Featured Exhibitors
Our Seminars & Workshops
Click on the workshop title for more details,
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Financial Wellbeing for Employees
Sam Tate & Marie Ranson
A joint presentation by award winning firms New World Financial Group and Key Wellbeing explaining how employers can make steps towards improving the financial wellbeing of their employees.
Presented by Sam Tate, Co-founder and Director of New World, and Marie Ranson, Commercial Director at Key Wellbeing.
Marketing, It's all about You!
Leeanne Coatman
In this session Leeanne will talk you through the smart way of planning a media strategy and how to implement it for the best results
Leeanne is an experience account manager for the Global Media group
Disaster Recovery in a Digital World
James Hay
Thinking about the ‘what if’s’ in business is not often a priority, but do you have the plans in place to keep your business working if the worst happened? James Hay, Technical Product Manager at Odyssey will give useful insight on how to protect your business.
James is Technical Product Manager at Odyssey Systems. He joined Odyssey in 2011 and has progressed within the team from Technical support, to Network Infrastructure Engineer to now managing the team. James leads a team of engineers who are certified to the latest industry standards and was pivotal in the partnership between Odyssey and Microsoft.
James has a passion for innovation and in his day-to-day role he is always looking for new products and services to deliver the very best customer experience.
Click with Caution – Cyber Threats Uncovered
Kelly Close
Cybercrime is on the rise, in the past 5 years approx. £43 Billion has been lost to cybercrime and small to medium-sized businesses are prime targets. This engaging and interactive session will uncover the most common cyber threats facing businesses today, from phishing scams to ransomware attacks. Through real-world examples, hands-on activities, and live demonstrations, attendees will learn how cybercriminals operate and what practical steps they can take to protect their business.
Key Takeaways:
Identify the biggest cyber risks affecting SMEs and how they work
Learn simple, often free ways to strengthen your cybersecurity defences
Discover free resources and support available to help secure your business
This session is ideal for business owners, managers, and employees who want to boost their cyber awareness without the technical jargon. No matter the size of your business, your biggest defence is your human firewall.
Kelly Close is a Cyber Protect & Prepare Officer with Cleveland Police, where she has been helping businesses and charities stay cyber-safe for over three years. Her role focuses on providing free cybersecurity support and training, equipping organizations with the knowledge and tools to prevent cybercrime before it happens.
For micro and small businesses, a cyber-attack can be devastating, with an average cost of £1,205—and that’s before factoring in ransoms, hardware replacements, or reputational damage. Sadly, many small businesses struggle to recover from such incidents.
By working proactively to prevent cybercrime, Kelly helps businesses across the North East stay secure, resilient, and thriving in an increasingly digital world.
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The Science and Fiction of Business Ownership
Jase Smith
The co-authors of the international award-winning research 'The Deterioration of Self-worth in Entrepreneurs' will talk about the myths, fads and fairytales of business ownership and the findings from their research on how business ownership is an extreme occupation that can impact your health and wellbeing. They will also share some practical advice on how to ensure you and your business can co-exist together in harmony given the many demands placed on you the business owner.
Jase spent over 35 years in the military and has over 20 years’ experience of designing and delivering training in leadership, management, mental health, wellbeing and resilience.
After resigning from the Army to support organisations during the COVID pandemic he established and grew a successful training and consultancy business focused on improving psychological health and safety.
He has spent the last 10 years’ delivering mental health related training to managers and employees in the workplace across many different industry sectors worldwide. This has included large government departments, prisons, the third sector, NHS trusts, schools, the construction, automotive and rail industries as well as private enterprises.
Jase is driven to promote a mentally healthy workplace culture for everyone and his experience as a leader allows him to deliver training whilst fully understanding the challenges leaders and managers face in changing workplace culture.
Combining his knowledge of mental health, wellbeing and leadership with his entrepreneurial spirit he brings a huge amount of broad experience to the Mind Your Business team.
People love to buy, but hate to be sold to
James Dawson
In this seminar James will share with you -
how to leverage the psychology of buyers to optimise your sales approach.
The challenges facing sellers in 2025
Why is communication so hard for sellers?
What can you do about it right now?
Structure vs authenticity - what's more important
James works with businesses to ensure they have optimised sales processes, systems and people / skills to match their situation and goals.
- Coaching and training
- Strategy and planning
- CRM implementation and improvements
- Sales process mapping and improvements
- Go-to-market consultation
- Goal setting, performance management and incentivisation
Essentially if you're looking for external insights into your sales and sales leadership challenges I am here to help you succeed. I work with businesses to ensure they have optimised sales processes, systems and people / skills to match their situation and goals. - Coaching and training - Strategy and planning - CRM implementation and improvements - Sales process mapping and improvements - Go-to-market consultation - Goal setting, performance management and incentivisation Essentially if you're looking for external insights into your sales and sales leadership challenges I am here to help you succeed.
