BIPC Worcestershire's In conversation with Craig Carr - the thrills and spills of running your own business

Join Angela Podmore from Kinetic Communications as she talks to Craig Carr, founder and owner of Fairburn Heating Solutions, who will share what led him to start-up his business 15 years ago and valuable insights into how both he and the business have developed. Craig will be discussing the strategies he’s adopted along the way and the key ingredients to success in business, to inspire those considering or just starting out on a business venture. We’re going to find out how Craig turns fear of failure into fuel whereby he learns from mistakes and takes his business forward. Craig will share his favourite business books – be prepared for some surprising titles!

Speakers

BIPC Worcestershire

Craig Carr

Founder of Fairburn Heating Solutions

Angela Podmore

Founder of Kinetic Communications

More Events

How to maintain a work/life balance as an entrepreneur

London libraries are transforming the way ideas grow into successful businesses. By partnering with ten London boroughs, we are developing a community of new and existing business owners, which is free to join and open to everyone. Whether you are just setting out, need advice on protecting your intellectual property, or simply have a brilliant idea you want to discuss, we're here to guide you. Since April 2020, we have offered all of our Start-ups in London Libraries' services online, including our core workshops and virtual one-to-ones with our borough Business Champions, many of whom will be hosting sessions during Start-up Day. To find out more about Start-ups in London Libraries and how to join our thriving business community, visit bl.uk/SiLL.

Running your own business can give you greater control over when you work and how you do things, but it’s not easy finding the right balance between work and personal commitments.

Join award-winning social entrepreneur, Dr. Yuliana Topazly, to hear about her story and learn some tips about how best to manage your work/life balance.

This session is particularly beneficial for parents with start-up businesses who are currently balancing responsibilities in multiple arenas during these challenging times.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Gaming for Business

In a world driven by innovation and customer engagement, businesses are constantly seeking fresh approaches to captivate their audience and elevate their performance. As an industry that has always harnessed the power of technology, the recent growth of tools such as artificial intelligence and increased online connectivity have contributed to the growing influence the gaming industry is having on the business world.

From the creative minds behind engineering, designing and developing games, to the gamification of business tools for customer acquisition and marketing, the integration of gaming with the business world has reached new heights of significance and legitimacy.

As online technologies continue to evolve, their ever-growing influence on society – particularly on the next generation of entrepreneurs – has become undeniable.

Join a panel of gaming and design industry experts, as they explore how the fusion of game mechanics, psychology, cutting-edge design and technology can breathe new life into traditional industries, invigorating employee engagement, customer loyalty and overall business success.

On the day, guests and attendees can expect to join an engaging and thought-provoking panel discussion where they will:

Get into the spirit of gaming by joining us for a free gaming and chill session in the afternoon before the event. Gaming equipment including PlayStation 5’s, Oculus Quest 2 VR headsets and a variety of games to choose from will be available in the Knowledge Centre’s Eliot room from 14:00. Come along and get involved! All equipment will be provided by Bryght.Learn about the role that gaming is playing in today’s business landscapeGain a deeper understanding of the power of gaming influencers in marketing strategiesExplore the various business models within the gaming industryLearn about the platforms and resources connecting the gaming industry with the broader business realmUncover the strategies used by our panellists to navigate challenges in their workJoin discussions about the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the gaming world, and how these entrepreneurs actively engage with this.

Following this there will be a Q&A. For those joining us in person, the event will be followed by a networking reception with drinks meeting with other attendees, as well as the speakers.

For those joining us online, the event will run from 18.30 – 20.30

Inspiring Entrepreneurs: She's In CTRL by Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE

This event is taking place at the British Library and will be live streamed.

For those joining us in person, the event will be following by a networking reception with drinks, canapés, where you can meet other attendees, as well as the speakers. There will also be the opportunity to enter a prize draw.

For those joining us online, the panel and talk will run from 18.00 – 20.00.

The tech industry has a leading figure in Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, who is a dynamic advocate for women in STEM and a champion of STEM in education.

This special event shows how her latest book, She’s In CTRL, is a guidebook for women to take back tech and to shine a light on the women in STEM daring to dream. It will empower readers make changes to the way tech can be improved, but how to get into the room where the decisions are made and create our own tech rooms.

Join us for an inspirational evening with innovators within technology speaking on a panel about the important role of women and diversity in STEM sectors. This panel talk is followed by an enlightening fireside chat with Anne-Marie to discuss her new book and share the stories of other pioneers and innovators who have, against the odds, transformed technology.

Also up for discussion will be a range of topics that will help you to:
Understand the reality of starting as a female in the STEM industry and the challenges of getting started
Learn how women in the tech industry are creating their own seat at the table or ‘tech rooms’ and what steps they took to do this
Learn which aspects of STEM are mostly inspiring and recruiting women today
Learn about which innovations our panel have seen arise since the pandemic that were specifically that were created by women and why they think these have arisen
Hear about new trends within the industry that are evolving and the areas that still need more women involved
Understand the growth in interest in tech amongst women globally, including across Africa and Asia
Learn about the future of tech/STEM with the rise of AI, VR and 3D printing

Photo credit Sam and Sam Photography 2022

BIPC Norfolk: The Regenerative Business Revolution – Entrepreneurs wanted!

Experienced environmental business veteran, Ed Gillespie, will take us on a whistle-stop tour of the history of ‘responsible’ business, outline the systemic challenges ahead of us all, and offer a rallying cry for the next regenerative generation of entrepreneurs the world really needs. Join us and be part of the revolution.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Women Wealth Builders

Join us for a ‘roundtable’ style discussion with women change-makers as they share how they're not just shifting the image of women in business, but actively building wealth in an unpredictable world. This International Women's Day, gain invaluable insights from successful women entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of modern business.

On the day, you can expect to:

Hear about the realities of starting and scaling up a business as a woman today.Discuss how life, family, and health changes impact business and how our speakers are navigating these challenges.Learn the different approaches to building wealth.Discover how our speakers have broken barriers, including accessing funding, gaining press visibility, and achieving recognition from key stakeholders.Explore strategies for building thriving communities, driving sales, and accumulating wealth in today's market across various industries.Connect and network with the speakers and other attendees.