SEPTEMBER 2020 TO DECEMBER 2020
EVENTS PROGRAMME SHARE KNOWLEDGE, MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS AND BE INSPIRED
WELCOME A lot has changed since the last time we published our events programme but what hasn’t is the high calibre and incredible variety of events found within our programme. From member events to Zoom socials, chaired discussions to webinars, we’ve designed our blended online and in-person programme to deliver events that inspire you, connect you to your peers, and support you to prepare and deliver your future plans. All you need to do is make some time for yourself and come along to meet like-minded people and hear from those who have done it all before. Taking a couple of hours out of your business to work on it with your peers is a great way to spark new ideas, discover innovative business solutions and make useful new connections, so what are you waiting for?
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A GUIDE TO OUR EVENTS Events come in all shapes and sizes, but all have the same goal of bringing together the most aspirational North East business owners to create opportunity, share knowledge and make new connections. While this is our events programme as it currently stands, watch out for more announcements as guidelines may change and opportunities may arise to bring more to the programme.
MEMBER EVENTS
ECOMMERCE GROUP
ENTREPRENEURIAL CONFERENCES*
Member events offer regular opportunities to hear from inspirational entrepreneurs sharing the highs and lows of their business journey.
As part of our mentoring programme, we have a group of eCommerce retailers who meet regularly to share ideas, news and challenges in the world of online retail.
MEET THE ENTREPRENEUR EVENTS
ROUND TABLES
The most prestigious business events in the North East, our annual conferences bring top-class speakers to the region from some of the most successful, innovative and entrepreneurial organisations in the world.
Delivered in an interview style, our online Meet the Entrepreneur events allow you to hear more from both emerging and established entrepreneurs, to learn about the individual, the industry they operate within and their challenges and achievements.
Our chaired round table discussions are a great way to come together with fellow entrepreneurs to learn more about a subject and share your knowledge and expertise.
EXCHANGE EVENTS Our exchange events offer thoughtprovoking talks and interactive workshops to help business leaders and their teams’ build practical plans that enable them to overcome the barriers to growth.
SOCIAL EVENTS Informal gatherings, our social events bring like-minded people together in a relaxed way, for drinks, a spot of lunch, a bit of fun, or an evening out.
MENTORING DROP-IN SESSIONS Opportunities to speak to people who’ve done it all before, our mentoring drop-in sessions let you chat confidentially about your business with some of the region’s most successful entrepreneurs.
WEBINARS Bitesize online workshops, our hour-long webinars are delivered by industry experts and cover subjects directly related to business growth.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS Inviting subject experts and entrepreneurs to share their views, our panel discussions offer focused conversations based on emerging opportunities within our region.
CHAIRMAN’S DINNER* Marking the beginning of the year in inspirational style, our Chairman is joined by a special guest to host a celebratory dinner for entrepreneurs.
ON-SITE VISITS*
FOCUS DINNERS* Set in the private dining rooms of some of the region’s finest restaurants, these intimate entrepreneur-only dinners bring together great food, inspirational speakers and captivating conversation.
NORTH EAST ENTREPRENEURIAL AWARDS* Our annual black-tie awards ceremony celebrates the achievement of the region’s most talented and successful entrepreneurs. Attendance at our events is exclusively for Entrepreneurs’ Forum members and events are limited by capacity. We are following Government guidelines and our in-person events are subject to change depending on the latest guidance. To book for any of the following events, and to keep up to date, please visit entrepreneursforum.net/events
Full of helpful ideas to implement in your own business, on-site visits give an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the most creative and innovative organisations.
*Current public health guidelines prevent us from offering this event type at the time of publication. However, we know how much you value them and hope to reinstate them as soon as it is safe to do so.
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EVENTS AT A GLANCE There’s something to inspire and enlighten everyone in our events programme which has some of the most experienced and fastest growing business owners in the UK joining us to share their stories and expertise. Meeting with likeminded people, our events offer you an enjoyable way to invest in yourself and continue to learn from the experience of business leaders from Crafter’s Companion, ramarketing and Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?
