Enterprise

The two events that I attended were one at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marlow this event is part of the National Enterprise Festival.
We heard from the most successful women who have either started their own business or have been successfully working in a large company.
The second event I attended an event called ‘Telling it like it is’ this was about the Bucks graduates who talked about their experiences working.

Susan Lock – Powering Up Your Presentations
The fear of Public Speaking tops the fear of death
Do you dread introducing yourself at meeting?
Does the dentists chair suddenly seem an enticing place to be?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions then Sue Lock’s taster session on how to present yourself and speak with confidence and conviction.

This was an amazing presentation as we learned a lot and received a lot of useful tips we learnt about the structure of a presentation, the impact, confidences and how to cope with nerves, in order to help us we done a few tongue twisters exercises. And in my appendix 1 you can see a PowerPoint which we worked from.
Susan Lock is a highly accomplished communicator, trainer and presenter with high levels of established personal development for all levels.

Helen Wilson – specialist in Colour & Image
With a focus on maximising the earning potential of individuals through their visual presentation and personal appearance, The aim is to inspire and motivate individuals and organisations to improve their overall image and impact, to increase effectiveness, customer satisfaction and therefore profitability in both human and financial terms. Helen will show you how to present your unique personality in the colours and styles that suit you best and speak on a variety of subjects covering Professional Business & Authority Dressing and ‘Capsule Wardrobe in a Bag Presentation’

Helen taught us about how colours can have a major affect on you and she told us about how much enjoys her work with every client to help them feel and look the best, in my appendix 2 you can see her leaflet which she provided us with.

Mandy Browne & Lesley Schillinger of Ladies Who Lunch – jewellery designers
Based in Amersham and Oxford, Ladies Who Lunch design and handcraft unique pieces of jewellery from semi precious stones, vintage beads, quirky charms and natural materials. In addition they also sell pieces from other carefully selected designers so that they can offer something for all tastes, styles and budgets. Mandy and Lesley are both partners and sisters and set up the business with their friend Gillian Diggle.

These were amazing ladies who talked about their experiences and life and how they both wanted to do something that they really enjoy and how their small little business is now successfully selling worldwide VIA internet, they shared there lovely experiences with us and told us about the tough times they faced and the good times and that you should believe in your self and everything will workout perfectly.

Geraldine Mattis – Managing Director of Geraldine Mattis Ltd
Geraldine Mattis Limited is leading in customising catering products for health conscious adults, parents and children by providing the highest quality of small luxury and colourful crockery. The company principal, Geraldine Mattis, received a Special Recognition Award at the International British Female Inventors and Innovators award 2009 BFIIN and British Invention Silver Award 2009. Geraldine Mattis is an Inventor, Designer and Entrepreneur.

She was an amazing lady who fought a lot to get what she wanted and she told us about her amazing experiences she had, I felt that she really inspired me and that I would love to be like her, after all the struggle and hard work she went through. She taught us to work hard and to do everything possible in life and you will get what you want. She told us that if you work hard doors will open them self. Her life story was amazing and I would love to be like her one day.

Jinny Shoosmith – Manager of House of Fraser, Eden
Jinny started her career as a ‘Window Dresser’ for a small retail company then progressed to management. Following a short career break she went back into the heart of retailing where my motivation and determination has led her to the role of Store Manager for a leading Retail Company.

This was interesting hearing from a lady who started off working as a sales assistant and now mange’s 7 well established stores, her journey has been hard to getting to where she wanted to and it nice to see how much she loves her jobs and the people that she works with.

I have come to a conclusion that this was one of the best events that I have ever been to it totally and utterly inspired me truly seeing as how hard some people worked to get to where they are now, this was an amazing experiences which I would love to go to again if I had an opportunity. I felt that the major inspiration experiences that I took away was Geraldine Mattis.

First event – Telling it like it is
On Monday 16.11.09 I attended an event called ‘Telling it like it is’ this was about the Bucks graduates who talked about their experiences working.
There were Panels who talked about how life is after their graduation and how much they have had to work and struggle due to credit crunch and the high risk of being redundant and they were as follow
Jane Barnes who works in the communication industry, stated that in the Sunday times news paper it explains how hard it is to get a job now a days for graduate students due to so many financial problems such as redundancy and the credit crunch and that there is a major gap in some industry that need to be filled, and ways in which she got through this was by doing a graduated training scheme which are aimed to help start your career and help you to gain and experiences aspects of both the role and the organisation as a whole.
Kate who graduated in 2001 works in the PR Marketing communications she has been working for over 6-7 years and has a businesses across UK, Paris, Dubai and oxford she is very well established and is enjoying her position and life as she travels a lot and gets to meet new people in different new environments.
After the panels introduced them selves there were a few questions asked such as : what was the best memory you have had the Bucks New University and many of the graduated students answered the student life was amazing, being independent, the social life going out and about, meeting new people in a relaxed and friendly environment, being able to develop new skills and lastly to having time to explore as much as they could.
Has unemployment had an affect on you and how did you get through it many students said yes because there is too much competition now which has made it harder but the best thing to do is to sell your self more work harder, show your skills, people now are more likely to employee someone they know and have herd of so it best to make lots of contacts, to be positive and fight for it, gain as much experiences as you can, make sure you know something about the industry students said nothing it easy but you do need to try your best and the best thing to do is to take an undergraduate scheme which will help you and will give more open opportunity.
How has recession had an affect? it mainly had an affect on all the managers who are constantly worrying but the best thing is to watch what you are doing, service your client well work hard , look are budgets regularly, measure what you have to do.