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All bookings are free, cancellable (subject to our terms & conditions of booking) and you’ll receive either an e-ticket by email or you can save a smart ticket on your phone. If you decide to change sessions you can simply do so on the day, you don’t need to email us or do anything else. If you need to cancel your ticket altogether then check our terms and conditions of booking to see how to do that. If you need to add any people or swap ticket holders, please book new tickets online here for additional ticket holders and remember to cancel any for those who can’t make it any longer.

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Don’t forget to follow the conversation about the event at #NorthEastExpo and follow us @freshstartevent for breaking news.

What is Mental Health First Aid and how do you get the very best from it?

Andrew Ball

This seminar will give you a clear understanding of what mental health first aid is and more importantly how to confidently take action to ensure your MHFAid training is effective. Andrew will guide you through the basics of what MHFAId is, help you understand the importance of a mentally healthy workforce and share his top tips on getting your MHFAid programme working long term.

With over 20 years experience in project management and teaching Andrew has emphasised wellbeing as one of the most crucial factors in achieving a team's objectives, believing that when a team thrives, so does the organisation. Andrew has a genuine passion for mental health, understanding that every organisation is different and so requires an individual approach to supporting the mental health of their employees.

Andrew has a wealth of experience working in homelessness, addiction and offending as well as developing the largest UK region of Dementia Friendly Communities at Alzheimer's Society. During 5 years he developed over 45 community groups whilst engaging over 350 businesses to become more dementia friendly. This led to him winning a national award, being nominated by peers for his achievements.

Andrew is a keen runner as well as podcast host for the #RunAndTalk podcast, focusing on mental health and running, his aim over the next year is to measure the impact of mental health champions in running clubs across the country.

Redesigning for hybrid
Mark Atkinson

In this seminar Mark will cover the evolution of the modern office and its ongoing changes since the pandemic. He will explore what offices need to function effectively in today's world, ensuring smooth meetings with remote participants and maintaining engagement and connectivity for remote employees.

Mark will discuss how technology integrates with existing setups, the challenges of modern office spaces, strategies to overcome these challenges, and future trends in workplace technology and design.

Mark is the Branch Manager at Universal AV Services, where he has worked for the past 14 years, leading the office for the last 8 years. With over 28 years of experience in the industry, he is excited to continue leading the small but mighty North East team.

Meet Microsoft Copilot | Your AI Companion

Mark Armstrong 

Evolving with the current times is crucial for all organisations, but there is one topic on the forefront of our minds that sounds daunting for some… Artificial Intelligence (A.I.).

During this seminar, Mark Armstrong, will guide you through the ways in which you can integrate Microsoft’s new AI companion, Copilot, to improve productivity, reduce costs and increase efficiencies in the workplace.

Mark will review the key features and benefits of Copilot via a live, interactive demo, as well as explaining how your organisation can ensure its environment is AI-ready and secure. Mark will answer any questions you may have about Copilot.

 

Mark guarantee’s:
• No jargon!
• No death by PowerPoint!
• No hard sell!

Don’t miss this great opportunity to discover how AI can transform your organisation.

Mark Armstrong is Director of Modern Workplace at the inTEC GROUP. He is a technology evangelist and AI aficionado who works with companies to help them take better utilise emerging and established technologies, to reduce cost, boost productivity and enhance their organisation.

His expertise lies in crafting tailored strategies that align with organisational objectives, ensuring that technology serves as a catalyst for growth and competitive advantage. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, Mark help teams unlock their full potential and navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape with confidence.

Unveiling Menopause: Empowering Workplaces with Knowledge & Support.

Tracey Tait

Tracey Tait from the Menopause Training Company will demystify common misconceptions about menopause, outline its symptoms, discuss the legal aspects and offer practical actionable advice. This session is designed for anyone in the workplace who wants to ensure they can support women confidently and appropriately.

Tracey Tait is on a mission to educate as many people as she can about menopause (but not in a seat-squirming or in your face way).
She appreciates it’s not uncommon for menopause to be an uncomfortable subject.
After her own ‘challenging menopause’ which arrived out of the blue when she was 43, she set-up the Menopause Training Company and helps workplaces talk about menopause without the worry of doing or saying the wrong thing.
When she’s not talking about menopause she’s also helping businesses with their marketing or you’ll find her in her allotment.

 

 

How External Debt Finance can Fuel your Business Expansion

Mike Guellard

Ready to unlock your business growth potential? Join Mike in this session for an exclusive seminar on harnessing external finance to propel your business forward.

