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Tips from the top at event PAUL HICKENBOTHAM, POSITIVENEGATIVES

BUSINESS students in Sussex have tough times’, and ‘growing together’ – how
learned new skills and imbued more businesses in West Sussex can benefit by
working with students and the EBP.
knowledge alongside those already ‘Investing in the future’ was the name of
working in business at a unique Ruth Badger’s keynote address, and her
event in Crawley. theme tied in perfectly with the day’s ambi-
Ruth Badger (right), renowned for her tions and title – Grow Your Own.
performance on The Apprentice TV Ruth Badger explained how she does just
show, and Young Entrepreneur of the that. The 31-year-old millionaire, who runs
three businesses, explained how she actively
year Raj Anand, were the guest speakers seeks to ‘talent spot’ young people to recruit
at the Grow Your Own event held at Vir- into her businesses. She looks ‘for those not
gin Atlantic’s The Base in Manor Royal, necessarily with the best qualifications but
Crawley. those with character and attitude that I can
Organised by the West Sussex Education mould and train’.
Business Partnership (EBP), the occasion Ruth left school in Wolverhampton at 16 with
brought together students from a variety of just three GCSEs, and she told the captivated
colleges and representatives from numerous audience she was rejected from 32 businesses
local businesses in the innovative setting of before finding salvation with a place on a
Virgin Atlantic’s training centre. Youth Training Scheme, where she was intro- ing with Sir Alan for six months I found him life, experience on The Apprentice, and her
“The more businesses that engage with duced to admin, after which she quickly ex- in real life, to be just like he is on the pro- message for schools was uplifting.
schools the better,” said organiser Lou Tay- celled. gramme: grumpy, and tough but fair”. “The atmosphere around the venue is great.
lor. “We always need more businesses to start “It was the admin role and the experience Another student asked: “What advice would The setting is unusual with the airplane rig
volunteering with us, so we thought we would with real-life job skills that made the differ- you give to SMEs in the current climate?” for the workshops and the Virgin staff are all
run a really high-profile event that would not ence,” she said. “If these could be brought to Ruth said: “It’s all about figures, understand- very smiley.
only get a lot of businesses through the door, more students in schools then more kids ing your costs, getting down to basics and “Businesses will come away not only having
but would also raise our profile in West Sus- would realise their potential.” good communication skills…now is the time learned something but hopefully also be in-
sex.” In the audience were students from Crawley- to look at your employees and consider if they spired to work with students in the future,”
Around 100 delegates, from organisations as based Oriel High School, who had won a are right for your business – you can no she added.
diverse as All Types of Mortgages and county competition to attend the day by creat- longer afford to carry ‘dead wood’!” For more information about the work of the
Blueshift Networks to Thomson design Works ing an advert for Virgin Atlantic. The win- Event organiser Lou Taylor was delighted West Sussex Education Business Partnership
and the Wiston Estate, participated with the ners got to interview Ruth Badger. with the day’s proceedings. “There has been a and how your business could benefit, visit
50 college pupils in workshops exploring is- One asked: “What was it like to work with real buzz. Ruth went down very well,” she www.wsxebp.org.uk
sues like ‘customer service’, ‘surviving in Sir Alan Sugar?” Ruth answered: “After work- said. “The message she gave out about her

Social networking a
WEST CHILTINGTON great tool for business
GOLF CLUB
PAUL HICKENBOTHAM, POSITIVENEGATIVES
SUSSEX-based Raj Anand (right)
also topped the bill alongside
Ruth Badger at the Grow Your
Own event in Crawley, speaking
Broadford Bridge Road, West Chiltington. about social networking and its
impact on business.
www.westchiltgolf.co.uk The University of Sussex grad-
uate, finalist of Sussex Entrepre-
neur 2008, and BusinessWeek’s
Europe Young Entrepreneur
2007, enthused about the poten-
tial marketing opportunities
Let us share our beautiful course with you! new technology affords compa-
nies.
“Marketing in the past has
been a very costly part of the
strategy to grow the business,
MEMBERSHIP AVAILABLE but no more though,” he told
Business Matters.
“Networks like Twitter,
Join West Chiltington LinkedIn, and Facebook can
help you market even better if
and enjoy complimentary golf at 3 other courses done correctly.
“The aim is to use the tools effi-
7 Day £885 / 5 Day £685 ciently to help you brand, to get
out there, and sell your services
Afternoon Membership £555 or product.”
The trick for companies, Raj ex-
plained, was to be fully engaged
Experience the “Best Greens in the Area” and have with social media.
“Your aim as a business is to be
a look at our newly refurbished Locker Rooms on all the different networks and
update them all so that you can
All for this VERY special price keep customers updated on your
latest offers, and keep them fa- and Twitter, every time you link company Kwiqq. He has devel-
miliar with your brand or busi- to your site it is increasing your oped a product so businesses can
ness.”
Ring 01798 813574 for bookings and information! rank on Google. capitalise on his recommenda-
Such activity also increases “So if you are on all the differ- tions, which allows firms to add
businesses’ Google ranking. ent websites, you will have more social media to their existing
“You should aim to get as many links and better Google rank- web domains.
inbound links to your site as ing.”
possible, so when you are on Raj is the operations director of Check www.kwiqq.com for de-
Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace Sussex-based online technology tails.

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