NEWS RELEASES
Second Microbiz Masterclass gets an ‘A’ star rating!
17 June 2008
THE Capitol Theatre in Horsham got a real dose of ‘Microbiz Mania’ when 76 local business people gathered on 12 June for an intensive burst of networking, followed by an audience with two inspirational female entrepreneurs.
This was the second Microbiz Masterclass and, hot on the heels of the successful Microbiz event in March, the remit was to engage, inspire and empower small business owners - all within a timeframe of just three hours.
Judging by the feedback that came pouring in the next day, it definitely succeeded on all counts.
The Microbiz Masterclass was the brainchild of the Business Development Unit at Horsham District Council and the two inspirational speakers were none other than the nationally acclaimed home business guru, Emma Jones, author of the best selling book ‘Spare Room Start Up’ and also the founder of the UK's largest and most popular home business support website, www.enterprisenation.com, and Horsham's home grown award winning entrepreneur, Sarah Hatswell, Managing Director of Sovereign Credit Management.
Chris Baister, Business Development Manager at Horsham District Council, explained:
"Every year the Horsham Microbiz event that takes place in March gets bigger and better and we shape the content from the feedback of visitors and exhibitors.
“This year, people told us that they wanted even more from Microbiz and that once a year was not enough.
“That's why we’ve launched these Masterclasses to give real added value to small businesses.
“They're not just about bringing small business owners together to network, they’re also about introducing fantastic speakers that can inspire people and provide great advice at the same time."
Cllr Roger Paterson, Cabinet Member for the Local Economy at the Council and pioneer of the Microbiz brand, officially opened the masterclass.
Cllr Paterson spoke passionately about Horsham District Council's ongoing commitment to supporting and empowering small businesses and the vital role that every small business in the area has to play in sustaining and growing the local economy, before handing over to the two speakers.
Both Sarah and Emma had the audience spellbound with their own personal journey of how they had achieved success on their own terms, starting out as home based businesses and in Emma's case, staying put in the spare bedroom home office!
Said ‘Spare Room Start Up’ author Emma Jones:
"I was delighted to be invited to speak in Horsham as the Council is doing so much to encourage and support home business - more than any other local authority we've come across."
“The event itself was excellent, well organised, a big and buzzing audience and of course I was thrilled with the queue of people that formed in the interval to buy my book!"
“As I spoke to people, I heard some great ideas for new businesses and was told of home business success stories too."
“From what I saw and heard on Thursday evening, it's a dead cert that home businesses will continue to flourish in Horsham."
“And I hope I'll be invited back again soon."
An email from Sarah Riley of Utility Discount Warehouse Club the following day summed up the event:
“You produced yet another fantastic event for us…really enjoyed it and have been truly inspired.”
Horsham District Council is now looking for all small business owners in the area, whether based at home or in premises and anyone thinking of starting a business, to get in touch and shape the content of future Microbiz Masterclasses.
To guarantee a place at future Microbiz Masterclasses by taking part in the Microbiz Masterclass questionnaire, please contact Nigel Fitzsimmons at Horsham District Council on 01403 215529 or email business.development@horsham.gov.uk
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CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk