Following the success of Pollen #1 (over 50 people attended and drank free beer!) we’re happy to announce the next in our string of monthly events. No-agenda, and very relaxed, it’s a chance to catch up with like-minded individuals. For more details go to http://www.pollenhq.co.uk.

Following the great success of the first two events, we’re back again for our last meet-up of 2007. Come along and have some free drinks on us. Pollen is an opportunity for those in creative businesses to get together once a month and chat in a relaxed environment and have a few free drinks on us. Massive thanks to Claire Heat at Creative Business Wales, Ed Pereira at Enterprise Magazine and Melanie Hawthorne at Cardiff County Council for their support. Venue details: http://tinyurl.com/3xtvku More info: http://www.pollenhq.co.uk and http://www.neilcocker.co.uk

Have you got a great idea you want to develop into a creative business but need help getting started? If you want to take part in CIDA’s Get Ready for Business programme book your place at the Information Session now! Places can be booked via CIDA’s website - www.cida.co.uk or by contacting CIDA’s Project Administrator on 020 7247 4710 / contact@cida.co.uk Get Ready for Business is a support programme for those ready to launch a creative business and takes place in March. It is free if you live in Tower Hamlets and will help you to create a plan, organise your finances and put you on the path to success. The Information session will take place at the Business Development Centre, 7-15 Greatorex Street, London E1 5NF

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS – JOURNALISTS Rachel Bridge is the enterprise editor of The Sunday Times newspaper and has written two books about successful entrepreneurs, How I Made It and My Big Idea. She will cover what makes a story for her. Further speakers TBC SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS – PR EXPERTS Francis Ingham, director general of the Public Relations Consultants Association, will explain how agencies operate, how to choose the most appropriate one for you - and tell you what PR firms can and cannot do for your business. Kaizo CEO Crispin Manners (see above) will cover word-of-mouth marketing. Helen Westgate, founder of Westgate Communications, a marketing agency specialising in all forms of creative design, PR and event management. Westgate will talk about her work with Suffolk brewery Adnams and how a targeted PR campaign reaped huge rewards for the business. Matthew Rock, co-founder of Caspian Publishing and former editor of Real Business magazine, is hosting all four media training events. Keith Elliott, a former Fleet Street journalist and chairman of Europe’s largest media training company PMA Training, will introduce delegates to the world of news at all four events.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS – JOURNALISTS Lynne Jones is deputy editor of BBC2’s Working Lunch. Jones will look at what makes for a good story on the programme and how you and your business can feature on the programme. Dave Sumner-Smith, journalist and entrepreneurial founder of Wordzone. Sumner-Smith works with many leading newspapers and magazines and knows what makes a story and why. SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS – PR EXPERTS Francis Ingham, director general of the Public Relations Consultants Association, will explain how agencies operate, how to choose the most appropriate one for you - and tell you what PR firms can and cannot do for your business. Belinda Lawson is co-founder of media relations specialist Lawson Dodd. The agency handles corporate positioning, experiential and guerrilla marketing and Lawson will outline the most effective marketing she has undertaken and how you and your business could benefit from similar tactics. Dominic Shales is co-founder of Paratus Communications and formerly of international PR firm Hill & Knowlton. He will talk about business-to-business marketing techniques. Michael Hayman, chairman of The Communications Group, will discuss the vital importance of reputation to the entrepreneur. Matthew Rock, co-founder of Caspian Publishing and former editor of Real Business magazine, …

How would you like to network with like minded business women who will support and promote your business locally and to their own network of contacts? We meet monthly at lunchtime at various groups across the South and East of England with a view to help women grow their businesses. Our meetings are structured yet informal. We are not ‘ladies that lunch’ but business women who have a sense of fun but are serious about improving our business opportunities. Please email us, call on 0845 004 9426 or look at www.wibn.co.uk for dates and venues for groups in this area.

Come to the Startup Surgery to network, find new customers, hear how to overcome hurdles and get some expert advice. Meet people who are starting, or would like to start, a new business and experts in new venture development. All are welcome! For more info and to register please email: info@entelliz.co.uk

Striding Out in Liverpool is being launched on the 7th October in partnership with Make Your Mark and Active Profile. The event will provide a great networking experience, with an inspirational talk from Anna Heyes, founder of Active Profile. Recent winner of the “Northwest Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008” NWDA Active Profile is an innovative and creative company with a fresh and results driven approach to marketing and PR. Based in the heart of Liverpool’s creative quarter in Rodney Street, Active Profile has developed a client base spanning a wide range of sectors across the UK. In the past three and half years Active Profile has helped launch and grow companies, turned around the fortunes of not for profit organizations, and delivered flawless events and press campaigns. Anna will share her insights and experience with the audience on how she has successfully developed a growing business. This event will be held at the Hard Days Night Hotel, Central Buildings, North John Street, Liverpool, L2 6RR. Please click here for a map of the venue. To sign up for the event go to http://www.stridingout.co.uk/networking-events/liverpool.html

Panel discussion followed by a networking reception £10.00 (concessions £7.50) Winning awards can get you and your business known. Find out how to be award-winning with the help of a host of superstar startup businesses. They’ll let you in on the secrets of success, from creating the right business plan and securing finance, to how to plan for rapid growth. Hear about their experiences and network with fellow entrepreneurs. Speakers include: Adam Goodyer of innovative music website Concert Live, who make and sell live music recordings and last year generated revenue of over £1million. Tricia Weener of Intelligent Marketing, who represent clients such as Honda and Guinness and achieved a £2million turnover last year. Rhodri Ferrier of Bulldog Natural Grooming, the UK’s largest natural grooming brand for men. Book online now at http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=BRITISHLIB&organ_val=25385