Hertfordshire Branch
Stevenage Leader signs up to become Champion for Entrepreneurs
Cllr Sharon Taylor, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, agreed to become a 'Real-Life Entrepreneurs Champion' for the Federation of Small Businesses last week at the Stevenage Small Business Summit.
The business breakfast event, organised by the FSB and Borough Council, attracted nearly 90 local business people to the Business & Technology Centre in Bessemer Drive, Stevenage - home to Hertfordshire's enterprise agency WENTA.
Delegates heard from motivational speaker and local entrepreneur Steve Clarke, who challenged the audience to 'stop complaining for seven days', and focus on making positive changes in their businesses. Other presentations included alternative finance and supplying to the Council. The event also launched the Stevenage Small Business of the Year Award, as part of the FSB Hertfordshire Small Business Awards 2012.
"It's fantasic to see these local events so well attended" said Pam Charman, Chair of FSB Hertfordshire. "Hertfordshire is a very large branch, covering the whole of Hertfordshire with nearly 3,500 members, and we are looking to expand our events programme right across the county this year."
"It is very important that business organisations and local authorities work more closely to support the interests of business" Pam added, "and we are pleased that Councillor Taylor is signing up to support the Real-Life campaign."
The Real-Life Entrepreneurs campaign celebrates the small business men and women that the FSB believes are essential to the economy's recovery, and lobbies the UK Government to reduce red-tape and make starting and growing a business in the UK much easier.
Picture: FSB Herts Chair Pam Charman (left) and Cllr Sharon Taylor, Stevenage Borough Council
FSB at Hert Expo 2011
FSB Herts took part in Hert Expo at Broxbourne Civic Hall in November. There were some 40+ exhibitors, a range of well-attended seminars, and a likely keynote presentation by Ruby Wax.
Membership Adviser Maree Atkinson manning the FSB stand at The Herts Expo
Photo: Courtesy of Blue Feather Photography.