BEST4BIZ Conference 2016 
"Business in the Future"

De La Warr Pavilion - Bexhill

Best of the Best East Sussex Business Awards
Thursday 13th October at 7pm
Dress code: smart relaxed
SOLD OUT

​and

Best4Biz Conference
Friday 14th October from 8.30am

3D Printing, the Internet of Things, Cyber Attacks, Robotics, Virtual Working, Digital Efficiencies - how do you make the most of the technology available to your business and protect yourself from some of the less positive aspects of it? 

In its third year, the Best4Biz Conference is a collaboration between East Sussex County Council and local business via ACES, the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex.  This year we will consider the future of work with some terrific keynote speakers and entrepreneurial East Sussex business people.
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Expect to meet 300 business leaders and policy makers from across Sussex and pick up some stimulating ideas about the future and how it will affect your business.
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​Keynote Speakers
Rupert Clubb
Director of Economy and Transport East Sussex County Council
A chartered civil engineer Rupert Clubb has been involved in a number of major projects, including the first PFI for coastal defences at Pevensey Bay and  a key role in delivering the Bexhill / Hastings link road.

Rupert will speak about developing strong links with the business community and ESCC plans for the future of business in East Sussex. Delegates from 2015 will recognise him from his position as lead of the successful "Question Time" style panel we held last year. 
PictureAllister Frost
Allister Frost
Former Head of Digital Marketing for Microsoft 

​Now working with companies from Sony and Pfizer to mining company Anglo-American, Allister examines how to make the most of digital marketing. In an age where Twitter and Facebook have become world-conquering businesses in just a few years, he seeks to explain how businesses can keep ahead of the competition.
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Alex Storey
Head of SME Partnerships Google

Alex will share how Google works as a team and how they help SMEs grow and develop across the globe.  Having worked at Google since 2011, Alex has experience at a senior level in Australia, New Zealand,  Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the UK.

Conference Agenda - Friday 14th October

8.30am
  • Registration, coffee and networking

9.00am
  • Welcome from Rupert Clubb, Director of Economy and Transport 
    East Sussex County Council
  • Allister Frost, world renowned conference speaker and former Head of Digital Marketing at Microsoft
    Your Digital Future - are you ready?

10.00am
  • "Question Time" style panel hosted by Rupert Clubb, with Malcolm Diamond MBE, Alister Frost, Alex Storey, Caroline Ansell MP, Nus Ghani MP and Huw Merriman MP

11.00am
  • Business Bite Size
    Three local businesses share expertise, growth stories and how they support new talent including:
    1. The NOW Team lead by 18 year old Theo Pilbeam, pioneering software developer, whose business model is spreading along the Sussex coast
    2. Award winning entrepreneur, Penina Shepherd of ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW will talk about ‘The Freedom Revolution’ whereby business people pursue their passion and purpose over profit but still, and precisely because of this, enjoy extraordinary financial success.
    3. Graham Marley Enterprise Adviser and CEO of Let's Do Business with Causeway School of Eastbourne who will share their robotics development project. Causeway students have worked with a local engineering company to produce a functioning robotic arm in a joint business / education project.

12 noon
  • Lunch and B2B Exhibition

1.30pm
  • Reconvene in main room 
  • Break out sessions (choose one from):
    1. @social_media_at_work:  How 140 characters could change your business in a big way
      With an ever increasing number of cases of employees’ social media  activities damaging  a business’s reputation, this seminar will focus on how to deal with social media use which is excessive or inappropriate;  how a business can protect themselves against liability for employees’ actions on social media sites; and how to monitor employees’ usage without infringing their privacy.  
      Are your employees using social media?  How are they representing you? What are they saying and what could possibly go wrong?
    2. Why Facebook is the #1 tool for B2B marketing
      And how to make it work for your business. 
    3. The fastest ways to grow your business
      ​Via Grant Funding, Export and Selling to the Public Sector 
      The public sector is the largest employer in East Sussex with 42% of all adults employed. This includes the emergency services, the NHS, education and all local authorities. This makes the sector potentially the largest customer for your business and a really important part of the local economy.  
      It is the key aim of Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire public sector procurement to "support our local economy by helping to drive spend through our local suppliers..."
      This seminar will show you how much easier it is to win this business regardless of your size.
      It will also include information on how to export your services and products all over the world. The Department for International Trade (formerly UKTI) can introduce you to consular staff in valuable markets to help you grow and thrive in today's changing world.  They can also take you through the Passport to Export programme to help you learn how to extend your business to knew markets.  
      This seminar will also introduce you to T4C Business Growth.  They can help you access grant funding for - staff, equipment, training, relocation, software, hardware, machinery, expansion, marketing, export, exhibitions, commercial vehicles, accreditations, research & development, business improvement and lean management.  
    4. Cyber Attack! - SMEs are the target now
      Cyber attacks are one of the biggest threats facing UK businesses with SMEs particularly at risk.  A Government Security Breaches Survey published earlier this year found close to three quarters – 74% - of small to medium sized firms had reported a security breach in the last 12 months. This was an increase on 2013 and 2014's figures, and experts say SMEs are now being targeted by digital criminals, so it is more important than ever before for firms to tighten their security procedures.
      This breakout session will highlight the risks to SMEs and demonstrate some of the techniques used by fraudsters and cyber criminals. It will also provide valuable information on what can be done to minimise the risk and protect your business through the adoption of good practice, policy and technology.
2.45pm
  • Alex Storey Head of SME Partnerships Google
    Google Secrets for SMEs
3.30pm
  • Summary and close
 "The 2015 Best4Biz conference was an excellent sponsorship opportunity to showcase Westways Vending.
Our Company logo was featured on all the media used before, during and after the event, and the substantial exhibition space generated real interest in our products and services throughout the day."
Linda Baker - Westways Vending 
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Penina Shepherd

