The South London event saw a room jam-packed with up-and-coming entrepreneurs hear the story of how former journalist Toby Ash co-founded furniture store New Heights before buying Sofa Workshop. Toby described the thrill he still gets from making a sale on the shop floor, and the excitement of being a market leader in the furniture world. Dave Wallwork then enthralled the delegates with the story of how he built his healthy juice drinks company Feel Good Drinks. Dave spoke of the value of getting your product out there to the consumers, even if it means initially giving it away. He explained why free tasters allowed his business to grow to an annual turnover of £6m.

To view their presentation and the panel debate, click below:
Toby Ash, Co-Founder, New Heights >
Dave Wallwork, Managing director, The Feel Good Drinks Co Ltd >

Panel debate which included the following >
Toby Ash, Co-founder, New Heights
Dave Wallwork, Managing Director, The Feel Good Drinks Co Ltd  
Mark Tennant, New Channels Marketing Manager & Small Business expert, Microsoft

The Manchester event was a lively affair with the ever-vivacious Dawn Gibbins getting everyone off their feet and saluting their own potential. Dawn described the highs and lows of setting up her flooring company Flowcrete, and emphasised the importance of standing out from the crowd. Both Dawn and fellow speaker Jennie Johnson talked about the need to have a customer focus to your business in order to succeed. Jennie also gave an interesting account of finding a niche in a crowded industry, as she described why her children’s day care centres have been such a triumph.

To view their presentation and the panel debate, click below:
Dawn Gibbins, Founder Flowcrete Group Plc >
Craig Leyland, Regional Director Northwest of England, NatWest >

Jennie Johnson, Founder, Kids Allowed & the panel debate which included the following >
Jennie Johnson, Founder, Kids Allowed
Dawn Gibbins, Founder Flowcrete Group Plc
Mark Tennant, New Channels Marketing Manager & Small Business expert, Microsoft

Delegates at the Bristol event were given a rare insight into how to claw your way back after a business failure. Rachel Elnaugh gave an emotional account of how her gift package company Red Letter Days went from commercial success to business failure in the blink of an eye. Encouraging the budding entrepreneurs in the audience not to give up when things take a turn for the worse, she explained how she bounced back. James Murray Wells then spoke about how it felt to take on the industry giants with his online shop Glasses Direct. He described some of his brave marketing campaigns, and revealed his aspirations for the future of the company.

To view their presentation and the panel debate, click below:
Rachel Elnaugh, Entrepreneur >
James Murray-Wells, Founder, Glasses Direct >
Steve Clayton, SMB CTO, Microsoft >

Panel debate which included the following >
Rachel Elnaugh, Entrepreneur
James Murray-Wells, Managing Director, Glasses Direct   
Steve Clayton, SMB CTO, Microsoft

Delegates at the Birmingham event got a treat as they sat down to hear the story of how James Averdieck set up GÜ Chocolate Puds. Each attendee had a chocolate pud of their own to sample as they listened to James’ tales of creating the perfect chocolate soufflé, building a successful brand and wearing the ‘world’s coolest dad’ crown at his kids’ school. The chocolate maestro had a few words of warning for the fledgling entrepreneurs in the audience, as well as plenty of advice and encouragement, leaving the audience inspired. Some left with a new found love of luxury chocolate desserts too.

To view their presentation and the panel debate, click below:
James Averdieck, Founder & Managing Director, Gu Chocolate Puddings >

Panel debate which included the following >
James Averdieck, Founder & Managing Director, Gu Chocolate Puddings
Mark Tennant, New Channels Marketing Manager & Small Business expert, Microsoft

To view their presentation and the panel debate, click below:
Jennifer Irvine, Founder, The Pure Package >
Jim Edgar, Regional Director London, NatWest >

Panel debate which included the following >
Sahar Hashemi, Founder, Coffee Republic
Jennifer Irvine, Founder, The Pure Package
Mark Tennant, New Channels Marketing Manager & Small Business expert, Microsoft