SEPTEMBER RAMAN SEHGAL, RAMARKETING Meet the Entrepreneur Delivered via Zoom Tuesday 15th September 2pm - 3pm
HOW CAN THE NELEP SUPPORT ME AND MY BUSINESS? Webinar Delivered via Zoom Tuesday 22nd September 2pm - 3pm
STEERING YOUR TEAM THROUGH CHANGE
IS IT TIME TO REVIEW YOUR BRAND?
Exchange Event Delivered via Zoom Thursday 24th September 11am - 1pm
Webinar Delivered via Zoom Tuesday 13th October 11am - 12noon
MENTORING SESSION
KEITH MILLER, MILLER UK
Delivered via Zoom Friday 25th September 1pm - 4pm
Member Event Delivered online and in-person at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Thursday 15th October 1.30pm - 3.30pm
MANAGEMENT BUY OUTS Panel Discussion Delivered via Zoom Tuesday 29th September 2pm - 3pm
OCTOBER SCALE-UP LEADER’S ACADEMY 2021 Preview Event Delivered online and in-person at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Thursday 1st October 9am - 11am
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP Social Event Delivered via Zoom Friday 2nd October 11am - 12noon
HOW IS THE UK RECOVERY SHAPING UP? Webinar Delivered online Wednesday 7th October 3.30pm - 4.30pm
ECOMMERCE GROUP RAMAN SEHGAL
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PROTO, Gateshead Thursday 8th October 9am - 11am
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP Social Event Delivered via Zoom Friday 16th October 11am - 12noon
REVISITING THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL Panel Discussion Delivered via Zoom Tuesday 20th October 2pm - 3.30pm
RAISING FINANCE DURING TURBULENT TIMES Round Table Diamond Group, Gateshead Thursday 22nd October 1pm - 3pm
MENTORING SESSION Hoults Yard, Newcastle Friday 23rd October 12.30pm - 4.30pm
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP Social Event Delivered via Zoom Friday 30th October 11am - 12noon
#NEENTREPRENEURS
KEITH MILLER
NOVEMBER WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE OFFICE? Panel Discussion Delivered online and in-person at Haylofts, Newcastle Wednesday 4th November 1.30pm - 3.30pm
HAS LOCKDOWN CHANGED YOUR ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE? Round Table Para-Sols, Darlington Tuesday 10th November 9.30am - 11.30am
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP Social Event Delivered via Zoom Friday 13th November 11am - 12noon
THE FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP Panel Discussion Delivered online and in-person at Redworth Hall Hotel Tuesday 17th November 1.30pm - 3.30pm
THE FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP’
ECOMMERCE GROUP PROTO, Gateshead Wednesday 18th November 9am - 11am
DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION Exchange Event Delivered online and in-person at Emirates Riverside, Durham Thursday 19th November 9am - 12noon
BOARD EFFECTIVENESS Round Table Venue TBC Thursday 26th November 9am - 11.30am
DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION
DECEMBER OBJECTIVE SETTING FOR REMOTE TEAMS Webinar Delivered via Zoom Tuesday 1st December 2pm - 3pm
CHRISTMAS SOCIAL Social Event Venue TBC Thursday 10th December 12noon - 2pm
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP Social Event Delivered via Zoom Friday 27th November 11am - 12noon
MENTORING SESSION Visualsoft, Stockton Friday 27th November 12.30pm - 4.30pm
STEERING YOUR TEAM THROUGH CHANGE
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SEPTEMBER HOW CAN THE NELEP SUPPORT ME AND MY BUSINESS?