The conference is sponsored by East Sussex County Council and is free to attend, however, a charge of £25.00 will be levied for non-attendance without 48 hours notice.

Additional sponsors are welcome.  

If you would like to exhibit at the B2B Business Exhibition, stands are available from £200 plus vat.​ Click here to register your interest.​
Picture
Alex Storey
Our Panel Hosted by Rupert Clubb
(Left to right)
MPs Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne & Willingdon), Nus Ghani (Wealden) and Huw Merriman (Bexhill & Battle), ​Malcolm Diamond MBE Trifast Plc, Allister Frost and Alex Storey
‘Sponsoring the 2015 Best4Biz event was a no-brainer for us! The event provides a valuable service in bringing together the Sussex business community, including startups, entrepreneurs and big businesses, providing a forum to engage in thoughtful dialogue on issues applicable to all industries. It was a great opportunity for not only us but for all attendees to make valuable connections. We are looking forward to the next event!’
Roxanne Haid - Basepoint Business Centres
For detail of last year's Best4Biz Conference see the video and photographs below.  250 business leaders from across East and West Sussex attended and the post event feedback was excellent!

B2B Exhibition between 12 noon and 2pm including

  • Pav IT
  • East Sussex County Council with
       East Sussex Business Hub  #askfred and
       Locate East Sussex
  • The Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex (ACES)
  • Birchwood Group - Ford, Mitsubishi, Skoda and Kia
  • Basepoint Business Centres
  • Our Jobs Rock
  • Independent Heating & Cooling
  • Zest The Print People
  • Acumen Business Law
  • Rockinghorse
  • ​Viisana Life & Health Insurance
  • T4C Grant Funding
  • Sussex Downs College
  • Cyclr
  • Martin Riley Leadership & Management Development
  • Online Ticket Seller
  • Ansacom 
  • Claim A Day
  • Mike Shorer Fine Jewellery
  • Pearce Marketing
  • The Now Team
  • McPhersons Chartered Accountants
  • CDS Electricals

B4B Conference 2015

2015 Sponsors
Over 250 business leaders and decision makers attended Best4Biz last year.

The conference was organised by the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex (ACES) in association with East Sussex County Council.
 
Keynote speeches from Amber Rudd, the Secretary of State for the Energy and Climate Change and Josh Valman, founder of RPD International, focused on the topics of Innovation and Change. Josh, the 21 year old founder of a manufacturing company established in over 40 countries challenged delegates to change their way of doing business.
 
Christina Ewbank on behalf of ACES commented “Listening to the delegates, they really appreciated the chance to network with other businesses as well as learning from leading experts on a range of topics, including recruitment, exporting, public sector procurement and some first class marketing tips”
 
One delegate, Tim Sorensen added "A huge thank you for a great BEST4BIZ last Friday – really enjoyed it and a chance to network! I know how much work goes into organising an event like this and would like to congratulate the team on the smooth running on the day".
 
Christina added “I want to thank everyone who helped make the conference such a huge success, in particular our sponsors. With their support, we were able to make the event free to businesses. Thanks also to those who attended". 
 
The event concluded with the first Sparkling Sussex drinks reception, sampling Sussex Sparkling Wine offered by Ridgeview followed by a three course dinner and awards evening where Horder Healthcare was named the East Sussex Business of the Year.
 
Diane Thomas, CEO of Horder Healthcare said “It was a real honour to win the inaugural Best4Biz East Sussex Business of the Year Award. As a charity Horder Healthcare’s key purpose is 'to advance health to as many people as possible’ so to receive this accolade is a true testament to the outstanding orthopaedic and musculoskeletal (MSK) services that we provide from our hospital, The Horder Centre, in Crowborough and our outreach clinics situated across the South East.”
  
Christina concluded “Congratulations go to all the nominees. I know the judges found it very difficult to choose a winner from a range of different, and excellent businesses. The conference and awards evening really showcased the best of East Sussex and why the area is the destination of choice for so many businesses. If you want to get involved next year, get in contact with us on 01323 641144”.
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