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Business events look a little different in 2020; there are a number of key considerations that simply would not have been there before. Holding an event in Milton Keynes is still possible, but there will be new rules to follow and the venue you select will need to be able to accommodate these whilst still making your event a success. Appropriate venue hire in Milton Keynes will need to be found before any event can even be considered – even then, there will still be many logistics to consider, both to keep attendees safe and to ensure that everyone can still enjoy the event as much as possible.

Milton Keynes has many centres and spaces that are suitable for business events, making it a good consideration even now whilst there are many considerations to take into account. Lots of these venues are spacious and are run by very experienced teams of events coordinators and managers, so you will be in good hands with people who know the industry and will be able to help you in every way possible. The best plan when choosing venues for any kind of event is to check it out in person – whilst this might not be possible, or at least, practical, then it is reassuring to know that you will be in good hands.

What to consider ahead of holding an event, and how to coordinate an event in Milton Keynes in the current climate

There are three main considerations to take into account when planning a Milton Keynes business event:

1. Venue size. Think about how well your chosen Milton Keynes venue will actually be able to accommodate your event. Remember that you will need to have plenty of space, but at the same time, that the number of delegates and speakers might well be limited. This means that your event might need to be smaller than originally planned.
2. Venue facilities. This follows on from size; the venue must have the right facilities to make the event a success, and even to make it possible in the first place. Outdoor space is a great bonus as this will offer a greater degree of flexibility if you are planning on having networking sessions, or any other kind of face to face interaction between people. Also think about media, technology and audio visual equipment because you may well want to broadcast your event to more people who are not attending it in person. This can be a good way to share your event and bring people together without them having to be there in person; check the capabilities of the venue in terms of this.
3. Availability and accessibility. Venues might be more in demand at the moment as businesses get up and running again. This can make it trickier to find somewhere to book on a date that will suit you. Book in advance wherever possible and make sure the venue you pick is in a good Milton Keynes location, so that all attendees will be able to get there easily.

We all love to celebrate Christmas with our business. Allowing us to thank all of our employees for the hard work they have put in all year round. This is generally done through a big work Christmas Party! However, with the way 2020 is heading I do not see this being possible. So, today I am going to share with you some other ideas!

Secret Santa
You could host a secret Santa! Allow people to choose whether they wish to take part. Have employees and managers buy each other gifts and give them to one another. This is easy to do with guidelines still in place.

Zoom Party
Another option is still hosting a party, but host this online with a platform like Zoom. Have all your workers come together to celebrate. You could even give everyone a box of goodies so you can sit and eat together. This would be great for celebrating.

Christmas is slowly creeping up on everyone. So should you and your company host a work Christmas party?

There are many benefits to hosting a work Christmas party. One of the main benefits is that it helps to bring all of the colleagues together. It allows them to talk outside of the work place. Building their relationships and making them work together.

Another reason why you should have a Christmas party is because it gives everyone a chance to relax. Christmas is a time of joy and happiness. So why not spread this to your workers with a party.

It will take time to plan the perfect Christmas party so you will need to start thinking now. It can be anything from a sit down meal in the work place, to hiring out a local room to have a proper party with music and dancing. Whatever you choose, everyone will enjoy themselves.

Attending that very first conference can be a daunting prospect.  Conferences are beneficial for several reasons.

1- Networking – gaining contacts and talking to people within the same industry is key to growing a successful business.  Having support from fellow business owners, sharing there experience and offering advice is invaluable.

2- Communication – conference speaking is a great way to improve both your communication skills and your confidence.

3- Opportunity – There maybe opportunities arise to grow your business in ways you’d not anticipated. 

4- Recruitment – You may encounter that perfect person to fill a position within your company.

5- Feedback – sharing a business idea and listening to others opinions can help you to make an important decision.

6- Referrals – As many companies come from all over the country and possibly different sectors of the same industry attend a conference, it is possible to gain referrals.

Competitors from other regions will often become a very useful source of information. Speaking to others outside of your working area may lead to finding out new ideas as well as promoting and sharing your own.

Appearing at a conference is a great boost for your business, especially if you deliver an impactful message. If you can get your business branding out there and associated with the conference, even better. This will help with brand recognition and will make your business more memorable, in connection with the speech or talk you have delivered.

If you run your own conference, your branding can be used everywhere. It will be a great feat for your PR and can help to generate additional, high-value business. Remember though, a conference is a lot of work and you will have to find speakers, a venue, write comms materials for delegates, and generally work hard to ensure it is well attended. If you don’t have the time a resources to dedicate to hosting a conference or if you don’t have enough material at present, speaking at one can be very beneficial also.

When you run an event, it’s important you host it somewhere that is right for that particular event. This might mean having somewhere with enough space for networking, or it might mean holding it where you need to have an area for private business meetings. Whatever it is that you need, it’s essential that the particular venue allows you to do that. If you are a business owner and you host events regularly, it’s a good idea to have a number of venues on your books so you can book them as needed.

If you haven’t already used local venues for your business events, you can try out some new ones, or you can request to pay them a visit and see their space. A venue owner will usually be happy to show you around and let you see the facilities that they have that could suit your business purpose. Once you’ve seen the venue, you can add it to your list if you think it will be a good setting for future events.

