The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 44: Aug/Sept 2019 | Page 8

BUSINESS NEWS YES ignites entreprenurial spirit YES (Young Enterprise Swindon), the new networking group aimed at 18-35-year-olds, recently hosted its first event at Desk Cowork, Swindon. The event saw over 40 young professionals from Swindon and Wiltshire come together to socialise, make new connections and be inspired by guest speaker, James Threlfall MBE. 25-year-old, James from Devizes, talked about his successes so far from skateboarding pro to brand ambassador turned radio and TV presenter. He also discussed how it felt to be recognised for his work, after receiving an MBE from the Queen in the New Year’s Honours List 2019. James inspired the audience with his words of wisdom, including “stop comparing yourself to others” and “believe you can and you’re half way there.” The networking group was formed by Andrew Wells, Initiative Manager at Business West and Anita Jaynes, owner of The Business Exchange. The pair approached the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) for support and the network is sponsored by the Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub. Andrew said, “The whole idea behind YES was to create a space for young professionals New digital marketing workshops for SMEs and entrepreneurs to develop new relationships and increase business connections, as well as increasing their knowledge and awareness of the business support opportunities available locally.” Anita added, “From the outset we were really keen to create a modern, forward thinking networking group that young people would engage with.” To find out more about YES and future events email: [email protected] Follow the conversation on social #yeswindon 8 the refreshed interiors, guests will enjoy samples of the Christmas Party menu and if any parties are booked on the night, they will enjoy a free Prosecco Reception for all attendees. The Garden Room has had a top-to-toe refurbishment to create a light, modern and flexible space and is now equipped with a ceiling projector and screen. Additionally, its doors open straight onto the private garden which delegates will be able to explore. The Library has been refurbished to make the most of its traditional charm and THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019 The courses have been designed and will be delivered by experts with years of experience in analysing and optimising websites, as well as running successful search marketing and paid advertising campaigns for clients. experience in digital marketing and how to make websites perform better. Tom added, “We believe in transparency and want to give you the knowledge required to succeed in this challenging market place. “To ensure that you get the “We want to empower SMEs by providing them with the knowledge they need to ensure their digital offering is working hard for them” OLD BELL TO SHOWCASE NEW MEETING ROOMS AT OPEN EVENING The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury - which purports to be England’s oldest hotel, is inviting guests to celebrate the launch of two upgraded multi- use rooms within the historic part of the building. The two rooms – The Garden Room and The Library - have seating available for up to 86 people combined. For private dining or special events, The Library seats up to 16 and the Garden Room up to 60 guests. Guests can take in these new spaces at the open evening on 5th September between 6pm to 8pm. In addition to experiencing The Business Exchange has teamed up with digital marketing company Varn, to host a series of training courses aimed at SMEs. natural light whilst bringing in 21st century functionality with a 72inch TV screen. There is also free on-site parking behind the hotel for delegates and guests. Christophe Dumeige, General Manager of the hotel, said, “We are very proud of The Old Bell Hotel and intend it to be the best Country House Hotel in a Town Centre in the UK.” Register to attend the open evening by emailing: [email protected] or call 01666 822344 Tom Vaughton, managing director, Varn, said, “We want to empower SMEs by providing them with the knowledge they need to ensure their digital offering is working hard for them. Companies often come to us with queries that with a bit of knowledge they could solve themselves. By investing in one of these courses and learning the basics, businesses can make their resources go further, allowing them to achieve more with their marketing budget.” Director of The Business Exchange, Anita Jaynes, added, “With increasingly tight marketing budgets, people are doing as much as they can in-house to ensure there is enough money in the coffers for a diverse range of marketing activity. Upskilling is a great way of investing in the future, saving you money over time and giving you a better understanding of what works in terms of engaging clients, prospects and generating sales. “We have worked with Tom and the team at Varn for several years and have the same ethics. We’re both passionate about helping businesses grow and providing affordable, effective marketing solutions that deliver results.” The first workshop in the series is an ‘Introduction to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)’. It will provide you with an understanding of the fundamental search engine optimisation elements required to improve the performance of your website on Google and other search engines. Varn has over 15 years’ most out of the training we have limited it to 8 places per session, so reserve your space today to avoid disappointment.” What you will learn: • The SEO essentials needed to ensure your site is search engine friendly - which means crawlable and indexable. • Insights into how Google sees your website vs. potential customers and why this is so important. • Which of the latest Google Algorithm updates are the most important and how they affect where a site is ranked. What you get: • 3 hours of hands-on training by Technical SEO experts • Useful hints & tips to take away and implement • Refreshments • Cost: £250+VAT The training courses will be held at Varn’s office, The Old Brewery, Bradford on Avon. To find out more and to book call: 01225 562600 or email: [email protected]