A View from Boost - MAY

OHHHHH dear, yet again im late at getting this out on time, maybe mid month is the new start of month!!!

So this will be the usual, slightly rambly, chatty relook at the month just gone! The reality is it will take you 5 mins to read - I hope you enjoy it and maybe even find it useful/intersting.

Love local expo: the usual masterclass from Rachel, a wonderful atmosphere and plenty of #GrowthConversations. As with all good networking events, you get what you put into it!!!Touched base with so many people, reacquainted myself with others and consolidated with even more, plus I got to be on the radio, thanks Gilly!

https://lovelocalnetworking.co.uk/wordpress/

https://lovelocalexpo.co.uk/wordpress/

Boost and Co: Robert Clark, BrightRed, A lapsed Boost and Co partner, but no malice suggested. We, and particularly me to nudge these relationships sometimes as it's too easy to get caught up in the day to day. Genuinely engaging conversations and I'm looking forward to re-stimulating these conversations. If you're a Boost and Co partner and we have also lapsed, let's grab that coffee

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

Ed tech Conference: and launch of their new strategy (BEIS and DfE, London). My hand shoots up at any opportunity to eulogise and promote the great work that growth hubs do, and more especially to help affect and inform good practice. Obviously I think we have a great model here in Lancashire, with the simple call to action of starting the #GrowthConversation.

In London there were about 200 Tech Ed businesses, all growth determined and passionate (I checked, sadly only one from Lancashire, HELLO Paul from Ultimaker!) Disappointingly when asked how many knew their local growth hub, the hands in the room could be counted in single figures. We have a lot to do to reach those businesses that are simply cracking on and excelling, maybe you can be part of this conversation, if so, let's…… grab a coffee and explore the art of the possible.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/edtech-strategy-marks-new-era-for-schools

Donna Taylor Blackpool: Shout out to Donna, great to catch up and a shining example of working together on a shared agenda of making sure that businesses get the best support possible irrespective of single programme needs/requirements.

Let's look at being everyone else's biggest fan and being less precious around individual requirements to capture our support. Instead work on the collective efforts to maximise amazing support from those best placed to deliver. 

We all do brilliant things, sometimes our brilliant activity is not always perfect for a particular business at a single point in time, so let's pass this businesses to the right support, keep the relationship fresh and pick up with that business when the time is PERFECT for our activity. I think LANCASHIRE business expect this of us in the public sector. We are all accountable as to why we are working with a business, and why our support is the best activity to make the growth potential  a reality, if this is not clear, maybe someone else should be working with  the business before we get involved?

Don’t chase outputs/outcomes, work only on the business need and delight the business with your connectivity and ability to help them find the right solution – they will remember you for this long after any single support intervention has ended! #GrowingLancashire

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/boost-and-co/blackpool-council/

Cotton court pitching: three amazing start-ups, one amazing prize and a judging panel that would make even the most confident business slightly apprehensive! (HELLO, Michael Finnigan, Paul Woodburn, Heather Waters, Dharma Kovvuri, Steph Harding, Alistaire Jama, Rob Binns and Amy Blundell).  Everyone was a winner and we genuinely considered letting them all win, but there had to be a winner and we picked one… congrats Craig Wilson from Blox Mobile Storage and we all look forward to watching you excel – there's no drought of amazing talent in the north. Well done to Rob and the cotton court team.

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/boost-and-co/cotton-court/

https://www.cottoncourt.co.uk/2019/06/03/start-up-competition-winner/

NWEEG conference and awards: If you have not met Steve Smith, you really should! Such a passionate and committed advocate for GREAT employee engagement. The awards and conference really help shine a light on great practice and it grows year on year. It's so easy to simply assert that our staff are the business's greatest asset, the real test is how we live and breathe life into this mantra – NWEEG helps bring it to life and give life to this agenda.

https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/boost-and-co/north-west-employee-engagement-group/

IoT Horizon  Deyrick Allen: I meet nice people all the time, and far too many to mention, but Deyrick is one of those really nice people. It's all about the IOT, the use of sensors, big data, small data, small changes big impact, smart tech but useful tech. He's also a start-up who had a really positive experience and wants others to benefit and is keen to help. Thank you for taking the time out to talk with me. https://www.iothorizon.com/

Podcast recommendation: Recently become a bit of fan boy of Lawrence Jones (UK Fast) but his podcast is simply brilliant (I have told him, slight man crush!).  I honestly think that most businesses would benefit from jumping into his podcasts (there are quite a lot) from time to time, good honest reflective thinking with a dose of humour and humility. Being in business is not easy, but usually the answer and support is out there, ask for help, ask your networks, your friends, your trusted colleagues, and if you are still unsure, grab hold of a new friend and call Boost and start your #GrowthConversation today, we WONT make your business work, but we might know someone who could help or be helpful (and we really want to help, I mean really really want to help)

https://www.lawrencejones.co.uk/podcasts/

Ok, this is just a stream of consciousness, better or worse than my normal ramblings but from the heart!!!

Thank you to everyone I meet day in day out – the pleasure is ALWAYS mine.

Be amazing