Stand up and Be Counted
NE Chamber of Commerce
Join us for a networking session hosted by the Chamber of Commerce
Super charge your Sales
Jess Williams
Business Leader, Founder and CEO, NED and Champion for Business as a Force for Good.
Just Williams offer sales solutions and sales and marketing solutions over 12 month terms to help you increase your brand profile, manage your sales process and facilitate key introductions into your ideal markets. We are help you launch and manage your CRM, Social Media, Newsletters, Case Studies, Membership profile and use our wide range of associates and networks to get you in front of key decision makers.
In 2019 we launched the Just Williams Sales Academy as a sub brand of Just Williams. In 2021 The Just Williams Sales Academy was officially launched as an online Sales Training Academy, endorsed by the Institute of Sales Professionals. We aim to train over 50,000 learners in the next five years on a national and international basis. https://justwilliamssales.academy/
In 2019 I was appointed as a NED to Darlington Building Society in 2019 as the youngest ever Non-Executive Director to serve on a Building Society board. Sitting on BRCC for 2 years and then Audit and RemCo Committees. I am proud to have served our regional Building Society and its members. My specialisms lie in sales, marketing, Member Engagement, ESG and business diversification.
I have held a number of board positions from a young age including launching and chairing the ISM and Young Enterprise in the North East, raising over £25,000 in the last 6 years. I now mentor young women, entrepreneurs and start-ups. Since completing my MBA I have been invited to join Teesside University Business School Innovation Board and represent the small business community on the Tees Valley Combined Authority Business Engagement Board. I have also recently been appointed as an Investment Panel Board Member to Advance Northumberland’s Growth Fund and am an Ambassador for The Girls Network and IWD.
Master SEO for Growth: Essential Tips for SME Success
Jonny Saunders
Unlock the potential of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to drive growth for your small or medium-sized enterprise. This seminar is tailored to provide SMEs with a clear understanding of how search engines work and why SEO is essential for online success. Gain actionable insights into conducting effective keyword research, mastering on page SEO techniques and creating high quality content that ranks. With practical guidance and proven strategies, you'll leave equipped to optimise your website, attract more traffic and elevate your online presence.
Key Takeaways:
• Learn the core principles of how search engines rank content.
• Discover tools and techniques for effective keyword research.
• Master on page SEO essentials, from meta tags to internal linking.
• Understand the role of quality content in building authority.
• Develop a roadmap for boosting traffic and conversions.
Jonathan Saunders is a highly experienced digital marketing expert, specialising in SEO, public relations, and social media marketing. As the Head of SEO at Colewood Digital in Stockton-on-Tees, Jonathan has consistently delivered exceptional results for both national and international clients. Known for his strategic thinking and innovative campaigns, Jonathan excels in enhancing brand visibility and driving conversions. With his expertise in crafting data-driven strategies and leveraging the latest digital tools, Jonathan is passionate about empowering businesses to achieve measurable and sustainable success online.
From Employee to Entrepreneur
Nicole Collins
From employee to entrepreneur in a year. In this seminar Nicole will talk about the highs and lows of moving to an area in her career where no one knew who she was and had no safety net. How she overcame challenges and adversity and powered through to build a thriving practice.
Today, she stands with a business that has helped over 100 entrepreneurs find financial success and has even been shortlisted as an inspiring female finalist.
Nicole Collins set up Reign Accounting in 2022 with a determined and energetic team. No one goes into business to stress over finances, fiddle around with HMRC forms. You started your business to do what you love, and what you do best. If you are self-employed, have a small/medium sized business, a partnership or a large, limited company, or just need advice on any of these, Nicole is there to free up your time to drive your income stream forward… because time equals money.
How to utilise AI in the Workplace
Paul Drake
This seminar aims to empower professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily work environments. It will provide actionable insights into how AI can drive efficiency, improve decision-making, and foster innovation across various industries.
Paul Drake serves as the Commercial Director at Sapere Software, where he plays a pivotal role in driving business growth and fostering strong client relationships. With a proven track record in strategic planning and commercial operations, Paul oversees key functions, including business development, market strategy, and partnership management.
Paul is passionate about innovation, collaboration, and delivering value-driven solutions that empower businesses to achieve their goals. In his role, he combines deep industry knowledge with a customer-centric approach to position Sapere Software as a trusted partner for organisations seeking tailored software and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.