Webinar Tuesday 22nd September 2pm - 3pm Delivered via Zoom FREE (for all members)
RAMAN SEGHAL, RAMARKETING Meet the Entrepreneur Tuesday 15th September 2pm - 3pm Delivered via Zoom FREE (for all members)
Raman Sehgal founded ramarketing (the name unimaginably inspired by his name after a few beers) in his Gateshead flat in 2009 with the aim of helping companies to get noticed, raise profile and generate leads. Over time, the company has evolved into an international design, digital and content agency that’s in the business of helping fast-growing firms in the life science (pharmaceutical and biotech) sectors. A focus on strong ‘Geordie values’ being scrappy, canny and genuine - and the sole commitment to remarkable
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marketing for companies operating in the drug development space has led to impressive growth for the niche business. The company has grown every year for 11 consecutive years and is now a multi-million-pound agency headquartered in Newcastle. With additional offices in Manchester, UK and Boston, US (and plans for more), ramarketing has a 40+ team who work with over 50 clients from the Far East, Europe and North America. More than 75% of the agency’s revenue is now from export markets, which is very unusual for a UK-based marketing agency. Joining us from Boston, in this ‘Meet the Entrepreneur’ online session, Raman will share the challenges of going global, maintaining company culture while scaling and ramarketing’s role in supporting many clients actively involved in potential treatments for Covid-19.
In our upcoming Q&A session, Colin Bell, Business Growth Director at NELEP, will answer your questions on the current prospects for the North East economy and its sectors, what the likely effects are going to be on the entrepreneurial community in growing businesses and what specific action the NELEP has committed to do to actively support entrepreneurs whilst they innovate, pivot and grow. Armed with the latest market insight from businesses in the area and a wealth of experience supporting entrepreneurs, this open discussion with Colin is the ideal opportunity for entrepreneurs to see how their growth plans can be boosted.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
STEERING YOUR TEAM THROUGH CHANGE
With Ben Hunt-Davis, Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? Exchange Event Thursday 24th September 11am - 1pm Delivered via Zoom FREE (for all members)
The ability to navigate through both internal and external change is a cornerstone of success for any leader. As we continue to operate in an environment of constant change and unpredictability, we’ve invited Olympic champion Ben Hunt-Davis to share how
MENTORING SESSION
Friday 25th September 1pm - 4pm
you can successfully steer your team through periods of change and how to inspire them to high performance too. Sharing four key recommendations for leaders to successfully steer their teams through times of crisis, Ben joins us to discuss the importance of: leading through change, creating engaging goals, effective conversations and building belief in your goals. Ben was part of an underachieving Men’s Eight who, in 1998, set themselves a crazy goal of winning an Olympic Gold Medal in just two years’ time. By focusing on performance, their results started improving and on 25th September 2000, Ben and his crew won Gold at the Sydney Olympics. Their story now acts as a reminder that with the right approach people are capable of amazing things.
Delivered via Zoom FREE (for all entrepreneur members) Whatever stage of business you are at, speaking to people who have done it before can help; but finding the right
MANAGEMENT BUY OUTS
Panel Discussion Tuesday 29th September 2pm - 3pm
Delivered via Zoom FREE (for all entrepreneur members) With a predicted rise in the number of Management Buy-outs completing in the latter half of 2020, please join us for our one-hour panel discussion where we will explore how to successfully structure, fund and complete a MBO. Chaired by Jonathan Lamb of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, experts Katherine Hay-Heddle, corporate partner at Ward Hadaway, and Carl Swansbury, corporate finance partner at Ryecroft Glenton will talk through the key points that need to be considered when looking to unlock a MBO.
person isn’t always easy. Our mentoring surgeries aim to help. Confidential one-to-one sessions, they give you a rare chance to talk through business challenges with other experienced entrepreneurs.
