SBT Networking & Events

BRIGHTON VENUES UNITE TO LIGHT UP RED

IN SUPPORT OF #WEMAKEEVENTS CAMPAIGN

YBRIGHTON’S TOP FIVE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES

BY YBRIGHTON

THE TOP 5 MISCONCEPTIONS WE HEAR ABOUT NETWORKING

BY NETWORK MY CLUB

SBT NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSORED BY:

Brighton venues unite to light up red in support of #wemakeevents campaign

On Wednesday 30th Networking September from & Events 6.30pm-8.30pm Brighton’s iconic moving pier, the British Airways i360 Viewing Tower together with venues along the seafront including the Brighton Centre, Palace Pier, Warren Outdoors and Concorde2 will be lit up red in solidarity for everyone affected by Covid-19 who work in the events industry.

The #WeMakeEvents campaign is to highlight to the Government and the public that this sector needs further support following the ending of furlough at the beginning of October. The action will begin in New Zealand and travel around the world in local time.

The Brighton activity is spearheaded by a core group of event professionals all of whom live locally and work on Brighton’s biggest events such as The Great Escape and Pride which alone contributes £20.5 million to the local economy with the City hosting 450,000 people over the weekend. The team comprises founder of Partridge Events Jacqui Partridge and Ian Silcock, Ian Baird founder of EPIC and Whiskey Bravo Productions and John Wallis from Reveries Events. Jacqui said “there are many people who have fallen through the cracks and not received any help, this is about them as well as securing more help from Government if there is no start date to get our businesses up and running again.”

A team of events volunteers have come

together to light the buildings and landmarks along the seafront. Partridge continued “we’d like as many venues to light up red as possible, with LED lighting it’s easy to achieve and they can register to take part at www.lightitinred.co.uk This can include bars, restaurants, hotels and shops that have been affected by the lack of visitor economy this year.

Julia Gallagher, Head of Sales, Partnership & Marketing at Visit Brighton said “All events at the Brighton Centre have been cancelled due to restrictions. Meetings, incentives, conferences, and events are the lifeblood of the City as they fill hotel rooms during the off-peak season, creating economic benefit which sustains our workforce, 16% of whom are engaged in jobs supported by the visitor economy. It is crucial that the industry is supported to a full return as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Locals can also get involved from the comfort of their own homes next Wednesday by signing up to www. wemakeevents.com to receive information and ideas in support of the campaign. Jacqui concluded “it’s important to get our message to as many people as possible to affect change.”

#WeMakeEvents is an international movement to highlight that the live events sector urgently needs support from local governments to survive the Covid-19 crisis.

#WeMakeEvents is the champion for all the individuals working in the events industry, creating awareness and understanding of their concerns and issues. As part of this, #WeMakeEvents raises money to give immediate support for our industry charities who in turn will be able to help and support individuals in need.

How people can get involved:

1. Sign up to be involved on 30th September for the Global

Activation from 8-11pm: www. wemakeevents.com more information will follow on how people can do this at home.

2. Join the Facebook pages ‘We Make

Events Brighton Seafront 30th September’ and ‘We Make Events Campaign’ and invite peers. Share what you miss about not having events, share pictures of your favourite events and what they mean to you use #WeMakeEvents #RedAlert #Lightitinred on social posts.

3. Follow @WeMakeEventsOfficial on

Instagram and Twitter.

4. Venues and businesses, can download the #WeMakeEvents logo, print it out and place it in the business to highlight the cause.

a. Take a picture and post on personal social media channels using #WeMakeEvents #RedAlert #Lightitinred and on the Facebook page ‘We Make Events Campaign’

5. Facebookers can add the ‘We Make Events’ logo to their profile picture.

6. Make a donation or buy some

We Make Events merchandise. 80% of profit goes to industry charities to support those suffering financial hardship. Go to:

www.wemakeevents.com

Think Tank YBrighton’s top five

virtual experiences

Virtually in Brighton

Networking

& Events Feeling the virtual fatigue of one too many quizzes and sick of ‘coffee catch-ups’?

With the new restrictions in place getting back to our physical office environments for the foreseeable is off the table so we think it’s about time you get the team together to inject some fun into Q4 and if you can’t come to Brighton, we’ll bring our vibrant city to you. It’s never been more important to prioritise bringing your team together but in new and exciting ways! Those who need re-integrating into the team post furlough and those who have held the fort down for the last five months have had very different pandemic experiences so let’s get everyone together to reconnect and have some FUN Brighton style.

Our Sussex gurus have been busy working on some of the most exciting virtual experiences our corner of the country has to offer. Check out our top five epic experiences to bring your team together safely for a ruddy great time!

• Get your spook on with a Halloween cocktail making class from an iconic

Brighton venue!

