Fit for the future Prowess 5th Annual International Conference 20 - 21 February 2008 Holiday Inn, Peterborough West |
Join us at the 5th Prowess Annual International Conference. Here is all the information you need to reserve your place at the leading event in the women's enterprise support calendar. Join other leading players - men and women - in business support, policy and practice to celebrate the success of women's enterprise development and debate all the current issues. This year we are focusing on the future and making sure female entrepreneurs are given the right support to be at the forefront of a new enterprise movement - able to respond to global, social, technological and environmental challenges. Marketing and Exhibition Opportunities
Conference Booking Hotline: +44 (0)1603 762355 |
Click here to download your Conference booking form
Host Sponsor:
Corporate Sponsor:
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The Prowess Annual Conference goes from strength to strength and has sold out for the past four years. Join us in Peterborough as national and international delegates meet to discuss all that is topical in the development of women's enterprise. The conference is aimed at: Providers of business support and finance - network, share experience and learn about what helps women to start, maintain and grow their businesses. Policy makers, regional and local government officials and funders - get updated on current opportunities, strategic developments and good practice Corporate Sector - broaden your understanding of the women's business market Business advisers and trainers - sharpen your skills and make new contacts Researchers and academics - share your expertise, form partnerships Regeneration and non-profit sector professionals - gain ideas to help businesses grow and develop both in the UK and internationally Women business owners - become an informed champion for the growth of women's enterprise |
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Here's what some delegates had to say about previous Annual Prowess Conferences: "The best conference I have ever been to - I learned a lot, met many interesting people to work together with, networking was brilliant and it was FUN too! What a great combination! I'm already looking forward to the next one." Birgit Kehrer, Breathing Space Ltd "Overloaded with inspiration and ideas for the future, I have come back with renewed enthusiasm and inspiration - see you next year!" Kath Tatlock, BSNSW, Women in Business "It was inspiring to see so many people congregating to network and build programmes to enable more women to start businesses. If more organisations in the public and private sector spent the same energies as you do helping those around them, we would live in a far better world." Nigel T Packer, Business for Business
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Speakers and Workshop LeadersThe stunning line up of speakers and workshop leaders to date includes:
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Tuesday 19 February 16.00 - 20.00: Registration opens at Holiday Inn, Peterborough West 19.00 - 20.00: Welcome to Peterborough: Informal Drinks Reception at Space4Gallery in the city centre www.thespace4.org Evening at your leisure with option of joining informal dinner groups to dine out in Peterborough Wednesday 20 February 08.00 - 09.00: Fit for the Day! Join in the Stretch and Tone gym session or have a dip in the pool - pool open from 06.30 09.00 - 10.00: Registration, welcome refreshments, networking and Exhibition - open until 5pm 10.00 - 11.30: Fit for the Future: Presentations followed by your views, debate and discussion Conference Facilitator - Maggie Philbin, TV Broadcaster Panelists include: Joy Nichols MBE, Chief Executive, Nichols Employment Agency and Jane Delfino, Innovations Director, United Learning Trust 11.30 - 12.30: Speed networking or your choice of Roundtable Discussion Group (Click here to view choices ) 12.30 - 14.00: Lunch and opportunity to visit the Exhibition Hall 14.00 - 15.15: Session B: Workshops. Click here to view choices 15.15 - 15.45: Refreshments, networking and opportunity to visit the Exhibition Hall 15.45 - 17.00: Fit to Lead: Women in the Boardroom: Prof Susan Vinnecombe OBE, Cranfield Professor or Organisational Behaviour and Diversity and Arni Hole of the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Equality Affairs. Update on the Women's Enterprise Task Force from Co-Chair Glenda Stone, CEO of Aurora 19.00 - 19.45: Pre dinner champagne reception sponsored by Pfizer Limited 19.45 - 22.30: Gala Dinner with presentation of the Prowess Flagship Awards for Best Practice in Women's Enterprise Development by Tracy Axten, Director of Community Banking, Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest. 22.30 - midnight: Bar and dancing Thursday 21 February 07.00 - 08.00: Fit for the Day: another opportunity to take part in the Stretch and Tone gym session or have a dip in the pool - pool open from 06.30 08.00 - 09.00: Registration, refreshments and networking. Exhibition open until 13.30 09.00 - 09.45: Fit for Purpose: