It’s getting darker by the day, but that didn’t dim this week’s Essex Business Forum, which sparkled with 20 members and 2 guests.
Headlines to take away and savour include;
- Paul Booth of Booth & Co Accountants topped the performance league, with Nick Cooke of Nick Cooke & Associates Structural Engineers in second, and Sarina Armond of Upminster Kitchen & Bedrooms Ltd in third. Sarina is a new (ish) member, so well done for making it into the top three!
- Paul Booth of Booth & Co Accountants was presented the 60 second award by last week’s winner Cathy Neat of The Willow Centre. His contribution was rather obscure (toilet rolls, ‘nuff said!) but very funny never the less.
- £8,800 new business passed this week.
- 32 new referral opportunities this week – an outstanding start to the month!
- We welcomed two visitors to the meeting. Andy Ledger of Arbuthnot Latham, a private bank founded in 1883 that offers Private Banking, Wealth Management and Commercial Banking. And, Norman Ellis of essexhairdressers.com, a training and support organisation for hair salons across Essex.
We were all reminded of the need to focus on our core services by David Plumley of Integrate Networks. In his punchy education slot David explained how vital it is to hold true to the core products or services that form the backbone of our business offering. To understand which related products or services we can also offer. And not to be tempted to become a Jack of all trades, and master of none. Otherwise known as ‘Kuldging’ it (according to David). Instead, David reminded us of the value of our EBF network of members. If a job is beyond our core repertoire the smart move is to refer to a fellow EBF member and work together as a team.
The 60 second round had some interesting topics this week. With Jo Jones of Jo Jones Health talking postural pain and lop-sidedness. She explained how, through a combination of exercise and massage, her patients are helped to relieve chronic pain and to rebalance their bodies.
Our other Jo, Jo Eastwood of Liquorice, introduced us to autumn’s must-have drinks. Larios Rose gin and Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger gin. Delectable shades of pink…which she suggests are served with a Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic (also pink, of course).
Cathy Neat of The Willow Centre in Chelmsford reminded us of the wide and varied clients who hire the centre’s meeting rooms on a weekly basis. For anything from occasional desk space in The Hub, to board meetings, training and mediation.
Mike Rogers of The Mortgage Store got serious (for a change) about the befuddling array of mortgages available, and sternly warned against the dangers of DIY hunting via mortgage comparison sites.
Meanwhile, also on the subject of DIY, John Freeman of The One Stop Property Shop explained how he’s coming to the rescue of aspiring home handymen (and women) throughout Brentwood and beyond. Assisting with home DIY projects, providing the help and advice needed to get homeowners started and then keeping them on the right track throughout.
Over on the naughty table Tina Walker
of Liberty Executive Services explained how her Summer has been busy, providing holiday admin and office support for local business owners who themselves were taking a well-earned break.
Brian Painter of Pilgrim Hypnotherapy reminded us of the variety of ailments which can be helped with by hypnotherapy. Not least Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), for which the alternative treatment is ongoing medication.
Finally, Kevin Radford at RMK Insurance talked Commercial Property Insurance and how he’s helping a growing number of commercial property owners.
No 10 minutes this week, but an interesting Q&A instead.
See you next week!
Jill of Words by Jill (in for Aidan)
Returning to the fold after an enforced absence reminded me what a great meeting this is . One of our guests ,Norman , summed it up nicely. “A well structured meeting , with plenty of humour” . That’s a great advert . Well done Jill on volunteering to do the blog.
lively meeting again and lots of business passed, well done to all, see you next week.
sorry to have missed another week. I’ve been kidnapped by clients!
Well done Jill on another fantastic blog. Great meeting. Thank you to my glamorous assistant for the help with the 60 seconds. See you next week.
Excellent lively meeting, good to see some visitors and those back from holiday, really good buzz in the room… well done on guest blog Jill!
Always nice to have visitors… I was on my best behaviour! Well done Jill on “volunteering” Dean and I hid under the table!
Yes, well done Jill xx
Glad to see two visitors this week and hope that they will come see us again some time.
Another monthly gong to Paul – who won even though on holiday for a chunk of it!!
I thought my own 60 seconds was particularly on track this week – I said who I was, what I did, Business name, why you should use me over the alternatives and gave a call to action… not a mention in the blog (very dissappointed). Gonna go back to weekly offers again after this….
Just spotted the hilarious picture of Brian as PC Badger 🙂 Of course I should have mentioned that we are all being reminded to wear our badges at each meeting (I’m the worst offender, soz!).
Oh and Matt…as Scott and I joked yesterday. If you don’t appear soon we’re going to call the EBF embassy and stage an intervention!
A very fine meeting, pleased to see that the numbers are creeping up. I have made Performance certificates for Mr. Booth to the end of the year! Who can challenge him?
And don’t forget your name badges next week, PC Badger will be on Patrol!
Great meeting as always , well structured, informative and entertaining ! 😂Great blog Jill
Happy weekend everyone 😁
As ever a great meeting, nice to see some guests, thankyou both for coming, fantastic blog Jill, (be careful you may have a new job lol) well done to Paul Booth, again 🙂
Brian, I have been without a badge for so long, it’s going to take some time to remember I now have one, I will do my best to ensure I wear it with pride.
See you all next week 🙂
Brilliant meeting as always and a thank you to Jill for writing the blog. This week will Brian be wearing the uniform to go with the hat ???