Nial Adams the Founder of The Antidote presented the irrefutable truths of how to grow your business. Click here to learn more....

Nial's gig on marketing taught me more in that presentation than I have learned for some time! I would have gladly paid £100 plus for that input. I followed his advice, picked up the phone the next day and secured £1000 worth of business from existing customers!!!
Steve Gaskin
Right Angled CSI
www.csinorwich.com

Our popular Speed-Networking event back by popular demand where over 50 people took part! >Click here to read more<

Wed 18th November 2009 - Was your business a health-check this month by gaining tips from our speakers. Tom Yeung and Joanna King from Success Management Click here for more info

Boosting Business Effectiveness via NLP

Learn Five Practical Ways to Transform Your Business using NLP:

1. Raise your Emotional Intelligence, lower your stress levels, and improve work culture.
2. Increase your behavioural flexibility.
3. Develop a ‘solutions-focused outcome’ approach that gets real results.
4. Discover people's values and higher motivations.
5. Become more influential, melt resistance and create more co-operation.
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Kath Temple is passionate about making a difference and leaving a legacy of lasting change. As the winner of the 2008 Business Person of the Year Award, Kath will tell you that your success is her business. An NLP Master & Trainer as well as an MSc Occupational & Organisational Psychologist and Executive Coach, Kath established The Lifelong Learning Company in 1995.

She has worked for Tenneco, Alcan, British Nuclear Fuels, Suffolk Education, Norfolk Education and the DfES. Kath was appointed to the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal by the Secretary of State for Education as one of the original 69 specialist members for England and Wales.

In addition to The Lifelong Learning Company, Kath is a social entrepreneur and founded World Change Agents, which works for free with troubled young people. She also founded, and funded, Happiness Magazine, and created The Happiness Foundation, a not-for-profit, which is NHS funded, and works in partnership with GPs, social services, education and the voluntary sector to promote positive psychology and improve mental health and well-being.

Visit www.lifelonglearningcompany.com for more info

Your invitation to join us at the Antidote Business Network for September 2009
The Secrets of Public Speaking……Revealed.

According to The Book of Lists, the fear of public speaking ranks number one in the minds of the majority of people. Far above the fear of death and disease, comes the fear of standing in front of a crowd.

Do you share that fear? Then instead come along and boost your confidence at the Antidote on Wednesday 16th September 2009, Richard Parramint of Positive Speech will be sharing some secrets in his unique, light hearted way.

Richard last impressed the Antidote in 2006 when he was informative and entertaining in his own inimitable style. Due to popular demand since then, Richard has now agreed to amuse and inspire us again.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that public speaking is something you can learn from a book. Come along instead to watch and listen to Richard and gain some vital tips.

Learning points you will achieve from Richard’s session include:

How to boost your public speaking confidence.

Controlling your Body Language e.g. eye contact.

How to use your voice to best effect.

How the past doesn’t equal the future.

Do, or say something to get the attention of your audience within the first 30 seconds.

Richard Parramint is eminently qualified to speak on this topic having been advising organisations both in this country and abroad since establishing Positive Speech back in 1994. He has presented publicly at many venues here in the U.K, also in Europe and the U.S.A.

So, do you dread standing up to present a sales pitch, to introduce a speaker or talk about your product or service in front of an audience? Then book now to reserve your seat at the Antidote 16th September 2009.

September’s showcased charity will be Red Balloon Learner Centres for the recovery of bullied children. To learn more before the night, browse www.redballoonlearner.co.uk

Marcus Pearcey is well known locally for involvement in developing his family based hotel business which owns the Oakland’s Hotel, the Georgian House Hotel and Rare Grill and Restaurant.

Marcus also runs the extremely successful Silvertap Marketing Solutions – specialising in providing bespoke marketing solutions; plus Brand Conversions - one of Europe's leading affiliate marketing networks for online casinos, sports books and poker rooms.

In addition he runs the successful price comparison sites comparetheatretickets.com and fragrancescompared.com.

Marcus is a true entrepreneur and has an in depth knowledge of business and marketing. Coupled with his knowledge of mobile technology, and extensive research into this field, he has identified that mobile marketing can be the way forward for business.

Tonight you will hear Marcus’ voice of experience around establishing and running a successful business and you will learn:

How to go about market research that confirms there is a real opportunity to launch a business.

How to reach the market at the right time, in the right place and the importance of innovation in tough economic climates.

How effective special promotions can win new business.

How mobile marketing is the way forward!

