View from the Top

First pictures of our exhibition. If you have any to add, please let me know or upload them to the Facebook group.



More to follow!

Thanks again!

A quick post to say thanks for your support with our event at View from the Top, photos to follow.

If you weren't able to make the awards ceremony and networking lunch and still want to see what we've been up to, take a trip up to the 4th Floor of Waterstones and look at our exhibition. We'll be there until Monday 24th.

Oh and for those of you who took our marketing seminar with Russell Kennard, remember his willow pattern plate exercise??? I think this takes it one step further!

The Hive has secured the services of a Bentley Jennison a leading accountancy company from within the city, for a series of accountancy surgeries. The first sessions were a sell-out and the feedback has been very positive;

Very useful - I would definitely recommend these - Mandy

Yes, it was great...John’s awesome he makes things very clear and simple - Simeon

Definitely worth it as it offers a second opinion and allows you to ask questions which you are unsure of but don’t want to keep going over with existing accounts – Adam

We are offering 40-minute one-one appointments – bookable in advance.

Next Session planned for:

November 2008

Hive Meeting Room

We consider this service to be a valuable opportunity for your business.

If you would like an appointment, please contact:

Karen Doxey on 0115 848 4354 or e-mail: karen.doxey@ntu.ac.uk

Summer School

Just to show you that life here at NTU does not stop after term ends, here are a list of courses available from the school of Art and Design

Stats all folks!

Considering these words mostly go unread, I am chancing the hideous pun in the title!

As you know I can't really get enough of the internet. Now I can't stop looking at my blog stats. It's intriguing to try and figure out what caused spikes in the numbers, why there's been no views for a few days and then bam, 20 visitors! I am pleased to know that there's probably max 60 people who know about the blog from me or through the SPEED Project, but I'd say we've had a good proportion of them view it!

It's also interesting to see what people search for...for example SPEED Project blog (pretty obvious) Hive SPEED Project, Coypu Speed (???). But since I put on the post about market research sources, I've had 5 visits from the keyword Silobreaker and funnily enough some of them were interested enough to have a look around!

The key is returning visitors, something I am trying to work on all the time, finding new topics to post about is pretty tricky actually.

Any suggestions?

Next Event, book early please!

Creative Goal Setting

photo credit: dogfrog

Wednesday 25 June 2008

12.00 to 2.00 pm

Hive Seminar Room

Presenters:

Adrian Reynolds & Annie Dickinson

If you're going to embrace creativity in your business, start by using it in the way you set your goals. In this session you'll experience a simple way of tapping into your unconscious desires that brings renewed life to business planning, and new perspectives on your priorities.

Annie Dickinson works as an Executive Coach with Fortune 100 companies across Europe, focusing on changes that impact the bottom line. Clients include IBM, Unilever and AstraZeneca.

Adrian Reynolds is an award winning screenwriter with a background in advertising. His clients include HMV, Motorola, and Paul McKenna Training.

Suitable refreshments will be provided at this event

If you are interested in attending either of these events, please contact

Karen Doxey on 0115 848 4354

or e-mail: karen.doxey@ntu.ac.uk

Spot the difference!

What's missing...? You, of course!

Seriously though, we need your help. The Hive has just had new PCs installed on all the HotDesks, we have two fantastic seminars planned for May, and a further one in the pipeline for June too. What else can we do to entice you to use the Hive for your businesS work?

We're going to be asking this question to all our Hive-lives over the next few weeks, have a think and give us your honest opinion.

We miss you, come in and see us.

Forthcoming Pathway to Enterprise Event

Forthcoming Pathway to Enterprise Event

Business Health Check

‘A Breath of Fresh Air’

Wednesday 14 May 2008
1.30 to 3.30 pm
Hive Seminar Room
Presenter: David James Ross

A valuable opportunity for you to take some time out, stand back and get a fresh perspective on your business whatever stage you’re at. With the help of a creative business coach, you will identify the aspects of your business that are doing well and those which are not and create a plan to move forward on the challenging issues during this interactive session.

Director of Escapetunnel Limited, David James Ross works as a lecturer, trainer, writer and consultant, specialising in career and business development within the creative industries. Until recently the subject leader for Career Management Studies within the Joint Honours degree programme at the University of Derby, he now retains a connection with higher education by teaching professional practice on Foundation and BA (Hons) Commercial Photography and Video and Video Production. David has a unique training style that strongly encourages and facilitates discussion and reflection.

Thirsty Thursday

Just a quick post to remind you about Thirsty Thursday next week.

Why wait for your ideal job to come to you – create your own future today!

Ever considered starting up your own business but don’t know where to start?

‘thirsty thursday’ is a series of events hosted jointly by Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham. Held three times a year, ‘thirsty thursday’ aims to inspire students and graduates thinking about starting their own business by providing the chance to learn from people who already have.

Thirsty Thursday - 24th April 2008

I have been getting the Enterquest newsletter for the past six months or so. I often find it useful and sometimes inspiring. I especially like the Just One Word thread, always on the look out for new words and phrases, that's me! Check it out and sign up for the newsletter if you feel so inclined. I can't see if you can sign up for an RSS feed from it, but if you see it, please let me know!

We are off to Thirsty Thursday tonight, it's my first so I don't really know what to expect. Sim, from Bantum Clothing is speaking so I guess it should be fun. I'll let you know. Harriet from the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team has been promoting it through her blog. She got inspired by Antonio Gould's seminar on Blogging that we held here in November. I think she's found out that a blog can be a hard slog. But it's the same with any promotion, 'if you throw enough balls at enough coconuts, you'll win a fish!'

That's not mine, it's from Men Behaving Badly Sorry!

The Final Post

No, not the final post ever...you're not that lucky! It's the last time I shall mention the Festival of Innovation! (...maybe... well probably... erm possibly...)

We had a great day out, there was a definite feel of school trip on the freezing cold coach on the way there. The stand looked great- thanks to everyone for the poster info and to the gals and guys who exhibited. NTU had the best stand, and I'm not just saying that. Better than the rocket car! Oh yes, you missed a rocket car!

Glyn http://www.nedstar-uk.com/ provided the entertainment when things got a bit boring in the afternoon. I am embarrassed at my hockey skills and glad that almost everyone else was rubbish too. I hope the University of Wolverhampton staff have forgiven us for constantly rattling their stand walls! I had fully intended to upload a video of (unsigned) hockey star Dave 'Mudd' Hammond, but like a moron had forgotten I've downloaded the videos at home. So I guess you'll just have to wait for that one.

It was a very quiet expo, but I hope most people got something out of it, even if it was just free champagne (Phil, Paul http://www.wedig.co.uk/ and Matt), a free massage (Paul, again) or networking (everyone else!). Andrea managed to capture most of it on digi film so more photos to follow

Then, it was all back to the Miller's Barn for a meal. Luckily by that time, the coach had warmed up so Jo did not turn into an ice cube and Amy http://www.pipalina.com/ was not completely blue when she got off the coach! After missing the tram back into town and standing in the frosty air for 15 minutes we finally got back to Nottingham.

Suffice to say, thanks to Dave Hammond - MUDD, Paul Ellis - Green Rooms and Paul Scrimshaw - Little Oak Paving for helping me to break down the stand the next day. Cheers guys, it was a real help!