Thursday 15 October 2009

Be Inspired 09 Proves To Be A Huge Success


Special guests Richard Farleigh, Liz Jackson and Levi Roots provided three inspiring keynote speeches to over 1,000 delegates inside Chineham Park’s Central 40.

Local business leaders from across Hampshire networked, collaborated, enjoyed seminars and discussion forums and visited over 80 business stalls showcasing their expertise.

Business Link’s Deborah Wyatt said: “Our keynote speakers were so inspiring, Levi was very entertaining and wowed the audience with his charm and personality. Richard packed the event with his opening address and he provided fantastic encouragement for local entrepreneurs. Liz Jackson is a truly inspiring lady and it was an honour to meet her.

“We are also delighted to contribute a donation to Naomi House, as requested by Liz Jackson, who waived her normal fee for Be Inspired 09.”

Be Inspired 09 delivered its promise and was a new and innovative event designed to create a one stop shop for business advice and information for local business leaders.

Deborah Wyatt added: “The event was a huge success and I am so pleased from the feedback we have had from delegates, our partners and the exhibitors. There really was a buzz of excitement in the air and I am delighted that local entrepreneurs took the time out of their busy day to come along.”

Photographs, seminar presentations and a short film capturing the event is available now on the Be Inspired 09 website at www.beinspired09.co.uk

Ray Mears Invites You To New Event

Ray Mears, survival and bushcraft expert, is encouraging Chineham Park companies to sign up for a new corporate event, the Great Escape Challenge in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The challenge takes 60 corporate teams of four on a head-to-head, multi-sport adventure designed to test the mind, challenge the body and build team spirit. Taking place over the weekend of 21 May 2010 entrants will camp in the stunning backdrop of the Brecon Beacons, the perfect office getaway.

Featuring a series of unique group challenges in a fun and competitive environment, the winning team will depend not simply on fitness levels, but on making smart decisions, thinking laterally and communicating effectively.

The Great Escape Challenge brings a variety of benefits back to the workplace including delegation and team working skills. As an exclusively corporate event, it also presents some serious networking opportunities with companies from across the UK.

Ray Mears said: “I’m urging companies to sign up for Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Escape Challenge. It will test teams on a variety of skills and strengths as well as bringing them together. I believe the wilderness is also a great leveller, making this an ideal adventure for companies to go head-to-head on.

“Following the death of my wife to breast cancer, I have seen first hand the wonderful work that Marie Curie Nurses do and the money raised from the Great Escape Challenge will help them to provide free care to patients with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes.”

Companies can enter the Great Escape Challenge in teams of four, with at least two people from the same company. Entry costs just £600 + VAT per team with a minimum fundraising amount of £2,000.

For more information about the Great Escape Challenge or to register your entry, please call 08450 504321 or visit: www.greatescapechallenge.com

Business Park Responds To Survey Results

We had nearly 400 responses to the occupier’s survey that was issued earlier this year and we would like to thank those of you who completed it. From this questionnaire a number of points were raised and we have responded to these by taking the following actions.

Overall, 73% of you thought Chineham Park was a good or great place to work and 82% of you believed the landscaping was good to excellent.

However, a few of you commented about the limited number of benches around the estate. Chineham Park is now intending to create a variety of “outdoor rooms” by the spring of next year so that the environment can be enjoyed more fully when the sun returns!

Several of you noted the approach to the park was only average. Chineham Park is now looking at ways to improve this and you will start to see the results before Christmas.

98% of you mentioned the courtesy coach service ran on time, but despite over 50% of you living within ten miles of the park, the number of you regularly using the courtesy coach has fallen. Therefore Chineham Park will now be upgrading the coaches in early 2010 to encourage more usage.

Those of you who walk to work expressed concern over safety, especially on the public footpath into the park from Hanmore Road via the railway underpass. Chineham Park has now raised this issue with the Chineham Village Security Forum and budgeted for enhanced lighting and a security camera to cover the footpath from the estates boundary.

Finally, 88% of you said the food selection at Dayer’s Fine Foods was good to excellent, but there was room for improvement with the speed of delivery. Chineham Park has been working closely with Dayer’s Fine Foods to undertake a range of measures to improve this and you may already be benefitting from some of the changes.

Congratulations to Jo Hartshorn from Gist who won the £150 gift voucher for Festival Place in the prize draw.

For more information, please email Wendy Fletcher at wfletcher@mepc.com