BUSINESS NEWS
ENGLAND ’ S OLDEST HOTEL RE-OPENS
The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury has opened its doors following a luxury renovation .
Situated next to the town ’ s 12th century Abbey , the Grade 1 listed hotel has been restored to create an elegant space that pairs 21st century requirements with quintessential English charm .
The Old Bell is open to corporates , offering contemporary options in a historic setting for meetings , team days , conferences , parties and exclusive private dining events . The hotel can cater for groups of 6-48 guests in theatre and seated layouts in their library or garden rooms . Room hire starts at £ 75 or a day delegate rate of £ 45 (£ 190 including accommodation in one of the ‘ Cosy Rooms ’). Included in the price is use of the relaxing lounges and bar , complimentary Wi-Fi , audio visual and communications technology , personable hosts and free parking . Private dining in the library is also available for 6-16 guests for business breakfasts , lunches , dinners or cocktails and canapes .
The hotel is open for special celebrations too , including birthdays , anniversaries , cocktail parties or just general get togethers . Head Chef , Frédéric Fetiveau has created a menu
First tenants move into Fig Offices
Swindon town centre ’ s newest flexible office provider , Fig Offices in Newbridge Square have welcomed their first tenants .
Lundy Projects the principal contractor for Network Rail has moved into the building , which is ideal for their business being only a short walk from the railway station .
Contact Associates has also made Fig Offices their home , moving in just a few weeks ago . Contact Associates delivers high quality assessments , which enable disabled students to access the specialist equipment and support they need to fulfil their potential at university or college .
Fig offers fully furnished offices for one
of British classics which is paired with an extensive bar menu of gins , fine picked wines , champagnes and expertly mixed cocktails .
On lighter days and summer nights there is a garden and terrace area with a spectacular backdrop of Malmesbury Abbey .
Christophé Dumeige , general manager said : “ We are very proud of The Old Bell Hotel . When guests come here , it is an event not a visit . This is a place for visitors to enjoy a relaxing environment whether they are working or here for a leisurely visit . We don ’ t serve our guests , we host them with the most welcoming and attentive style .”
For more info : www . oldbellhotel . co . uk events @ oldbellhotel . com
person up to their largest which houses 16 work stations . Additionally , the ground floor offers a suite of glass fronted meeting rooms that are fully equipped with the latest technology and can also be booked by local businesses and clients alike .
For more info : www . figoffices . co . uk
INSPIRING EVENTS
In each edition Inspire have a TBE column to discuss topical issues , events or news effecting businesses locally . In this issue we talked to Elaine Harvey , head of marketing and Julie Smith , head of partnerships to get their take on networking locally and to explain more about Inspire ’ s unique offering .
For more info : www . inspirebiz . co . uk
Give us your take on networking locally
Elaine : Networking in Swindon and Wiltshire is buoyant , with many organisations offering their own style of event . Inspire is much more than just a networking organisation , we offer business advice and support to help companies grow , but part of our offering helps local businesses connect . As well as ‘ traditional ’ networking events where business cards are exchanged and sales opportunities are explored , we also host alternative options to get people engaging in a more casual way . A good example is our recent business breakfast with guest speaker BBC Antiques Roadshow expert , Marc Allum .
What ’ s your top networking tip ?
@ Inspire _ Biz
Julie : My advice would be to research the different groups in the area before you commit . Most groups offer at least one ‘ try before you buy ’ session before you sign up to an annual membership . Once you decide on which group ( s ) best fit your needs it ’ s good to try to and attend regularly in order to build relationships . The well-used phrase ‘ people buy people ’ is so true . We all prefer to do business with people we like , and connect with . The biggest mistake people make when starting to network is to expect to win business straightaway . This could happen , but more than likely it won ’ t . Relationships develop over time and the people you meet might not have a need for your products or services immediately .
Elaine : Network with people you have something in common with . We ’ ve launched two growth networks , Elite and Elevate , both offering peer to peer opportunities for business owners based on where they are in their business journey . The networks offer a space to share knowledge and learn from each other ’ s experiences in a non-sales environment . Feedback from our current clients reflects the value in this opportunity to ‘ pick each other ’ s brains ’ and have collaborative conversations around “ yes , we had that same issue and this is what we did to overcome it .”
To find out more about Inspire ’ s offering email : team @ inspirebiz . co . uk or call 01225 355553
Discover more networking tips from our experts on page 30 .
National intranet starts with a local call
Unitii is the cloud-based intranet service that allows your team to collaborate , communicate and get stuff done , quickly .
For more information contact the Unitii team on 01225 614 814 or visit unitiintranet . com
4 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018