enthusiasm and passion was tangible, he was full of stories about how the mentoring was going and as importantly what he was also getting from it! I have never doubted the power of the mentoring relationship – we need to share more stories, I know we are working on one of Amin's as I type, but in the meantime:

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/case-studies/turnover-is-brimming-for-craft-gin-business-after-mentoring/

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/inspiration/boosting-lancashire-helping-business-leaders-to-give-back/

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/support/growth-mentoring/

Eva's, this is always penned into my diary well in advance of the actual event, it's just a shameless celebration of amazing female entrepreneurship and I love it. Coral works tirelessly and I am delighted that we are collaborating and helping share good practice. A simple thank you Coral and your team for the enthusiasm and commitment you put behind everything you do in Lancashire (and beyond).

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/boost-and-co/pink-link-ladies/

https://www.enterprisevisionawards.co.uk/

Finally (sort of) a huge welcome to Angela Kershaw, who has started with our team as the key account manager for foreign owned companies. We are very lucky have you join us. If you know of any foreign owned businesses in Lancashire I'm VERY sure Angela would love to hear from you/them. Details here:

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/support/foreign-owned-company-support/

So if you got this far (wow) thank you for persevering, I guess it is like a two month catch-up, the feedback has suggested the links are useful, always happy to try and improve, but I really do like this reflection time, I've been typing this out with a smile on my face.

 So Podcast recommendation

 Ways to change the world by Krishnan Guru-Murthy:

https://www.channel4.com/news/ways-to-change-the-world

Lastly I cannot have this totally EU Exit free so please check out the Boost Brexit hub and check you are as prepared for this as you can be, there is an abundance of support and resource available:

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/brexit-hub/

I'm also still enjoying this EU exit podcast: https://home.kpmg/uk/en/home/insights/2019/01/kpmg-brexit-podcast.html

Keep on being amazing and as ever if Boost can help or you can help Boost, get in touch

Andrew