Two Days to Go!
Posted: 23 April 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2013, 2020, April, B2B, BSK, business, Centre, CiC, connected, deirdre bounds, Event, Exhibition, innovation, inspiration, jane ollis, KCC, Kent, LIVE, maggie philbin, opportunities, opportunity, prize, tomorrow's, Vision, welcome Leave a commentA warm welcome to Kent 2020 Vision LIVE 2013, from Event Chair, Jane Ollis, CEO of BSK-CiC
It is now just two days until Kent 2020 Vision LIVE 2013!
The signage is up, the stands are being built and activity on-site is becoming more and more feverish by the hour. Across the county exhibitors are sorting literature, taking delivery of posters and display materials and working on their sales pitches. All leading to a day packed with great opportunities for every business to connect to new customers and suppliers, to pick up new ideas and inspiration and to meet more of Kent’s business community in one place than at any other event.
Last year’s event was widely hailed our best show yet and over the last twelve months the team have worked hard to ensure we bring you an even better event this year. This includes building on what made last year such a success and introducing some exciting new elements, including a new Kent & Medway International Business Zone and the Tomorrow’s Business Showcase. Then there’s the great line-up of workshops and keynote speakers, including inspirational entrepreneur Deirdre Bounds and former tomorrow’s world presenter Maggie Philbin.
At BSK, we’re passionate about helping businesses prepare for tomorrow so Maggie will be sharing her thoughts on some of the key innovations that will transform the shape of business over the next decade, to accompany the Tomorrow’s Business Showcase. In the Clive Emson building you’ll be able to see some of the emerging technologies that are going to change your business; this includes live demonstrations of 3D printing and an introduction to the new concept of ‘augmented reality’. Our hope is that by giving you this insight, you and your business will be able to take advantage of the many opportunities presented by these new innovations.
So we look forward to seeing you on Thursday: we hope you’re inspired, we hope you connect to some great opportunities and we hope you learn something that can help your business tomorrow and on into the future.
Pre-register online at www.kent2020.co.uk to benefit from fast-track entry, priority parking and a chance to win an iPad Mini.
Wet Fish, Double-Touch or Hand Crusher?
Posted: 28 January 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2013, 2020, April, B2B, BSK, Centre, christopher barrat, CiC, cim, connected, Council, County, Event, Exhibition, exhibitor, facts international, greystone, growth, handshake, innovation, jane ollis, katie king, KCC, Kent, KM, LIVE, mark dance, marketing, markets, melanie scott, nick litton, opportunities, opportunity, partnership, prize, social media, space, stand, uk, Vision, zoodikers Leave a comment200 exhibitors at the forthcoming Kent 2020 Vision LIVE 2013 gathered together at the Kent Event Centre last Thursday, to compare handshakes and gear up for the UK’s largest regional business event.
Last week’s Exhibitor Preview meeting provided exhibitors with a valuable half-day of hints, tips and practical advice on getting the most from this important annual networking event. Key contributors included Mark Dance of Kent County Council, Jane Ollis from BSK-CiC, Katie King from Zoodikers, Nick Litton from Revolution Events and Melanie Scott from Facts International, representing the Kent branch of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Guest speaker Christopher Barrat from Greystone Partnership provided some fascinating insights into effective networking within a live event environment – including an examination of key communication skills, objective-setting and follow-up techniques. Christopher’s highly interactive (and entertaining) session had guests practising handshakes such as the ‘wet fish’, ‘double-touch’ and ‘hand crusher’ while looking out for specific formations of new prospects, such as the ‘closed two’ or ‘open three’. He also encouraged all exhibitors to be ‘eagles not vultures’ while attending business exhibitions, taking a pro-active approach to meeting, greeting and giving – rather than resorting to antiquated ‘hard sell’ methods that rarely have a positive outcome.
You can catch some of the highlights on YouTube by clicking here.
With more than 75% of the space now sold for this year’s event (and another sell-out show predicted), potential exhibitors need to sign up fast to avoid missing out on this major opportunity to connect with new and existing customers. To check availability and stand options, please call Alice Boorman or Tom Healing at Revolution Events on 01892-820930. Stands start at just £128 per metre, making it easy to generate a great return on investment for businesses of all shapes & sizes.
More information and free registration at www.kent2020.co.uk.
Get Connected at Kent 2020 Vision LIVE 2013
Posted: 18 January 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2013, 2020, April, B2B, BSK, Centre, CiC, connected, Council, County, deirdre bounds, Event, Exhibition, growth, i-2-i, innovation, jane ollis, KCC, Kent, KM, LIVE, marketing, markets, opportunities, opportunity, prize, travel, uk, Vision Leave a commentThe UK’s largest regional business event, Kent 2020 Vision LIVE, has announced some of its key speakers for Thursday 25th April 2013 at the Kent Event Centre, including the dynamic founder of i-2-i Travel, Deirdre Bounds.
The core theme of this year’s Kent 2020 Vision LIVE is ‘Get Connected’, reflecting the event’s key role in helping Kent businesses to access a wide range of exciting opportunities. In a single day at the Kent Event Centre, attendees can connect with current clients, potential customers, innovative suppliers, new partners, international markets, emerging technologies and specialist support providers, plus inspirational ideas and practical advice from many expert speakers.
Kicking off the day with some unique insights into spotting and unlocking new market opportunities will be ground-breaking entrepreneur, Deirdre Bounds, founder of the UK’s first ethical travel company: i-to-i Travel. Deirdre’s innovative approach to the packaged holiday sector created an entirely new niche within a crowded market, dominated by a number of long-established major players. By riding the wave of increasing consumer awareness about ethical issues and offering a high-quality alternative to the status quo, Deirdre was able to build i-2-i Travel into a multi-million pound business over the course of 10 years, before eventually selling the company to TUI for £16m in 2009.
“There are so many opportunities available to Kent businesses that we wanted this year’s theme to emphasise that the event is about much more than just bringing buyers and sellers together,” explains Jane Ollis, CEO of BSK-CiC, the organisation behind Kent 2020 Vision LIVE, “This really is a unique chance to discover and access opportunities that visitors may not even know existed – including emerging markets, new support services and some great innovations. In addition, our special ‘Tomorrow’s Business’ feature will provide an fascinating glimpse of how many organisations might look and operate in 5-10 years time, which fits perfectly with BSK’s role in preparing Kent businesses for the future.”
The Kent 2020 Vision show has become an important feature of the Kent business calendar and is now the largest regional business event in the UK, attracting over 300 exhibitors and around 3,000 attendees each year. The event is run as a close collaboration between BSK-Direct and Kent County Council, with strong support from the KM Group and the Kent Event Centre.
Visitors can register online at www.kent2020.co.uk to benefit from free entry, priority parking, exclusive previews and a chance to win an iPad Mini.
Kent Vision LIVE 