ISBE 2019 Space for Engagement (SfE): Entrepreneurial Stakeholder Workshop

*** Please note this event is now full***

Date
14.00 – 17.00 Wednesday, 13 November 2019

Location
Urban Sciences Building, The Helix, G.003
Newcastle University, 1 Science Square, Newcastle Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5TG
Telephone: (0191) 208 7972
The city campus map can be found here. The Urban Sciences Building is #105 on the map.

Space for Engagement (SfE): ISBE 2019 Entrepreneurial Stakeholder Workshop

13:45 for a 14:00 Start: Wrapping up at 17:00

The Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship annual conference provides an opportunity for the findings and lessons from academic research in entrepreneurship and small business research to be shared, debated and discussed, increasing the opportunity to make a difference in the worlds of academia, policy and practice.

In Newcastle in 2019, we are going to bring together entrepreneurs, academics and policy practitioners to collaborate in a unique workshop to explore and shape potential agendas for future research and policy initiatives. The workshop will start with series of ‘provocations’ from a panel of diverse entrepreneurs, followed by the opportunity for roundtable discussions. The event will be chaired by Ruth Lowbridge MBE, Executive Chair of SFEDI Group and member of the Small Business Charter Management Board.

13:45 – 14:00 Tea and Coffee
14:00 – 14:15 Introductions
14:15 – 15:15 Entrepreneurs’ Panel
15.15 – 15.30 Summary from Chair
15:30 – 16:30 Table discussions
16:30 – 17:00 Closing Remarks

Our speakers

Nicola Jayne Little, Founder of MINT Business Club

Life is MINT. Working for yourself is a brave choice and is MINT. The members of our business club are MINT and it was named after them.

People are my joy, and every day I get to do what I love most; support the small business community demonstrating how business planning, marketing and knowing our numbers will help their businesses thrive.

Over the past six years, I’ve worked with over 2000 business people from the North East and Yorkshire. My role at Digital Sparkles was to deliver training that brought out the best in the delegates, enabling them to manage their digital marketing with the confidence that provides real results. I’m an energetic trainer, who loves business development, igniting enthusiasm and generating ideas.

The difficulties we face when we’re self-employed or running a micro-business, often relate to a lack of confidence, business training and feelings of isolation that become overwhelming.

MINT Business Club was launched in January 2018 (formerly The Savvy Solos Business Club) to build a supportive community and break the feeling of isolation.

MINT is a training-based membership club offering support, advice, marketing skills training, business leads and business friendship. It is a lively, fast-paced and keeps our members accountable and on target.

(c) James Hardisty

(c) James Hardisty

Ben and Emma Mosey, Entrepreneurial Farmers, Minskip Farm Shop

We are young, enthusiastic farmers who sell our own produce on our busy, working farm. At Minskip Farm Shop, we want you to have fun reconnecting with your food.

From the moment you drive through our gates, you’ll see that we’re all about field to fork. Our happy hens provide the freshest, golden-yolked eggs, and we grow our own specialty vegetables year-round. We care about our animals. We also believe in fun.

Farmer Ben grew up on a pig and sheep farm near Helmsley. It was only when he left Yorkshire to go to university that he realised how unique his upbringing had been. It is his dream to share real farming with the general public and to break down the barriers between the consumer and their food. In his previous life, Ben was an exploration geologist, setting up remote camps in the Australian desert and Indonesian rainforest.

Farmer Em isn’t from a farming background – she thought she was from the countryside until she visited Farmer Ben. She fell in love with the farming life and now can’t get enough of it!

Emma is also the highly acclaimed author of two novels – How To Be A Good Wife and The Last Photograph. She writes under her maiden name – Emma Chapman.

Minskip Farm Shop has won multiple awards including:

Deliciously Yorkshire Taste Award – Best New Business 2017
British Free Range Egg Producers Awards – Retailer of the Year 2018
Harrogate Business Awards – Best Rural Business 2018
Garbutt & Elliott Awards – Growth Business of the Year 2019
Rural Business Awards (North) -Best Rural Retail Business 2019
Rural Business Awards (North) – Best Rural Food & Drink Business 2019

Fiona Simpson
Managing Director, Founder and Franchisor – ARTventurers
Woman Franchisor of the Year 2018 – EWIF Franchising Awards

I’m the Founder/MD of ARTventurers and an award winning Franchisor, named Woman Franchisor of the Year 2018. I am also a Forbes Contributor, writing regularly about my own entrepreneurial journey from lawyer to franchisor and issues relating to the franchise industry.

At ARTventurers we offer fun, flexible franchise opportunities – our franchisees deliver our multi award winning art and creative play classes for babies, toddlers and children in their own local area!

ARTventurers classes are centred around children’s learning and development through art and creative play – having lots of fun and often getting quite messy in the process!

• Innovative, creative franchise model
• Transparent pricing structure – no hidden fees or sneaky charges!
• Flexible and rewarding – choose when you work and build your business around family life!

We’re recognised as one of the leading providers in our industry, with award wins including :

? Winner : Woman Franchisor of the Year 2018 – EWIF Franchising Awards 2018

? Winner : Overall Top Franchise 2017 and Most Supportive Franchisor 2017 – Working Mums Top Franchise Awards

? Winner : Best Preschool Activity 2018, Best Baby/Toddler Activity 2017 and Best Preschool Activity 2017 – What’s on 4 Kids Awards 2017 and 2018

I am passionate about raising standards within the children’s activities industry to give parents peace of mind and am a member of the board of the Children’s Activities Association – the UK industry led not-for-profit organisation founded and governed by experts to help parents, schools, nurseries and all children’s activities providers by raising the standard of children’s activities, providing an invaluable accreditation pathway and providing support to industry members.

Chair: Ruth Lowbridge MBE, Executive Chair, SFEDI Group

Ruth Lowbridge is Executive Chair of the SFEDI Group of Companies, all of which promote and support enterprise and entrepreneurial skills development throughout the UK. The group includes SFEDI, the Sector Skills Body for Enterprise and Business Support and the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE), the UK’s only learning institute dedicated to enterprise skills development and its recognition. As a business owner herself for over 20 years, with successful ventures including a chain of bistros, conference centre, software company and national training consultancy, Ruth knows more than most how it feels to start up and run an enterprise. Her work also includes sitting on the government’s SME Advisory Board and being the small business representative on the Small Business Charter Management Board. Ruth is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of others and in 2016 was made an MBE for her services to entrepreneurs and UK business.