Your chance to vote on different visions for the future of business support including: Peter Ramsden, Director, Frez Ltd Promoting Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Pam Alexander, CEO of SEEDA and Co-Chair of the Women's Enterprise Task Force and Carleen Kelemen, Director, The Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 09.45 - 11.00: Session C:Workshops. Click here to view choices 11.00 - 11.30: Refreshments and the opportunity to visit the Exhibition Hall 11.30 - 12.30: Session D: Showcase Sessions. Click here to view choices 12.30 - 13.30: A Fitting End: Barbara Follet MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities & Minister for the East of England 13.30: Close of conference and depart: bagged lunches will be available for delegates to take away
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Session A: Roundtable Discussion Groups Wednesday 11.30 - 12.30 Facilitated topical discussion groups are a great opportunity to interact with delegates who share your area of interest DTI: BSSP implementation - how is it for you? | |
Session B: Wednesday Workshops Wednesday 14.00 - 15.15 1b Negotiation skills for women: This upbeat and funky session will give you new insights into improving your influencing skills and negotiating abilities. Cut to the chase and secure your win-win faster and more effectively whilst retaining your personal and professional integrity. Kiki Maurey www.kikimaurey.com 2b: Female social entrepreneurs - creating sustainable communities: panel presentations from leading female social entrepreneurs and discussion on social enterprise. Chair: Angela Elniff-Larsen MBE, MSc - Ecotec 3b Corporate social responsibility and diversity: Presentations and interactive discussion to include representatives from Accenture and small businesses from the eastern region. Chair: Sue Lawton 4b Creating a growth movement: launched in 2005, the Make Mine a Million $ Business® initiative in the US to encourage more women to grow their businesses to the million-dollar level is taking the US by storm. Learn about how and why this program is working and find out about the women who have joined it. Nell Merlino – ‘Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence ’ and Julie Weeks - Womenable 5b Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors - A network of Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors has been developed across the English regions. Should the Ambassadors be trying to influence Government policy? And if so, how can they do it effectively? An interactive workshop featuring a panel of Ambassadors. Chair: Jackie Brierton, Prowess. 6b Research - the future of women’s enterprise: focusing on science, engineering and technology, migrants, ethical and environmental issues, business growth and community cohesion. Selected papers will be presented – full details of which will be listed in the conference handbook and on the conference website. Chaired by: Professor Susan Marlow, De Montfort University – sponsors of the Research strand
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Thursday 09.45 - 11.00 1c Marketing to women: What is it with women and chocolate? Women are equal but different and understanding this is essential to hooking in a feminine audience. Bullet proof your business brand and communications in this interactive and entertaining session. 2c Supporting new migrant entrepreneurs: Cambridgeshire has one of the UK’s largest migrant worker populations. This session will include presentations and discussion from support organisations and migrants who have started their own businesses. Chaired by Kiki Maurey www.kikimaurey.com 3c Technology: shaping women’s business futures – hear from a panel of women who are using technology innovatively to create new ways of working. Chair: Microsoft Session sponsored by: 4c: Principle-led business coaching within local communities: meet a group of dynamic, passionate entrepreneurs and coaches from the award-winning Norwich based BizFizz. Hear about the connections that have been made, the impact it has had, and how you might take some of these ideas and use them in your own initiatives. Anne Francis, BizFizz 5c: Enterprise education: the Head of Government's £400m enterprise education strategy will outline the vision, learning to date and good practice, followed by an interactive discussion. Ian Hughes, Department for Children, Schools and Families 6c Research - the future of women’s enterprise: focusing on science, engineering and technology, migrants, ethical and environmental issues, business growth and community cohesion. Selected papers will be presented – full details of which will be listed in the conference handbook and on the conference website. Chaired by: Professor Susan Marlow, De Montfort University – sponsors of the Research strand |