Discover how to identify growth opportunities and explore the diverse range of finance options designed to empower your business expansion.

Mike will also share invaluable insights into:

Mastering your funding proposal

Preparing effectively for a fund raise choosing the perfect investor to unlock your growth potential

Mike is senior investment executive at NEL Fund Manager, his role includes working with business owners to achieve success by providing them bespoke finance solutions coupled with extensive expertise and growth support.

Elevate your life from the inside out with NLP

Lou Laggan

By the end of the session, attendees will:

Have a clearer understanding of how NLP can help them in business, work and life.

Understand how to improve the effectiveness of their communication with self, colleagues and clients

Know how to begin developing more helpful beliefs

Lou is a Trainer & Master Practitioner of NLP as well as a qualified Executive Coach & Mentor.

Learning and Coaching are Lou's passions and, with over 30 years' experience in that field, she is a talented and creative trainer & coach.  She loves nothing more than taking clients on a journey that will empower them to realise their potential.

As an independent coach and trainer since 2015, Lou has added Time Line Therapy™, Clinical Hypnotherapy and Multiple Brain Integration Technique (mBIT) coaching to her offering.  NLP remains at the centre of her coaching offering and she now specializes in supporting clients to recondition their brain, equipping them with strategies to make long-term, sustainable changes in their lives.

Lou is known for her pragmatic, creative, no-nonsense approach combined with a healthy dose of humour and a passion to help others thrive.

How Microsoft Power BI can help you make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Harvey Hamilton

Microsoft Power Platform is leading the low-code revolution. Adopting Microsoft Power BI to create data-driven visuals and help you make decisions is a great place to get started. Marra will share some of the benefits and demo how it can add value to your business.

Harvey Hamilton is an Associate App Maker at Marra. With a Masters in Data Science and over five years of experience in Power Platform, he has worked with a variety of clients to develop their Power Platform capability. An avid learner and community advocate, Harvey is actively involved in outreach and engagement initiatives that align with the Marra's core value to create a more diverse and inclusive tech sector.

Wellbeing, Stress and Anxiety: Taking Control

Louise Hodgson

Stress and Anxiety: Taking Control.

The session will look at what wellbeing is and how it supports our ability to deal with stress and anxiety, one common trait which can exacerbate stress and anxiety and some helpful strategies to manage symptoms.

I began training as a psychotherapist in 2013.  In 2015 I qualified as a psychotherapeutic counsellor and began my private practice, based in Durham.  I continued my training for the next few years, achieving my MSc and qualifying as a psychotherapist in 2019.

Over the years, I have worked with a lot of issues, particularly stress and anxiety, which can have a significant impact on our wellbeing and mental health.  Seeing a need for support in the workplace, I now work with organisations to help them support wellbeing and good mental health.Working with the whole organisation, I help employees to better understand themselves and how they might improve and maintain good mental health and wellbeing.  Although I focus on stress and anxiety, I offer support in other areas depending on the business need.

Branding with Archetypes and creating strong Foundations

James Hanson

In this session, James will cover the importance of Brand Foundations and why they are useful. How Archetypes are a great tool for understanding your own brand and creating an authentic identity that resonates with your customer base.

Solving the people puzzle in minutes instead of months - why people communicate in the way that they do

Teresa Peters

Teresa Peters from Accelerator Coaching will deliver an interactive talk to raise self awareness of different communication styles. As a coach she believes in coaching teams and entrepreneurs as whole people in life and in business.*

Would you like to be able to understand people in minutes instead of months? Would you like to be able to identify their preferred communication styles and adapt your own, so you can build instant rapport?

We all have different preferences in terms of how we like to communicate and how we like people to share with us. There are two types of people in the world, there are task-oriented people, and there are people-oriented people. Some of us think before we act, and others act first and think about it afterwards. How useful would it be to know how best to effectively communicate with your clients, your family and your friends, so that you can maximise your business and life potential?

The ICO are at the door, what should we do
Andrew Swann

In this seminar Andrew will be speaking about the process of ICO investigations and what they entail, with reference to real life cases.

Andrew Swan is a specialist solicitor in data protection law, particularly defending companies subject to investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office.

​He really enjoys helping clients when they are having trouble with national regulators. He is very successful in fully defending companies under investigation by the ICO or FCA, sometimes ending cases before they go too far or just limiting the damage.

Through his representation, many of his clients have avoided huge fines and damage to their reputations.

