OxLEP Business are inviting Business leaders to join this Peer Network and transform their approach to communications.

FOR OXFORDSHIRE BUSINESS LEADERS ONLY

What is your business voice like? Are you shouting? Whispering? Saying too little or too much about your business?

Whether you are a business leader of a science or tech start-up, a business looking to scale up or you simply want to improve how you communicate about your business, being an effective business storyteller is essential today.

Customers, investors, collaborators, suppliers, staff, potential recruits or contractors – all need to understand your business. And they are all different.

This series of workshop sessions will be delivered by two of our experienced business experts, providing practical content to help you learn and develop alongside a group of supportive peers sharing the need to be better communicators. Joining others in business, this group will help you to form new contacts, build networks and gain valuable professional and personal support.

What the sessions cover?

Participants in this group will gain fresh insights and confidence about effective communication:

• Explore what you want to say

…and WHY you want to reach specific audiences.

• Devise your messages, plan your campaigns.

• Understand stakeholders and how to engage them

• How to use different channels tactically.

• Know what to avoid

What will I gain?

• Access to a new support network

• New tools for collaboration

• Improved communication skills

• Greater understanding of effective communication activities

• Inspiration and motivation to grow

When?

The group will meet on zoom on Tuesdays between 08am and 10am for 6 sessions, starting on the 10th of January and meeting fortnightly until the 21st of March 2023.

Eligibility

• You must be an Oxfordshire business, established and trading for 12 months+

• An ambition for growth / innovation

• Must be able to commit to all the sessions

Presenters

Lesley McKie is an experienced provider of mentoring and support to SMEs. She’s a business owner and manager with a strong background in consultancy and leads marketing and communications (online and offline) for a range of clients. Her coaching and mentoring skills arise from her advanced training and experience as a corporate coach with KPMG. More recently, she has supported businesses in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire via the ERDF-funded Network Navigator role, as a Peer Networks facilitator and as a business advisor providing support during the COVID pandemic and EU Exit.

Rod Macrae is a highly experienced communications and marcomms professional with a background in national, international and local broadcasting and journalism. He maintains a strong commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction having served as Communications Director for Greenpeace International.

He founded the south Oxfordshire-based Positively Media consultancy in 2002 and has worked with clients ranging from SMEs and start-ups to major brands (including Ogilvy, National Express, Octopus and AXA). At Positively Media Rod provides the creative aspects of their work, managing content services including copy writing, video and social media, as well as communications strategy and training.