Competition- just for the Chicas

Women make up half of our population, but interestingly nowhere near half of our entrepreneurs, company bosses or managers. According to the BBC, almost half of private companies in the US are headed up by women but the UK is lagging behind. Many agencies are trying different strategies to encourage women in the workplace, one of whom is the Make Your Mark campaign.

They have launched the Girls, Make Your Mark Competition which is designed to find and reward outstanding female achievement in enterprise. Find out more by clicking the link, and most importantly enter it! (If you're a chica that is)

But hurry, the closing date is the 21st July 2008

New Competition

Ever dreamt of winning a high profile award? We've been told about the Midlands Business Awards, why not find out more?

This year entries have become even easier and can be submitted online, to enter please visit the website: www.midlandsbusinessawards.com

The categories for entries are:

- MIDLANDS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS NETWORKER OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS EXPORTER OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS NETWORKING CLUB OF THE YEAR

You are now able to enter the awards, please log on to the website (nominations may be made for yourself, your company. as well as for any other company or person for any of the categories)

If you want some help with your entry, let us know!

Promote your website

Got a business, got a website, sit back and wait for the cash to roll in. Hmmm, brilliant strategy! (At your SPEED interview, you might have got a few huffs and puffs from Mr C, showing his true feelings about this strategy)

Just one tiny little problem...where are your customers? Oh hang on, they're still there. Everyone knows that the web is where everyone is doing their business these days (*pah, don't get me started on that one!)

So why aren't they buying from you? Could it be, shock horror, no-one knows you're there? But, you have a website, surely they know about it (note heavy sarcasm).

Search Engine Optimisation - surely that will solve all your problems. Ok, it might help, but don't assume it's easy, because if it is, all of your competitors are doing the same.

How to promote your on-line business? Answers on a postcard please...

Lord Stafford comes to the East Midlands!

As you may be aware, last November, NTU SPEED was involved in the 1^st Festival of Innovation expo at the NEC. This was organised in conjunction with the Lord Stafford Awards (LSA). Unfortunately as the LSA were based in the West Midlands we were unable to enter and possibly win any of the awards. Undeterred, we gave it our best effort and, I believe, put on the best stand and had the best turn out of the show!

As a result of this effort (I wish, not really!), this year the East Midlands will have it’s own Lord Stafford Awards. The LSA are moving from the West Midlands initially into the East, before being expanded across the country. They will give £5k per company winner + considerable PR (to judge from the West Midlands event)

All of our SPEED businesses are potentially able to apply to these awards as, through their connection with The Hive they are “in association with an East Midland’s university.” There is a strong desire from the University for NTU to figure prominently in the applications, so you can expect plenty of help and support!

There are prizes of £5k each award and the deadline to return to us of Friday 25^th April.

I encourage you to look at this link for the LSA and if appropriate, contact me to get an application form, which we will fill in together. Before applying make sure you have read the judges criteria, under which the awards will be made, and try to see where your business fits in.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR APPLICATION TO ME so that I can co-ordinate those from SPEED

GOOD LUCK!