This Christmas, It’s All About Corporate Family Events!

If you’re a regular reader of Meeting & Incentive Travel, an insightful trade title for the corporate events industry, you may have seen my opinion piece this month on corporate Christmas parties.  The sentiment behind the article? That, in order to be more sensitive to world events and the current economic climate, corporate Christmas parties have evolved in 2023. My …

Celebrating Neurodiversity in the Workplace

In today’s workplace, diversity and inclusion have become central values for businesses to thrive and innovate. In recent years, I’d argue there has been progress in promoting gender, racial, and ethnic diversity; although we still have a way to go. But for me, it’s equally important to recognise another diversity issue. I’ll admit, its something that has only recently come …

Events That Made Me Podcast – Favourite Moments

Launching a podcast has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable projects of my entire career. Born out of the Covid lockdowns, it is a lifelong ambition realised and to me, represents some of the attributes I possess that I’m most proud of. My creativity, resilience, and willingness to succeed at everything I do. Even in the face of …

Finding a Work Life Balance

Finding a Work Life Balance

January, a time for reflection on the year that has passed and setting intentions for what is to come. 2022 was an unusual year, and a busy one. Many of us finding our feet and attempting to nurture our businesses back to their pre-pandemic health, with one or two obstacles to manoeuvre along the way. A very busy event business …

Can Creativity Be Learned

Can Creativity Be Learned?  

Creativity is at the core of my business. And it’s also in my DNA, as a human being. I’ve played the piano since I was four, and music is my soul food. So overall, creativity is the single most motivational objective that rocks my world. It manifests itself in many and varied ways for different people – in art, music, …

Why Podcasting is Such a Powerful Marketing Tool  

Podcasts really came in to their own during lockdown, the perfect antidote to Zoom fatigue.  And I thought, “Why not?” I was no stranger to sharing my experiences to guide and inspire other people. So truthfully, starting my podcast – Events That Made Me – wasn’t too far outside my comfort zone. It was just a different approach. And it …

Why is Encouragement So Important to Mentoring?

Why is Encouragement So Important to Mentoring?

The Oxford Dictionary defines encouragement as “the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope”. And, as a professional mentor, that inspires me. In fact, National Day of Encouragement on 12th September has got me thinking about why encouragement is such a powerful part of the mentoring process. You see, I’m genuinely passionate about people. I’d have been in the …

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Humans are creatures of habit. We create rituals that feel familiar. Find comfort in well-known surroundings. And are programmed to thrive in repetitive behaviours that make us feel safe. None more so than in the world of work. This preference for familiarity is more commonly referred to as the comfort zone. A place of low stress levels, where we feel …

The Evolution of the Manchester Hospitality Scene

The Northern hospitality sector is thriving, there’s no doubt about that. A quick tot up of those just on my conscious radar and I count twenty-three new bars and restaurants opening in Greater Manchester in the coming weeks. Not just in the city centre but developing towns such as Stockport and Bury too. The Manchester hospitality scene (and let’s assume …

Why Use Events to Promote Your Venue?

This is an area I know a thing or two about. So, I’ll cut to the chase. Why use events to promote your venue? Because arranging and delivering events to promote your venue can be the most powerful action you can take. But it can also be completely counterproductive if it isn’t done well. That said, the concept of experiential …