The Norfolk Chamber and enterprise GY are launching a brand new free-to-attend event to help businesses to gain the skills they need to successfully pitch for new business, and at the same time practice what they have learned.
Called ‘Pitching for Business’, the free to attend half-day morning event will be held during Global Entrepreneurship Week, on 14 November at the Novus Enterprise Centre, Great Yarmouth. It combines a series of informative workshops, networking opportunities with key Norfolk buyers, and a business support exhibition.
Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, said: “GY Businesses have benefited in the past from the ‘Meet the Buyer’ events run with enterpriseGY. ‘Pitching for Business’ has a different more informative and informal style. Businesses from start up to more established businesses have a choice of 6 workshops throughout the morning to hone their presentation and procurement pitching skills, learn about online marketing, relationship building, securing finance and find guidance as a new start up going into their second year.
There will also be a networking lunch, attended by key regional buyers, where businesses will have the opportunity to practice what they have leaned.”
Peter Wright, Economic Development Officer at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “enterpriseGY aims to enhance entrepreneurial activity across all sections of the community within the GY Borough. ‘Pitching for Business’ is specifically aimed at helping new and existing businesses to develop local markets and learn how to win business .
We are delighted to be working closely with the Chamber .They are well known for their meet the buyer events and they have good contacts within the business community.”
The series of six, 40-minute, interactive workshops will be presented throughout the morning. Their topics range from online marketing tips, to securing business funding, relationship building and procurement and public sector pitching. One of the most popular workshops is proving to be ‘Pitching & Presentation Skills’, delivered by Jean McNeil, from Best Support. She said: “This workshop will be very interactive and help you improve the key pitching and presentation skills essential for any business.
“When a golden opportunity comes along you don’t want to blow it! You want to impress the buyer and not depress them. In this session you will learn how to prepare for specific buyers – learn what buyers tell us they need, deliver a clear message for maximum impact, avoid the pitfalls – top tips on what works and what may not, handle questions – listening and responding skills, and prepare yourself and be confident – people buy from people they like.
“Three of the main criticisms we have had from buyers regarding people who have pitched to them is that firstly they haven’t done their research, secondly they don’t listen and thirdly that they haven’t tailored their pitch to suit the buyers’ needs.
“I will be researching the key buyers before the event and during the workshop I will ask the attendees if they have done this research and help them to pick out relevant points to ensure they are fully armed with as much knowledge as possible before they actually speak to the buyers at the networking lunch.”
Buyers attending the event will include Gardline, HSBC, Hugh J Boswell, Midexco, Norfolk County Council, Performance Plus Partnership and Waveney District Council.
There will also be a business support exhibition, with stands from organisations looking to help and advise delegates in a variety of different areas that will compliment their business. They will be A4E, Economic Development Unit – Enterprise Zone, Federation of Small Businesses – Great Yarmouth & Waveney, Great Yarmouth College, New Anglia LEP, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, and the University of East Anglia.
‘Pitching for Business’ will be held on 14 November at the Novus Enterprise Centre, Great Yarmouth, from 8.30am to 12.30pm, followed by a networking lunch until 2pm. For further information or to book your place, go to Pitching for Business
