By Christie Day
If you are wondering why you should join the thousands of women set to visit the first ever event dedicated to Women in Business, here are our ten top reasons…
Be Inspired
Making a career-changing decision isn’t easy. Getting inspiration will spur your ‘can-do’ attitude and help you to make the right, informed choices about your professional future. We recognise both the challenges and opportunities facing women in the world of business which is why we are confident that every visitor who attends the event will leave feeling inspired. WIB Expo will provide inspiration in many forms – from our headline speakers Karren Brady, Michelle Mone and Caprice Bouret, to the 80+ talks from various business experts and more than 150 exhibitors from all the key industry sectors.
Seek Support
What stage are you at career-wise? You might want to progress in the corporate world, improve your own company’s sales or perhaps exploit your entrepreneurial ideas. At WIB Expo you will get all the advice you need to help you on your career or business journey. Most people lack skills in certain areas and seeking support can make a huge difference to your future success. From financial advice for prospective business owners to legal, accountancy and marketing support services for existing SMEs or even basic career guidance – we have experts on hand to support you at every level.
At WIB Expo you will get all the advice you need to help you on your career or business journey.
Get Motivated
Many of us are guilty of putting our personal and professional needs on the back-burner when other aspects of life take over. Now is the time to prioritise what you really want to achieve in your working life. WIB Expo could be the motivation you need to start planning your next move. Having the event date in your diary will focus your mind and give you a real incentive to assess your career ambitions.
Meet and Network
Networking can be an invaluable way to build both your confidence and contacts book. We may live in a digital world however face-to-face networking is still considered to be more powerful than virtual interactions. In fact, a recent study carried out in partnership with LinkedIn showed that 85% of jobs are actually filled through networking. At WIB Expo, we’ve created a Networking Hub, so you can talk to business experts and supportive employers with genuine job opportunities, or simply meet like-minded business women and connect with your peers.
a recent study carried out in partnership with LinkedIn showed that 85% of jobs are actually filled through networking.
Brush up your skills
If you’ve been on maternity leave, a career break or working in the same job role for a lengthy period, you could probably do with a confidence boost when it comes to recharging your career. At these times it makes sense to go back to basics and ensure you have a strong, well-written CV and the ability to standout during the interview process. At the event, there’ll be a dedicated CV and interview clinic to hone those specific skills, as well as a range of theatre seminars to inspire women who are returning to the workplace.
Career Me-time
Think of it as the ultimate form of career self-help that will help you decide which path to take. If you’re currently only able to grab a few snatched minutes researching your business idea or next career choice, just block out a single day to attend the event and gain some precious career me-time. We have childcare covered, if that is an issue, as there is a free crèche available at the venue. Many of our visitors who are still at the ‘contemplation’ stage of their career comebacks are bringing friends so they can make a day of it and explore the full range of job and business opportunities together.
Think of it as the ultimate form of career self-help that will help you decide which path to take.
Business Advice
There is a great deal of interest from women wanting to start their own business and those looking for support to get their business ideas off the ground. Currently, only a fifth of SME employers are female but this figure is expected to increase with more women stepping on to the self-employed career path. Starting and running a business is often a ‘learn-as-you-go’ process, from the initial brand building stage to filing accounts and growing sales. At the event, you can listen to, and ask for, expert advice in our various seminar sessions. As well as meeting key contacts, from service providers to finance companies, to support your new, or expanding, business.
Find a Franchise
Running a franchise is one of the biggest growth areas for female business owners and will be a key focus at our event. Entering into a franchise provides a tried and tested business model that can be up and running quickly with a greater chance of success. In many ways, it’s a ‘best of both worlds’ business scenario, however many women struggle to find the right franchise that will fulfil their ambitions but also fit around their individual circumstances. The Women in Franchise area will have a free franchise matchmaking service as well as representatives from a multitude of sectors; B2B and B2C franchises, franchises for couples, part-time franchises, work at home mum’s franchises and low cost franchises.
Running a franchise is one of the biggest growth areas for female business owners and will be a key focus at our event.
Time-saving Research
Many leading recruiters suggest that people looking to make a career transition need to spend 7 to 8 Hours per week for several weeks to prepare, research and network. Attending WIB Expo means you could finally seal your professional future in less than a day.
Instead of wasting numerous hours on research and planning while juggling with everything else, you will get all the support and resource you need by visiting the event.
Knowledge and know-how
It doesn’t matter if you’re a budding entrepreneur or a career-returner looking for a flexible job role – expanding your knowledge is a key part of achieving success. The event will help you to learn, exploit your ideas and open your eyes to other opportunities. The extensive seminar timetable has numerous sessions tailored to different elements of business – such as ‘Quick hacks for marketing your product’, ‘Harnessing your potential’ and ‘The power of thinking big and overcoming limiting beliefs’. You can also build your knowledge and improve your know-how by exploring different industries in the dedicated Women in Tech and Women in Business zones.
Women in Business Expo 2019 takes place 16-17 October in Farnborough. To explore the timetable, headline speakers and exhibitor list or to register please see here.