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OCTOBER SCALE-UP LEADER’S ACADEMY 2021 PREVIEW EVENT
Online and In-Person Event Thursday 1st October 9am - 11am Delivered online and in-person at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead FREE (for all entrepreneur members)
Whether you’re preparing for fast growth, or already growing quickly and need support, the Scale-up Leader’s Academy can give you the tools you need. Helping ambitious business owners to prepare for sustainable high-growth, the Scale-up Leader’s Academy is a sevenmonth programme enabling you to scale sustainably, with the support of your peers and a clear strategic plan. Our fifth cohort will start January 2021 and we’d like to invite you to come and find out more about it at our upcoming preview event on Thursday 1st October 2020, with scale-up coach Ian Kinnery and SULA alumni Sally Marshall (Marshall Robertson Group) and Andrew Mackay (Coleman James), delivered at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead hotel and via Zoom.
HOW IS THE UK RECOVERY SHAPING UP?
Webinar Wednesday 7th October 3.30pm - 4.30pm Delivered online FREE (for all members)
Q, U, V or W… many are wondering what shape Britain’s economic recovery will be. With some predicting the economy could take until 2024 to return to its size pre-lockdown, there is still enormous uncertainty as to what businesses should do next, how they should plan for the future, and what opportunities will emerge during the recovery. In our upcoming webinar, economist Janet Mui (Brewin Dolphin) will share her predictions for the remainder of the financial year, helping you to plan ahead for 2021/22.
ECOMMERCE GROUP
Thursday 8th October 9am - 11am PROTO, Gateshead FREE (for all members who run online stores)
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Janet is investment director at Brewin Dolphin. As part of the research team, Janet is responsible for the commentary and communication of Brewin Dolphin’s macro/investment views to clients and the media and is a frequent guest on the BBC, Sky News, Bloomberg and CNBC.
Our first eCommerce group of the Autumn gives those operating online stores the chance to come together and enjoy topical discussions, share ideas, news and challenges from the world of online retail.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
IS IT TIME TO REVIEW YOUR BRAND? Webinar Tuesday 13th October 11am - 12noon Delivered via Zoom FREE (for all members)
With consumer behaviour changing as a result of the pandemic, revisiting your brand has never been more important. Kieron Goldsborough (Narrative) joins us for this bitesize workshop where he’ll
KEITH MILLER, MILLER UK
Member Event Thursday 15th October 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Delivered online and in-person at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead FREE (for entrepreneur members)
show how to conduct a review which ensures your brand continues to be relevant, well-aligned with your strategy and well-positioned against competitors. Kieron is an entrepreneurial leader with over 20 years’ experience in marketing communications. In 2011, Kieron became Creative Director at Press Ahead, where the Narrative story began, and since then has worked with a number of large bluechip clients as well as a series of dynamic start-ups. Having moved into position as Managing Director at Narrative, Kieron continues to work in a hands-on fashion across all of Narrative's accounts. by example, praising good people and trying to make work fun, Miller UK has grown to where it is today. They are a superb example of the positive effect that innovation can have on a business, and remain passionate about offering the safest products, the finest customer service and the most advanced attachment solutions in the world.
As inventor of the world’s first ever fully automatic, universal pin grabber coupler range in 1986, Miller UK has been bravely questioning the status quo and setting the standards ever since, as it revolutionises construction sites all over the globe.
Having overcome some fairly momentous hurdles (the biggest being a $74m copyright lawsuit battle with Caterpillar), it’s Keith and his family’s constant ambition to be innovators in their field that has driven them forward and will undoubtedly continue to do so for the next 40 years.
Through determination, hard work, teamwork, honesty and transparency, making the difficult decisions fast, leading
Join us to hear the lessons learned throughout his business journey and his thoughts on the future.
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP Social Event Friday 16th October 11am - 12noon
Delivered via Zoom FREE (for entrepreneur members) While we can’t socialise in person we can still get together online and catch up over a cup of coffee. Join fellow entrepreneurs and the Forum team on Fridays, 11am - 12noon.
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REVISITING THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY AND RETAIL
Panel Discussion Tuesday 20th October 2pm - 3.30pm Delivered via Zoom FREE (for all members)
Following our popular discussion on the future of the travel, hospitality,
RAISING FINANCE DURING TURBULENT TIMES Round Table Thursday 22nd October 1pm - 3pm
Diamond Group, Gateshead FREE (for entrepreneur members) While it may seem counter-intuitive, it is possible to raise finance during an economic downturn - in fact it may actually be the best time to do so.