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Thursday 11.30 - 12.30 1d Valuing unpaid experience: an interactive learning workshop where participants will identify hidden strengths, qualities and experiences, consider the benefits of non-professional and non-traditional backgrounds and explore opportunities to maximise their potential. Eileen Lennon, incredit 2d Think, Create, Do: explore the routes and overcome the barriers to an independent future through enterprise. Janette Faherty, Avanta (incorporating TNG and InBiz) 3d: Supplier diversity: women’s businesses gain just 3.5% of corporate contracts. It’s a huge barrier to growth. Find out how supplier diversity initiatives are helping women access supply contracts throughout the world and about the latest initiative to help women in the UK. Sue Lawton and Elizabeth Vazquez, Quantum Leaps 4d: Flagship focus: find out how your organisation or area can benefit from the Quality Standard for women’s enterprise development. 5d Turning women’s aspirations into business – community development finance: Find out how CDFIs (Community Development Finance Institutions) are providing finance and support to women in the UK to create or expand their enterprise; learn more about how the sector is working with women to build and regenerate their local communities and hear case studies of how CDFI finance is supporting successful women entrepreneurs.Sarah McGeehan, cdfa (Community Development Finance Association) 6d WE-Mentor Women Entrepreneurs for European Research: an opportunity to hear more about this transnational project aimed at increasing the participation of women entrepreneurs in European research and trans-national cooperation. Dr Petra Puechner, Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum - Stuttgart |
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We all need some time to ourselves now and again to ensure we are fit to meet the challenges of our busy schedules. You could start the day with either a dip in the pool at the Holiday Inn - it's open from 6.30am or take part in Stretch and Tone sessions in the gym each morning before formal proceedings start. If that doesn't appeal then free 1-1coaching sessions are available during the conference from Blaize Davies, of Leap Ahead Coaching www.leapaheadcoaching.co.uk where you can work with Blaize on a single issue for 35 minutes. Blaize, a founder member of Prowess, specialises in leadership and management. Favourite topics of clients include stress management, preparation for role change/joining new teams, staff management, expanding the organisation. To take advantage of this great opportunity simply sign up on arrival at the conference. You are requested to come ready to outline clearly and concisely what your issue is, what you want to get from presenting your issue and a bit of background information. |
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Marketing and Exhibition OpportunitiesProwess has established a reputation for high profile, informative and interactive events. We are expecting 300 - 350 delegates in Peterborough making this a fantastic opportunity to promote your organisations services and events. The Exhibition Hall will be open throughout the conference and will be the key space for all networking and refreshment breaks. It also provides a fantastic forum for women business owners to sell their products, raise their profile, make great contacts and obtain valuable advice from other exhibitors. Alternatively, you may wish to consider including promotional materials in the delegate bags. Click here to download the Marketing Opportunities Guidelines and Booking form "The Prowess Conference was one of the best conferences we’ve ever exhibited at in terms of the excellent networking, great atmosphere and contacts made" - Frea O’Brien, Customer First UK
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Accommodation costs are not included in the conference fee but special rates for our conference have been negotiated at the hotels listed in the attachment, in association with Peterborough City Council Conference Desk. Delegates are asked to make their accommodation arrangements themselves, quoting the appropriate reference where applicable, and you are advised to reserve your accommodation as soon as possible as space is limited. Click here to download hotel information |
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Welcome to Peterborough - a cathedral city in the East of England with excellent road, rail and air links. Holiday Inn, Peterborough West, PE3 6SG The venue for this year's conference is the Holiday Inn, Peterborough West - a modern hotel situated just 10 minutes drive from the city centre, which has it's own pool and gym and ample free car parking facilities. Main rail routes to Peterborough:
Direct regional links with: Birmingham, Cambridge, Ipswich, Liverpool, Manchester and Norwich
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Prowess - The UK association of organisations and individuals who support women to start and grow businesses.Prowess reserves the right to amend the 5th Annual International Conference programme and speakers list. © Prowess Ltd 2007. Lion House, 20-28 Muspole Street, Norwich NR3 1DJ Tel: +44 ( 0)1603 762355 Fax: +44 (0)1603 227090 www.prowess.org.uk - the UK-wide gateway to local women friendly business support
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