For the YBrighton team Halloween is the perfect excuse to delve into our fancy-dress draw (yes, we do have one in the office…) and get creative! Pair this with a spooky themed cocktail making master class from iconic Brighton mixologists and you’re onto a winner. Think Brighton Gin, pumpkin spiced cream liquor and black vodka, raspberry puree filled pipettes and plenty of creepy props – all led by your personal mixologists in group sizes anywhere from 5 to 500! You’ll have everything you need for the evening’s celebrations delivered to your door – trick or treat?

Max group of 500 & approx. 45 minutes – 1 hour long

• Level up your online celebrations by baking with a LEGEND

In the comfort of your own home join Sussex Bake Off Star Julia Chernogorova on a baking masterclass! ‘Star Baker’ Julia is a passionate baker with a love of her Russian heritage which she incorporates into her baking style. We’ve thought of everything to make this virtual cook along hassle-free and fun packed. Equipment and ingredient lists are provided to each participant for the day’s bake, all they need to worry about is baking up a storm and avoiding any soggy bottoms.

Max group of 100 & approx. 90 minutes long

• Bring some much-needed colour into your home with iconic

Brighton-born artist Lois O’Hara

We don’t know about you but when we think about Brighton, colour always comes to mind. We’re obsessed with local artist Lois O’Hara’s work which has popped up all over the city, from swirling across our pavements to shop windows, her colourful designs are iconic and always brighten up our walks to the office! We wanted to create an interactive experience which gives you the opportunity to create your very own Lois O’Haraesque painting in your front room. We’ll provide a bespoke toolkit with everything you’ll need to paint along with Lois as well as a Brighton Gin based cocktail or two to keep you hydrated! You’ll have the chance to talk to Lois all about her work and how Brighton inspires her whilst enjoying a goodie bag of Brighton treats. Max group of 15 & approx. 1 hour long

• Bingo just got fabulous

Looking for a crowd pleaser? Elevate a game of bingo to a whole new glam level with a Drag Queen host! Join Brighton’s iconic Miss Disney for a bespoke bingo experience live streamed into your living room. Get the whole office together to work either in teams or individually to be in with a chance of winning fabulous Brighton goodies or even order treats to arrive for participants to enjoy during the festivities! Max group of 15 & approx. 1hour long

• Get back to nature while supporting the best plant shop our city has to offer!

Get back to nature and help reduce stress and calm your team with this hands-on activity. Create the dried wreath of your dreams. Led by local Brighton plant gurus you’ll use a wreath ring, moss and dried flowers/ foliage, and other botanical materials to design an incredible indoor wreath to celebrate the changing seasons. We’ve got everything covered, all the gorgeous elements of this activity will be delivered to your door but if you really want to be the teacher’s pet - head out foraging beforehand to find some unique pieces to include in your arrangement! Your colleagues won’t thank you, but you’ll be oh so smug!

Max group of 15 & approx. 2.5

hours long

• Laughter strengthens your immune system!

We’re all in need of a giggle right now, so sit back and watch your very own stand-up comic performing from the famous Komedia Comedy Club in the North Laines of Brighton. Get your favourite drinks in and you’re sure to be in stitches for the entire show.

Max group of 100 & approx. 1 hour long

YBrighton? powered by Yellow Fish. Telephone: 01273 223504 Email: hello@ybrighton.co.uk Visit: www.ybrighton.co.uk

The top 5 misconceptions we hear about networking

We’ll be honest… Cue the violin… It’s not uncommon for people to decline invites to our online meetups. We’ve learnt to deal with this. The really frustrating thing is when we find out why they don’t want to attend.

Now, we’re sure Networking you’ve been out for & Events dinner in the past. Perhaps a country pub – and been bitterly disappointed by the lukewarm gravy your roast is swimming in or the screaming kids on the table next to you. Or the lack of attention from the waiting staff, followed by a hefty service charge on the bill (“2/10, would not recommend to a friend”.)

Did this stop you from going out to eat ever again? Of course it didn’t!

Networking is the same. You may have had an unsatisfactory experience before, but we promise you, this doesn’t mean you hate all networking (in the same way as you don’t hate all pubs). You just didn’t attend the right event for you.

Some of the objections we’ve heard have even been based on another event they attended OR what they’ve heard other people say about networking in general. We’re not all the same!

Here are the top 5 misconceptions we hear about networking:

1.“I’m honestly just too busy”

If you’re going to see results from your networking, you need to make time for it.

We all lead busy lives. So, the idea of committing time to a weekly event we understand. A monthly or bi-weekly event? We’re not so sure. Particularly for something that’s going to help form new relationships, generate referrals and new business opportunities.

Our advice, book your events in your diary at the beginning of each month. Whether that’s online or in person events. Plan around them. For in person events, book a meeting before or after. The beauty of online events means less time travelling.

In the case of our membership, it is company-wide, meaning anyone can attend. So if you really can’t make it, simply delegate it to a colleague.

2.“Everyone just wants to sell to me”

Granted, this is ANNOYING when it