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retail and sport industries in July, we’re delighted to welcome back our panel of entrepreneurs for a follow-up discussion on what’s changed since. Moderated by John Waterworth, join us to hear from Simon Whitaker of Master Debonair (fashion), Anne Bromley of Travel Bureau (travel), Dan Foskett of Connection Flooring (retail) and Sally Marshall of Marshall Robertson Group (hospitality) as they explore how COVID-19 has changed their business and the markets they operate within, and what they’re doing to respond to changing consumer needs.
MENTORING SESSION
Friday 23rd October 12.30pm - 4.30pm
Hoults Yard, Newcastle FREE (for entrepreneur members) Whatever stage of business you are at, speaking to people who have done it before can help; but finding the right person isn’t always easy. Our mentoring surgeries aim to help. Confidential one-to-one sessions, they give you a rare chance to talk through business challenges with other experienced entrepreneurs.
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP Our upcoming round table offers an open environment for you to discuss your experiences and thoughts and learn from other entrepreneurs about how to raise finance during turbulent times.
Social Event Friday 30th October 11am - 12noon
Delivered via Zoom FREE (for entrepreneur members) While we can’t socialise in person we can still get together online and catch up over a cup of coffee. Join fellow entrepreneurs and the Forum team on Fridays, 11am - 12noon.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
NOVEMBER WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE OFFICE? Panel Discussion Wednesday 4th November 1.30pm - 3.30pm Delivered online and in-person at Haylofts, Newcastle FREE (for entrepreneur members)
Joined by Charlie Hoult, Founder of HyHubs, Jen Hartley of Invest Newcastle and additional panellists, this upcoming discussion will explore the implications the lockdown has had on the commercial property sector, focusing on workplace design, advanced technology infrastructure, changing city centre culture and property investment and development.
Social Event Friday 13th November 11am - 12noon
Lockdown has changed where we work, how we work and how we behave in the workplace.
Delivered via Zoom FREE (for entrepreneur members) While we can’t socialise in person we can still get together online and catch up over a cup of coffee. Join fellow entrepreneurs and the Forum team on Fridays, 11am - 12noon.
THE FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP Panel Discussion Tuesday 17th November 1.30pm - 3.30pm Delivered online and in-person at Redworth Hall Hotel FREE (for all members)
To mark Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020, we’ve asked our resident Dragon to chair an event focusing on entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurs are critical to the future success of the UK economy. Chaired by Sara Davies, Founder of Crafters Companion, and star of BBC Dragon’s Den, this panel discussion will
Round Table Tuesday 10th November 9.30am - 11.30am
Para-Sols, Darlington FREE (for entrepreneur members)
It goes without saying that the world of commercial property is experiencing uncertain times. How we work and where we work has changed, possibly irrevocably, following the pandemic.
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP
HAS LOCKDOWN CHANGED YOUR ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE?
explore the business trends of today and tomorrow, and how they will revolutionise the way we do business in the North East.
As the culture of an organisation is intrinsic to customer experience, staff recruitment and the performance of the team, understanding how and why culture changes will be key to driving business forward beyond the lockdown. Chaired by Cathi Harrison (Para-Sols), our upcoming round table on organisational culture offers an open environment for you to discuss your experiences and thoughts on the topic and to learn more about the subject from your peers.
ECOMMERCE GROUP Wednesday 18th November 9am - 11am PROTO, Gateshead FREE (for all members who run online stores)
Our final eCommerce group of 2020 gives those operating online stores the chance to come together and enjoy topical discussions, share ideas, news and challenges from the world of online retail.
