It's Been ED-ucational!

Well what can I say ? It's been an incredible week as I was joined by Ed, a student from Wellingborough School , for a week of work experience and what a week it's been!

Thank you to everyone who made him feel welcome this week, we've had an incredible week.

For anyone that knows me, I'll always support young people starting out where I can and it was a pleasure to welcome Ed to join me for the week as he saw business at it's best in Northamptonshire.

MONDAY

After a brief induction, I talked to Ed about my experience, what I had experienced since leaving school, what NNBN does and how we work with local businesses, charities and organisations. We had a busy day working on a couple of mini research projects for me and also brought me up to date with a couple of ideas of how to add further value to our social media so watch out! Yes.... TikTok!

TUESDAY

We were on the road with meetings at Tresham College (Part of The Bedford College Group) , The Chester House Estate and dropping into the Discover Northamptonshire Hub to find out what's happening around the County. It was a pleasure to introduce Ed to people around the local business community and introduce him to a few of our members who we work with.

WEDNESDAY

Ed and I attended a sales training course at Vulcan Works - a creative hub in the middle of Northampton - where we both learned something new. Thank you to Matt Elwell for delivering an energetic training course which I know will have added some value to everyone in the room.

After that it was off to Northampton Town Football Club (Official) as the fixtures were announced and a brief meeting with Chris Langsford to understand more about what's happening at the club on a commercial front before heading to the Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire workshop for Ed to understand more about what's required to run a small business and gain a further understanding. Thank you to James Elliott for delivering an educational workshop for the attendees, it was certainly of value to those attending.

THURSDAY

I set off for a business breakfast meeting and visited BNI PROSPERITY Kettering thanks to an invite by Sarah Franklin LL.B (Hons) to share the news that the NNBN Awards are still open for business. It was great to catch up with a number of local business owners and enjoy some memorable presentations from the members!

After that, it was off to Kettering Park Hotel & Spa for the NN2NZ Workshop led by Tim O'Callaghan from Electric Places and Alexina Cassidy from ActNow Consulting Ltd . It was great to see the room full of local business owners looking to understand more about support for businesses in North Northamptonshire to help them transition towards net zero and carbon neutral.

After the workshop, it was off to Wicksteed Park for an amazing day with the Northamptonshire Community Foundation as we met people who they have supported in the local community. I particularly enjoyed a bit of drumming with Sammuel Yisrael IEng CMgr as you can see from the photograph below! Lovely also to spend some time with Emma Kendrick from Laugh Out Loud Theatre to understand more about the work they do in the community in supporting local people. I really enjoyed my time at Wicksteed Park with the Northamptonshire Community Foundation team as we got to learn, first hand, from those they've supported in Northamptonshire with some fun and real life experiences! Well done Rachel McGrath , Katie Vickers , Dean Jones , Hazel Munn and team for all your hard work. It was brilliant.

Afterwards, I was off with Marie Cox (nee Baker) to run our fortnightly NNBN meeting at the newly refurbished Mercure Hotel Northampton . A big thank you to everyone who came as we filled the room to hear from Corrine West from Corrine West Photography about brand photography and how she adds value to her clients. Ian Griffiths from Beat Route Radio Community Radio won our Member Minute and was the recipient of some local produce from Jeyes of Earls Barton Northamptonshire as we look to help support our local food and drink producers. It was a great experience for Ed as well as he joined us for the network meeting and learned more about the work NNBN does in the County as well as meeting local business owners.

FRIDAY

It was certainly a busy one with meeting after meeting. It was a pleasure to meet with Chris Smith to talk about his forthcoming Great North Run where he is raising awareness and funds for the Northamptonshire Health Charity and the Twinkling Stars Appeal at Kettering General Hospital. It was then onto another meeting with Ben Littlewood ACIM and watch this space for some news coming in the future before recording a member video with Darren Smith from Vulcan Works talking about their progress since the creative hub opened last year. Watch this space for the forthcoming video!

We were also receiving entries for this year's NNBN Awards as entries close THIS SUNDAY at MIDDAY so if you are a business, charity or organisation in Northamptonshire and would like to enter this year's NNBN Awards - you have until THIS SUNDAY LUNCH TIME!

OVERALL

It was a pleasure to have Ed join me for the week in various capacities and he certainly added some value to mini projects I set him, engaged in the local business community and helped to support me throughout the week - even talking football!

Thanks Ed, it's been memorable!