Tick Red supports East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices so they will be Antidote’s showcased charity for this month. Please speak with them to see if you have any expertise or contacts which could help them.

WEDNESDAY 15th July 2009 Holiday Inn Norwich North (Norwich Airport)
Doors open at 6pm
Speed-Networking starts 7pm
Buffet & Open Networking from 8pm

Due to popular demand the Antidote event on Wednesday July 15th will be Speed-Networking.

We started running these events last year and had a great reaction from you all; not only have we had huge responses (previously up to 80 bookings!) but we also got some superb feedback, with lots of you asking for it again on a regular basis – your wish is our command!!

Speed Networking is a great way to meet and connect with lots of people, tell them about what you do, what you are looking for and have some real fun. It’s fast- paced, a great way to connect with lots of people and brilliant way of tuning up your networking skills. Remember to bring lots of business cards!

“I came to the Antidote for the speed-networking evening and made more contacts in 45 minutes than I would normally make in a month or more - brilliant!!” – Richard Dicks, Mortgage Advice & Protection Solutions, Norwich.

Right Angle Events is a company owned and managed by Steve Gaskin, a former Scotland Yard, Detective Chief Inspector in the Metropolitan Police Service and a qualified teacher. The company is supported by a forensic scientist and several senior police officers.


Right Angle Events provides education and entertainment through the intriguing world of crime scene investigation and forensic science, working closely with schools, colleges and the community to raise awareness of this fascinating area of scientific learning.


Steve will be using a tried and tested model to "Blow your own trumpet-PR on a shoestring".When Right Angle Events were formed just over two years ago;it was a rude awakening when a friend asked him "How much is your PR budget?".

The answer was and still is £0.

We use a PR method entitled "Hook, Line & Sinker". It was devised by Steve when he was a senior police officer in the Metropolitan Police

As the name suggests,it is a tried and tested way of getting an editor, news desk, radio station,TV station interested in you!

The method does not apply just to our company it can be readily transferred.


5 Things People will learn.

How to construct a press release which will gain the attention of the reader (with exemplar)

What editors like and dislike

Dealing with the big boys (Multi-nationals)

Using the "Hook, Line & Sinker" method

PR-The Internet & "2nd Life"

Join us on the Wednesday 17th June to gets Steve's experience and insight in how to capture PR using his proven practical strategies & techniques....

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to thrive on challenge within their business and others fall down at the first hurdle? This presentation will share with you some of the secrets of success shared by those who have been through the mill and out the other side.

Anne Francis is an inspirational and award winning business coach who has worked in the sphere of business and economic regeneration for over 20 years. She is a master NLP business practitioner and professionally trained coach. Over the years she has designed and run many training courses for a range of organisations including Norfolk Adult Education Services, WEETU and BizFizz.

She was one of the founders of the first credit union and first fair trade outlet in Norwich and runs her own successful consultancy company. She has a wealth of experience and is passionate about finding ways of working together to meet challenges head on.

This evening’s session will use plenty of real life anecdotes from Anne’s own experiences of running 4 different companies over the years and working with over 400 local businesses. It will focus on the 10 main attributes that resilient people share, in relation to running a business. In this time of huge upheaval in the economic structures globally Anne will discuss how to learn from those who have developed resilience in the face of such times.

You will leave with a clearer understanding of what gets in your way in business. Also a better understanding of the sometimes irrational behaviour of others we’re in business alongside. Most importantly though, what to do about it and how to develop that resilience when things are not always going the way we want.

You will learn . . .

How important your attitude and perspective are to the success of your venture

How to hone your existing problem solving skills

How to build healthy professional relationships by gaining a clearer understanding of the dynamics involved

Strategies for staying focused and positive

The Antidote’s featured charity for May has been proposed by Anne. It is Norwich African Community Association whose representative Dr Eshetu Wondimagegne will be attending with his wife.

The association brings people together in Norwich from many countries. It is a truly international organisation that fosters understanding between people from all walks of life and all nations. Through regular themed events and an award winning organic allotment project Dr Eshetu promotes positive interaction between people who would feel isolated without such activities.

Holiday Inn Norwich North (Norwich Airport)

Simon discussed some of the key principles he has used to help drive many of the UKs major brands.


What will you will learn?

Why brand is about meaning and not about logo

How the right approach to brand can give purpose to an organisation

Why you'll be much better off in the long run by building a brand

Why internal brand is as important as external

How to build a brand without a budget

Why the alternative to branding is much harder, and much less fun

Simon's work has included brand strategy and campaigns for companies that include: Barclays, Norwich Union, Denplan, pharmaceutical giant Merial, brewing and wine company Adnams, and Britain's best known sandwich chain Pret A Manger.