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DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION
with Mark Shayler, Ape Exchange Event Thursday 19th November 9am - 12noon
Delivered online and in-person at Emirates Riverside, Durham FREE (for all members) Disruptive innovation - it may be another contender for corporate lingo bingo but purposeful disruption matters. By being agile, responsive and proactive, developing better products and making products better, disruptive innovation can help create your competitive edge and ensures you’re not left behind.
In our upcoming Exchange Event with Mark Shayler, we’ll explore how you can develop the strategic vision you need today, to ensure you stay relevant tomorrow. Offering short and sharp interventions that will change the pace and direction of what you’re doing, we’ll explore how you can embrace disruptive innovation and seek it out within your business. Mark is a founding partner of the Do Lectures, author of “Do Disrupt: Change the status quo or become it”, owner of sustainable innovation consultancy Ape and a failed rugby player. Having disrupted for 40 years, starting at age 10 when he organised a student strike over the quality of school dinners, Mark Shayler now applies the lessons learned throughout his career to help companies of all sizes to disrupt too.
BOARD EFFECTIVENESS
Round Table Thursday 26th November 9am - 11.30am Venue TBC FREE (for entrepreneur members)
Bringing strategic focus and direction to an organisation, the benefits of having a strong board are clear. But building a great board is not always easy. Board members need to be committed; have clarity on their role as a board member; show willingness to engage deeply in the company’s strategy and be open and honest, finely balancing collaboration with challenging conversations. In our upcoming ‘Board Effectiveness’ round table, we’ll explore: when and why you should have a board, the different types of roles and options available beyond just a NED, board recruitment, refreshing your board, how to keep a board high performing, and how to measure board effectiveness.
COFFEE AND CATCH-UP
Social Event Friday 27th November 11am - 12noon
Delivered via Zoom FREE (for entrepreneur members) While we can’t socialise in person we can still get together online and catch up over a cup of coffee. Join fellow entrepreneurs and the Forum team on Fridays, 11am - 12noon.
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MENTORING SESSION
Friday 27th November 12.30pm - 4.30pm
Visualsoft, Stockton FREE (for entrepreneur members) Whatever stage of business you are at, speaking to people who have done it before can help; but finding the right person isn't always easy. Our mentoring surgeries aim to help. Confidential one-toone sessions, they give you a rare chance to talk through business challenges with other experienced entrepreneurs.
ENTREPRENEURS’ FORUM EVENTS
Joined by subject experts Peter Neal and Andrew Marsh of The Experience Bank Group and chaired by James Robson MBE, Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, our upcoming round table offers an open environment for you to discuss your experiences and thoughts and learn from other entrepreneurs about what makes an effective board.
#NEENTREPRENEURS
DECEMBER OBJECTIVE SETTING FOR REMOTE TEAMS Webinar Tuesday 1st December 2pm - 3pm Delivered via Zoom FREE (for all members)
Leading and managing remote teams may be new to many of us, but not at Visualsoft where a forward-thinking and innovative approach to remote working has been a major part of the business since 2014. Having identified ‘key ingredients’ for maintaining a productive remote
working team, Gavin Lowther (Head of Digital at Visualsoft) joins us to share his tips for successfully managing remote teams. Exploring successful remote working strategies and best practice, Gavin will delve deeper into the creation and management of structured KPI’s along with all the challenges involved including difficult conversations and 1:1 agendas that align all employees to the organisation’s overall objective. Gavin is Head of Digital at Visualsoft where he is responsible for all of Visualsoft’s digital marketing services, including commercial growth, efficiency, service levels and overarching strategy for the digital teams.
CHRISTMAS SOCIAL
Social Event Thursday 10th December 12noon - 2pm Venue TBC
To celebrate this Christmas, And all of your success, We’re inviting you to our Christmas social, To catch-up and de-stress. More information about this event will be published closer to the date.
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PROUD TO BE PARTNERED BY:
0191 500 7780 info@entrepreneursforum.net entrepreneursforum.net
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WE’RE STRONGER TOGETHER:
#NEentrepreneurs
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