Over 200 business attended the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Business Bootcamp and Networking event, sponsored by Coombe Abbey, at the end of March.
Given the opportunity to speak at an event, do you jump at the chance or find somewhere to hide? At the FSB Business Bootcamp 2022 sponsored at Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry, the centre stage of the room offers a 360-degree view of a captive audience.
As FSB members and speakers, it is an incredible annual opportunity to offer massive value to fellow entrepreneurs, the self-employed and small businesses from across the Midlands. If you have never thought about public speaking and its potential to grow your business, this event will change your mind.
The day's theme was Brand Yourself, Brand Your Business and was hosted by FSB Members Sandra Garlick MBE, founder of the Woman Who Inspires Network, and Dave Sharpe, International MC and BBC Broadcaster. Every insight from the speakers is priceless to those who need it. The event is free to attend, so it becomes an unmissable date in the calendar for the attendees and the speakers involved. It is also open to members and non-members of FSB. There is a chance to network, create connections and build collaborations with a complimentary lunch included.
Executive coach Rebecca Mander, GuruYou encouraged everyone to sell a purpose and offered ways to increase self-belief and boost confidence by “flipping” negative beliefs. Sandra Garlick also spoke and recommended buying the domain of your name and linking it to your website, to wear your brand colours and volunteer your help and support. Brand photographer John Cleary explained why a consistent headshot across all social media platforms is so effective, and why branded photography brings personality to your website.
Rob Harrison, Glued reminded everyone to think of the essence of their business and go deeper still to explore the WHY through their branding. Julie McGarrigle, Alsters Kelley Solicitors, brought clarity to rebranding and described how refreshing the look of a business can bring new focus and direction. Abbi Head, Little PR Rock Marketing, provided tips to pitch to the media, to become a trusted source of information and find the expert within. Gus Bhandal, The M Guru, demonstrated the power of colour by association, put the 'social' in social media and highlighted the impact of finding the right social media platform for your business.
Interspersed between the various speakers, Dave and Sandra interviewed stand holders about their businesses and then opened up the room many times for the guests to speak about their expertise and also reveal the theme music that they would like played when they walked into the room. Dave talked to the expert panel about their experiences with branding. Founder of Secret Whispers, Julie Čolan, had everyone wondering why they hold back from the things that scare them and inspired them to ponder whom to associate their business brand with. Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Nishi Mehta from CM Talent and Career Mums, spoke of the benefits of providing a relationship between brands when we have more than one business. Business Mentor and Growth Specialist Adam Payne from New Way Growth walked through why he wears black and his theory on mobile devices' impact on branding.
Everyone who spoke on stage or in the audience represented their personal and business brand in a way that connected to others through humanity. At the end of the proceedings, there was an unexpected additional warmth with a heartfelt thank you from one of the attendees from Wolverhampton.
After so many years of disconnection and communicating online, this event was a chance to come together again collectively. Humanity was one of the biggest takeaways from the FSB Business Bootcamp this year. Personal and business brands have become interwoven. From Richard Branson to the start-up solopreneur, every business has a unique selling point: who they are and WHY they do what they do. When a brand is built on the foundations of the people involved and their values align the business, a brand message is communicated with authenticity. Branding is the human element of any business, and so who better than the entrepreneurs, the self-employed and small businesses to be the face of their brand. Why not you? Maybe next year, you will be on that stage, offering your expertise in representing your business in person. Why not start now by volunteering to speak at one of your local FSB networking events.