Events managements is a good career choice for many people, but it is also a very specific skill. You need to be sure that managing events lies within your skill set before you decide to go for it as a job. Luckily, there are many ways you can test this before deciding whether to train in events management. You can:

• Help organise events in your current role. Ask to be a part of any social committees there are and speak to the events management team to see how you can get involved on a practical level.
• Talk to people in this line of work to see what their experiences are. They will be able to give you a realistic picture of events management.
• See if you can get some experience in your own time. Take on volunteer roles in events for causes that you care about outside of your corporate job.

Hiring a marquee is the perfect way to make a corporate event that little bit more special. Not only will you have access to your own personal space, you will also be able to have a space that is completely customisable, allowing you to make it look and feel perfect for the nature of your corporate event. A lot of companies are now opting for marquee hire in Bedford when they need a location for their corporate event. You will be in good company in the business world if you go down the route of hiring our a marquee.

There are various options you can select when you hire a marquee, so you can always find exactly what you want for different kinds of events. Gone are the days when marquees were draughty, flimsy or inadequate – a marquee can provide you with the perfect base for any event. More flexible and just as stable as a permanent space, a marquee will be the first choice of savvy business owners. If you pick a reputable marquee hire company as well, they can give you all the advice and wisdom you need to draw upon when you are selecting the marquee of choice. They can listen to your needs, understanding what kind of event you are holding, and help you find the perfect marquee to satisfy your requirements.

Marquee hire for corporate events – what kinds of events can they be used for?

Marquees are versatile and flexible structures for businesses to use. These are some of the events they may be used for:

• Conferences. If you are hosting an event to celebrate and explore your industry and field, a marquee will give you the perfect space in which to do so. You will have the opportunity to set up different areas and stations, or to have one speaker at the front on a stage. A marquee allows you to have the kind of space that you would need for a successful event without having to source it within a building like a hotel or a business centre.
• Open days and fairs. You can choose an unlined marquee if you want to host an open day or fair, giving you what is essentially an open plan design so you can position stalls and stations for different businesses. The marquee will give you complete protection against the weather outside, without restricting you in terms of layout. If you are hosting an event like a university or college open day, or a business sector fair or event, then this is going to offer the perfect layout for you.
• Parties and corporate celebrations. Many corporate companies have events and celebrations at the end of the year, or throughout the year for staff incentives. A marquee can be the perfect base for your celebration, so you have your own private venue and you don’t have to pay the costs of hiring out somewhere bigger. Marquees are now regularly hired by companies to host their annual Christmas parties.

Attending a conference allows you to dive into the world of business, discuss important issues and discover new ways of engaging customers and staff alike. But it’s about more than this – the reputation of your business is at stake when you go to a conference. It’s your chance to make sure other people in your field know you are a key competitor, have heard about your business, and are aware that you are active and looking for ways to improve and expand. It’s a chance to become better known.

It’s never a bad idea to meet those within your field, gathering a good network around you. Conferences allow you to meet and network with like minded people who will in turn be able to tell you about other similar events that may be of use to you. The fact you are attending a conference shows you are passionate and engaged, something that others in your field will want to see.

Conferences are a chance for businesses to come together, spread the word about what they do and create a buzz around their field. Businesses in Watford are lucky enough to enjoy plenty of good conference venues and business opportunities, allowing them to expand their reach and meet with other businesses and people who could further their business opportunities. Conference venues in Watford offer businesses many opportunities, as there are some excellent facilities in some very strategic locations that will allow you to show what your business can do, whilst inspiring others around you.

So what are the core components of a good conference venue? It’s important that the venue meets your needs as a business, and that you can get everything you need to out of your conference. This will set it up for success from the very beginning and will ensure you are set to achieve your full business aims. Here are some of the key conference venue considerations:

• Accessibility. The conference venue you choose needs to be suitable for everyone in attendance. On the most basic level, this means checking that people with accessibility needs will be able to enter the building and will have facilities suitable for them. You need to make sure that the building is suitable for disabled guests or those with mobility requirements. Check about wheelchair access and whether everything is on one level. It might be sensible to book a ground floor conference venue for these reasons.
• Good location. Your conference venue needs to be easily accessible for the Watford businesses in attendance. Check whether there is parking and make sure everyone will easily be able to get to the venue. You could also see if the venue will be near good public transport links. If you are holding a conference over multiple days, check that there is somewhere for people to stay overnight if required.
• Catering facilities. Your conference delegates will need to be looked after. Make sure you discuss catering with the conference providers, and at the very least see if they can provide you with tea, coffee and snacks. Ensure that there is space for people to eat at lunch time and that there will be catering options for all dietary requirements.
• AV equipment. You might require various types of equipment to give presentations at your conference. Make sure the venue can hire you projectors, lighting and anything else you need, or work out what is there and hire it yourself. Check both options to see which will be the more cost effective.
• Plenty of space to use however you like. Conferences can take many formats, from formal presentations to activities. There might also need to be space for some display stands. Make sure the space is big enough, or, indeed, small enough and your guests won’t feel lost in the middle of a large room. Check with the venue that you can use the space flexibly and, if you need to, can rearrange it. Sometimes you can arrange for the venue to do this for you.