He has also advised numerous charities on their specific brand strategy, including St John Ambulance and Anthony Nolan Trust.

He has recently been appointed to develop the brand profile of Hemsby, the Norfolk seaside resort.

Other clients have included international organisations like Deloitte, British Airways, and Comic Relief, as well as leading UK organisations and businesses such as Wales Management Council, McCann Erickson, Lovells, and Xansa.

Simon presents master classes and keynotes on brands and branding both here in the UK and also Europe, and is soon to be heard in the United States.

Simon is also a regular commentator on all things brand for Sky News, Five News and the BBC, among others. Currently Simon is scripting and presenting a new series being filmed now: The Brand Effect, which looks in detail at the power of brands and branding in today's economy.

He is also writing a book, "How To Build A Brand in 30 Days".

Simon has worked for dozens more small and medium-sized businesses, charities and other organisations, advising on: brand strategy, marketing, creativity and innovation, staff motivation and communication, public relations and other areas of company strategy.

A Chartered Institute of Marketing regional Marketer of the Year, Simon is an acknowledged expert on brand and marketing as well as creative problem-solving, and is a regular guest-lecturer for MA and MBA students at University of East Anglia's prestigious Norwich Business School, and at Norwich University College of The Arts.

In 2009 Simon became the first Brand Leadership Fellow of the University of East Anglia. He is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a Member of the Institute of Directors, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Simon trained as a primary school teacher but found himself instead as a writer and business magazine editor, then a PR executive. In the mid nineteen-eighties he re-trained as a nurse, working with people with severe learning disabilities, and spent almost a decade in the NHS.

After several years as successful freelance copywriter he joined a fast-growing East Anglian advertising agency as creative director. With a decade's immersion in creativity and brands he launched his successful consultancy practice in 2005.

'I had the privilege of attending a creative thinking session hosted by Simon Middleton and was extremely impressed with the way he delivered the session, it was the most enjoyable and thought provoking training session I have ever been on!'

Sophie Brown - Nelson's Journey

Antidote hosted another popular Speed-Networking event with over 50 delegates attending.

The evening went well and received lots of positive feedback requesting more frequent Speed-Networking events that lasted longer! We'll be holding another Speed-Networking event soon.

We welcomed Sophie Browne from Nelson's Journey who show cased the charity's work supporting children and young people living in Norfolk who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or other significant person in their life. To learn more please visit www.nelsonsjourney.org.uk

Holiday Inn Norwich North (Norwich Airport)
Doors open at 6pm : Presentation starts 7pm Buffet & Open Networking from 8pm

YOUR PRICE, SERVICE, QUALITY . . . & SELLING ON VALUE.

Dave Gooda has been involved in the world of Training and Development for 20 years. His specialist fields are Management Development, Personal Development, Sales and Customer Service. By encouraging his clients to challenge their “Status Quo” he helps businesses identify key issues that need tackling to bring about real, positive and lasting change.

In the difficult trading conditions we are currently facing it is vital our negotiations are not purely focused on price. Dave will give a challenging presentation about how to maintain a reasonable profit margin by not selling on price, but selling on value!

It is important to know what the competition are doing, but that on its own is not enough. It is the response you make in looking after your existing customers AND how you set about getting new customers that can really make the difference.

Dave will get you thinking about the importance of Price from the customer’s perspective as well as your Service and the Quality of what you offer. It is the relationship between these three key things that makes the difference.

His approach is based on practical and transferable ideas, which you will be able to implement straight away and begin to see the difference it can, and will make! These ideas have been proven to work time and time again in tough working environments and even in difficult trading conditions.

Be prepared to be challenged – Dave expects some excellent questions!

Four things you’ll gain from Dave’s presentation:

How to segment your customers and service them in the way that best suits their needs.

Understand the relationship between Price, Service and Quality

How to avoid undercutting your competitors and even “price matching”.

Understand a basic business philosophy that can add 22% to your Profit Margin!

At the end of this event you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of how selling on value is good for everyone and how to be better rewarded for creating that value.

If you are serious about getting clients to better understand the value you deliver, you need to join us on Wednesday 18th Feb. In addition to the presentation you also benefit from friendly and relaxed networking. You’ll have the chance to meet likeminded business people, find out how you can benefit mutually and use networking as a powerful way to boost your business presence.