Wyred Up goes Over Wyre

Wyrebank Banqueting Suite, 8 June 2010

 

Wyred Up networking events are held at different venues all over Wyre, moving round the major areas of Fleetwood, Poulton, Cleveleys, Thornton and of course Garstang - which is where this June event was held.

 

Cllr Barry Birch (Highcross Ward Poulton) once again did the honours and opened the event with a quick introduction to the venue and thanking them for their hospitality.

 

Along with the rural setting, the evening had a rural theme, with speakers from three very different members of the rural economy.

 

Ed Huges kicked off with a resume of the grant funding which is available from the Rural Lancashire Development Fund - with a quick outline of criteria and how to apply.

 

Neil Middleton went on to give a fascinating and candid account of how his business, Maple Timber Frame, had withstood the recession and managed to not only continue trading but also develop new product lines to take the company forward into the future. His account of how challenging it is to find and apply for funding showed everyone that although it is, shall we say, a challenging process, it is also one which is worth undertaking.

 

Karen Raine from Country Fram Stud admitted that speaking to a meeting was a very different environment for her, as she is used to working with horses at her stud farm rather than business people! Nevertheless, she gave a very interesting and confident talk about how they have expanded their business and taken it from strength to strength - also surviving a recession.

 

Nick Kenyon, Director of Dewlay Cheese, rounded the speakers up by recounting how their family business had grown and thrived, becoming a major employer in the area and retailing their cheese in supermarkets all over the UK. A fascinating story which held the audience!

 

Finally, Wyrebank Banqueting suite made a quick presentation - a courtesy extended to all hosts of Wyred Up meetings and the very least that can be done to say thank you to the various establishments who have provided hospitality to these meetings.

 

A new innovation for this meeting was the introduction of the 'One Minute Business Pitch' which was both entertaining and informative! Attendees at the meeting who were prepared to make a presentation submitted their business cards on arrival and by rotation made a quick presentation to the audience. One minute (when timed!) is actually difficult to fill to the second, but as the regulars at Wyred Up meetings have more practice I'm sure it's an art that will be mastered!

 

Maria Blundy, Head of Building Control at Wyre Borough Council, tells the audience what the department does - in 1 minute!