 

Unleashing Business Success with Neurodiversity
Amy Gaunt

In the evolving business landscape, diversity and inclusion are no longer just buzzwords; they are essential components of thriving organisations. However, when discussing diversity, the conversation often revolves around gender, race, and ethnicity, while neurodiversity remains overlooked.

Neurodiversity incorporates a range of neurological variations, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. Embracing neurodiversity in the workplace creates a culture of inclusivity and unlocks a wealth of untapped potential which can drive business success.

The session I run, named "Unleashing Business Success with Neurodiversity," delves into the transformative power of embracing neurodiversity within businesses of all sizes.  We explore how using the perspectives and celebrating the unique talents of neurodiverse individuals can drive innovation, enhance problem-solving capabilities, and ultimately boost business success.

By the end of the session, participants will walk away with a newfound appreciation for the value of neurodiversity in the workplace and actionable strategies for harnessing its power to drive business success.  During the session, participants will gain insights into the following key areas:

Understanding Neurodiversity & Harnessing Neurodiverse Talent: Providing an overview of neurodiversity, debunking myths and misconceptions, and highlighting the strengths and abilities of neurodiverse individuals. Neurodiverse individuals often possess exceptional skills in areas such as pattern recognition, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving. Demonstrating how businesses can identify, recruit, and retain neurodiverse talent, tapping into their unique abilities to drive innovation and competitive advantage. Neurodiversity fuels innovation by bringing fresh perspectives and unconventional thinking to the table. Participants will discover how to leverage the diverse strengths of their teams to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and drive sustainable growth.

Creating Inclusive Work Environments & Leading with Empathy and Understanding: Building an inclusive workplace culture is essential for unlocking the full potential of neurodiverse employees and exploring practical strategies for creating environments where neurodiverse individuals feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. From flexible work arrangements to tailored accommodations, we showcase best practices for creating a culture of inclusion, exploring the role of leaders in creating a culture of empathy, understanding, and acceptance, and providing practical tips for creating collaboration, communication, and mutual respect across diverse teams.

 

Supercharge your socials; tactics, tips and tools to get results
Louise Williamson

Join Louise to find out more about why you need a plan for your social media marketing, what you should include and how to get started. In this whistle-stop tour, looking at organic social media marketing techniques, you will find out where to focus your efforts to get the most out of your chosen platforms.

From ideation to implementation… in this session Louise will talk you through creating your social media content, and how to use AI tools to make the creation quicker and easier.

With (too) many years of employed experience behind her, Louise stepped into the world of self-employment in 2018. Allowing for some much needed flexibility, she began working as a freelance administrator/Virtual PA for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations. This naturally morphed into a role that required a level of support within the digital marketing space for many of her clients. As a result, Louise has spent time honing her skills, experience and knowledge and now provides clients with support relating to social media (strategy and content creation), and email marketing.

 

Helping you understand Cyber Security

Michael Povey

Lots of business leaders don’t fully understand cyber security, meaning it often doesn’t get the attention (and the budget) it needs. But it’s not their fault. There aren’t many organisations making cyber security straightforward to understand. It’s a world with so many acronyms and jargon that we get switched off. We’re always being told that we should be doing more about cyber security, but the companies that are telling us this don’t seem to make it easy for us to get to grips with.

Circle Cloud are looking to cut through all the unnecessary noise with a seminar that focusses on the things that matter, and how they fit into the real world. Your business will be facing cyber threats and vulnerabilities every day, and we are going to tell you what they are, and how you can take practical steps towards protecting yourself against them.

Michael Povey is an IT professional who has worked in the industry for around 30 years.  He moved from a PLC to start Circle Cloud with business partner Tom Roberton in 2013. Since then, Circle Cloud have grown into a trusted brand by supporting small & medium businesses (SME's) with IT Support, Management, and cyber security, utilising the Microsoft Cloud.

 

Marketing Sustainability: creating purposeful narrative & opportunities for brand reputation growth"

Jo Long

what is sustainability / what is marketing

why is it important to embrace sustainability in business marketing

what can it deliver / benefits

how it can be measured leading examples of success & failure practical steps to begin

How have I honed my expertise?

over 20 years in corporate manufacturing, specialising in marketing, commercial & client relationship roles to a senior management level, and within SME sector.

running my own industry agnostic consultancy since 2015.

enhancing my passion for promoting responsible organisations through the Chartered Institute of Marketing Accreditation in Sustainable Marketing and Carbon Literacy certification.

Jo Long Consulting is on a mission to inspire, grow and support organisations across all industry sectors through responsible strategic marketing.

TBC

TBC