Hello April

?? Happy April everyone! ?? I hope you all had a fantastic Easter and managed to avoid overindulging too much on chocolate. Personally, I enjoyed some lovely family time.

One of the things I adore about April and the onset of spring is the sense of new beginnings. ?? With daffodils blooming, my garden adorned with dandelions (much to the delight of my son's guinea pigs!), and apple and plum trees blossoming, it feels like a time of rejuvenation. This sentiment extends to my business endeavours as well. With the warmer weather, networking events are on the rise, and I've already registered for some delightful outdoor gatherings over the next few months. Fingers crossed the weather stays dry for these!

?? Reflecting on March

March was undeniably eventful. I engaged in various networking activities and garnered fantastic media coverage following my SBS Small Business Sunday win. Many thanks to Olly Attfield-Tomes for featuring me on the UK News Group website. Additionally, I was thrilled to find myself on the front page of the Rutland & Stamford Mercury with an editorial inside (appreciated one of my friends for bringing it to my attention on Facebook and acknowledging its front-page status for a good reason!). I was also featured in our local magazine @Discovering Bourne, thank you Claire Saberton your coverage is greatly appreciated! The feedback I've received has been wonderful, and it's heartening to see individuals I've collaborated with in the past reaching out to congratulate me and reconnect. I already have several coffee meetings lined up, and I'm looking forward to catching up with them. A big thank you also to Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce for the mention on the news page! ??

Regrettably, due to workload constraints, I couldn't attend the networking event at HMP Sea Fen, but I heard it was incredibly informative. In early March, I attended the Bourne in Business event and was treated to a highly informative talk by Scott Allen of Green Trumpet, discussing "Brand Hacks: How to Turbocharge your Business." It was fantastic to see such a great turnout and connect with fellow local business owners. Later in the month, I had the pleasure of attending the Rutland Business Network at Rutland Hall Hotel & Spa As always, it was a fantastic event organized by Molly Tomlin Paul Green and the Rutland Chamber of Commerce . I found Lesley Hughes talk on Telesales particularly insightful, offering a fresh perspective from the sales side, especially since I've previously been the gatekeeper for my directors.

?? Looking ahead to April:

Tomorrow is the April Bourne in Business networking event and I'm excited about Flick Hamnett-Day talk on social media and its role in business growth. I always look forward to meeting up with fellow local business owners at this event.

I'm eagerly anticipating the Louth Chamber Network event on 18th April at Kenwick Park Resort. The venue looks absolutely stunning, set in 320 acres, so fingers crossed the April showers will hold off for that day!

On 24th April, I'll be attending the SMExpo at London Excel once again. Last year, Deborah Meaden was among the main speakers, and this year, the lineup on the day that I am attending includes Rochelle Humes, Tim Martin, and Maxine and Darcy Laceby. I'm particularly looking forward to hearing Maxine Laceby again, as she was also a panellist at the SBS Small Business Sunday show back in February.

My final scheduled event of the month (for now!) is the Rutland Business Network, where Tony Brooks will be speaking on "Leadership, TED Talks, and Writing Business Books." It promises to be enlightening and engaging.

I hope everyone has a fantastic April filled with growth and opportunities, both personally and professionally. Here's to a successful April ahead! ??