FSB Launches Real-Life Entrepreneurs Campaign
The FSB is championing entrepreneurship, through practical support via its membership, services and events.
Real-Life Entrepreneurs will ensure that at every level of government, entrepreneurs are viewed as the potential wealth, growth and job-creators of the future.
For more information regarding the national campaign and to view the FSB's manifesto visit the campaign pages
New Real-Life Entrepreneurs App on Facebook
The FSB has launched a new app on its Facebook fanpage. You can use it to promote your business to a new audience.
It will take five minutes to input your details in the Real-Life Entrepreneurs section of our Facebook page, and be in with a chance to be voted 'Business of the Week' by fans, and be in the monthly winners gallery. By joining up you will be promoting yourself to thousands of people.
What you need to do:
- Go to the FSB's Facebook fanpage and 'like' us (if you haven't already)
- On the left hand side, go to the Real-Life Entrepreneurs page & post your business
- Fill in your details, upload pictures and videos and add a top business tip
- Submit!
Ask your friends to become a fan of your business by voting for you on the Real-Life Entrepreneurs page, and become a featured business.
Four MEPs sign up as Real-Life Entrepreneur Champions
FSB Cambridge East branch attended Robert Sturdy MEP's 'Going Global Conference' at Robinson College in Cambridge on the 2 March.
The event brought together a number of speakers from the European Commission, UKTI, entrepreneurs and Minister Mark Prisk to encourage businesses from the region to look again at exporting.
John Walker, FSB National Chairman, emphasised the need to make exporting less bureacratic and less risky for small businesses - a point well received by the companies in the audience.
Pictured left to right: John Walker, Robert Sturdy and Dick Jarvis
Outside the presentations, four MEPs signed up to become Champions for the FSB's Real Life Entrepreneurs Campaign.
Robert Sturdy, Vicky Ford and David Campbell Bannerman - all MEPs for the East of England - and Syed Kamall, MEP for London, all willingly agreed to support the FSB in lobbying for better trading conditions for small businesses.
Mark Prisk praised the campaign in his opening remarks to the conference.
Pictured left and right: John Walker, David Campbell Bannerman MEP and Dick Jarvis, Cambridge East Chair
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.
Pictured: Pam Charman, FSB Herts Chair and Cllr Sharon Taylor, Leader Stevenage Borough Council
Regional Real-Life Entrepreneurs Campaign Launches in Bedford
Over fifty businesses from around the Beds, Cambs and Herts region attended the regional launch of the Real-Life Entrepreneurs campaign and Entrepreneurs Roadshow at Bedford Blues Rugby Club on 23 February.
As well as a thoroughly entertaining presentation from 'The Beemat Entrepreneur' Mike Southon, guests heard about FSB's legal protection, the new pension scheme for small businesses and the FSB's business awards in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
The event was well supported by local business support partners and service providers, with stands from HM Revenues and Customs, WENTA / MyIncubator, Central Bedfordshire Council, Cranfield Technology Park, Streamline, Towergate and REGUS.
To get a flavour of the event - watch the
Real Life launch video, and see local business people explain why they are the real-life entrepreneurs.
Are YOU a Real-Life Entrepreneur?
The FSB is looking to champion and promote members who are 'Real-Life Entrepreneurs'.
Many small businesses have interesting stories about how they got started and overcame 'real-life' hurdles. Members' stories could be used on these regional web pages, in future editions of FSB publications 'Regional Voice' and 'National Voice' and in our forthcoming editions of e-newsletters.
There may also be opportunity to showcase local Real-Life Entrepreneurs at regional events which will be taking place from late 2011 onwards.
If you have an interesting story to tell, please contact Alex Francis
Mike Southon 'Beermat Entrepreneur' aptly caught at the bar of Bedford Blues Rugby Club.
(Photo: Steve Kettle)
Businesses from Region attend national launch of Real-Life Entrepreneurs Campaign
The audience at the first event of a series with The Beermat Entrepreneur Mike Southon included a number of businesses from Beds, Cambs and Herts.
The event took place in Stansted in November and included exhibitions from partners and presentations from FSB providers. Mike Southon's lively presentation included a number of useful hints and tips for small businesses.
The region's Development Manager Alex Francis and Membership Adviser Maree Atkinson were also in attendance – Maree standing out from the crowd in her FSB auto.
For more pictures and full synopsis of event visit http://www.fsb.org.uk/essex/Real_Life_Entrepreneur_Launch
For a full schedule of Mike Southon's events with the FSB and useful FREE ebooks on entrepreneurship visit Mike's website