We are pleased to confirm that Jackie Hyde from dot2dot, a leading nursery insurance specialist is presenting at our event on 17th October

We are a team of corporate insurance brokers who have been involved with the nursery sector since 1995.  Our own children’s nursery insurance scheme, dot2dot, was established in 2003.

We know that insurances are complex and every client is different so we focus on:

1.    Getting to know you and your business by allocating a dedicated account handler

2.    Reviewing your arrangements annually to ensure things stay up to date

3.    Minimising small print to avoid unwelcome surprises in the event of a claim

4.    Providing access to business solutions in areas such as safeguarding; legal advice, IT and management support.

We offer a no-obligation review service and encourage you to call us today to see how we can support your business

 For more information on their service please visit http://www.dot2dot.org.uk/ 

ABC training to attend Early Years Networking evening

We are pleased to confirm the attendance of ABC North West Ltd at our next networking evening. They are a specialist training provider that work within early years to provide first aid training.

ABC North West Ltd provides a range of training and occupational health services to many diverse businesses and organisations not just across the North West but across all of the UK.

With a strong Health & Safety and Health focus ABC are well known for high quality competitive training from statutory training courses to bespoke specialist training services. In particular for the child care sector First Aid Training is a major market and ABC provide their training in line with OFSTED Guidelines for a 12 hour paediatric course, but also deliver bespoke short courses for Foster Carers or parent groups.

Training can take place at one of ABC venues around the North West or they provide training on site at their clients premises.

They also understand at ABC that training is sometimes preferred outside of normal working hours or days; therefore they can tailor training over evenings and weekends if required.

Another growing area of training is that of Manual Handling, not objects but people moving and handling and here they teach the correct methods of lifting and moving individuals, which has also been popular within the child care sector.

They offer courses in Fire Safety, food hygiene and general health and safety with accredited courses through an awarding body or our direct certification.

***To try their services they are offering visitors to the networking event (Thursday 17th October Bury Village Hotel  -  booking by appointment only) a further 10% discount off their published prices for all places booked on any of our courses offered.***

We do hope you try our services

Tough Mudder Done and Dusted!!

Hooraah!! We completed the challenge and have survived to tell another tale. Our adventure involved scaling Everest, jumping into the Arctic Enema and surviving the electric eel.   Here is a copy of our Tough Mudder course map!

I have to say the whole event was inspiring.  On entering the venue there was a vibrant atmosphere with several groups completing the challenge in fancy dress for their chosen charity.  We particularly liked the guys in dinosaur onesies and really felt for them at the end of course as the weight they must have carried round after rolling through mud trenches, bogs etc was crazy.  The warm up speeches gave me goose bumps after hearing inspiring stories of bravery (a lady had previously completed the course in an exhausting 7hrs with her wheelchair) and the camaraderie displayed throughout the whole event was wonderful whereby  not only team member,s but total strangers got involved helping each other to tackle some of the tougher obstacles whether that be offering physical help with a push up or mental support with a 'You can do it'.

The course weaved its way across the state grounds of Cholmondley Castle, over canal crossings and through several meres, leading us through forest trails and peat bogs filled with the kind of thick mud that sucks you in and doesn't let go.  We had to tie our trainers super tight for fear of losing them.

We raised over our target £500 for the Annabelle's Challenge and money still coming in so a Big Thank you to all those that supported us!

I am looking forward to a week of rest now although our Team organiser is already looking at the next challenge for us to complete next year and has pre-registered us for the same event next year. Will have to think about that?!

Leading Business experts agree that meeting your prospective clients increases your return on Investment significantly

Are you utilising this enough?

“The problem with communication … is the illusion that it has been accomplished.”

—George Bernard Shaw

Business interactions via technology will never replace the value or the return on investment of being face to face with customers and prospects.

Face-to-face communication and selling skills—what I refer to as the traditional, tried and tested, relationship-based skills—are the very lynchpins used toward establishing business relationships that survive.

I believe—strongly indeed, today more than ever—in these two principles:

1. We live by relationships with support from technology; and

2. selling was never intended to be faceless or silent.

I also believe at risk is a generation of near-robotic hospitality sales professionals, working alone, using technology 100% for communication and selling, denied all of the relationship-building advantages of personal, face-to-face interaction. Source David M Brudney

Face-to-face selling can require a lot of time, energy, and expense, but the payoff can be tremendous. Despite all of the new high-tech alternatives, an in-person sales presentation is the single most powerful marketing tool in use today. National television advertising, telemarketing, e-mail, or print advertising have nowhere near the ability to motivate a particular customer to actually place an order as does face-to-face selling.

And despite any fancy slide or computer show or other dog-and-pony show you might use, your most effective selling tool will be your verbal presentation and interaction with the prospective buyer. In almost every case, the owner of a small business will be able to make the most effective sales presentation, even more so than someone with more extensive sales experience. Source Streetwise Small Business Start-Up

Attend our networking event The Village hotel, Bury , 17th October 5.00pm - 9.00pm with very little time or energy and therefore a very cost effective way to increase your business sales.

Places for some supplier groups have gone but please contact us to ascertain if you are still able to take advantage of face to face meeting with all the following:

Bright futures – independent setting

Little acorns group –chain

Pine lodge – independent setting

Rosehill nursery – independent

Kidsplanet – small chain

Bolton school nursery –private school

The owls nursery – independent setting

Busy bees – national chain – senior representative

Early learning childcare – independent setting

Kids academy – franchise of nurseries UK and nationwide – expansion plan in place

Precious little ones – chain based in the North West

Hobblewobble day nursery – independent setting

Early Years Provision Ltd – 2 settings

Treetops – national chain verbally confirmed

Plus Operational manager from national chain whom is looking at new business opportunities

Only £400 to present to the group and attend the speed networking £250 for speed networking will give you excellent ROI

Please contact bamboo childcare on 08448225727 or email enquiries@bamboochildcare.co.uk for further information or to book your place.

Tough Mudders

Five sleeps left until myself and 5 others put ourselves through a gruelling 10-12 mile run interspersed with 19 - 22 army style obstacles.  What are we thinking you may ask?!  However I have to admit I am actually looking forward to the event now and even believe it will be great fun.  Please see following link to find out about the event http://toughmudder.co.uk/about/

It claims to allow you to "discover a camaraderie" with your team participants and others participating which sadly is experienced far too rarely these days - so if nothing else will be a giggle.

To top it all we are doing this event for a good cause namely Annabelles Challenge. Relatives of ours have children who go to school with Annabelle and see first hand how difficult it can be in the day to day activities other children take for granted. For that reason the 'Blood, Sweat and Stupidity' team are hoping to raise awareness and  much needed funds for the charity. If you are able to support us by a small donation please visit the following justgiving page http://www.justgiving.com/muddyAJ

Thank you to those who can sponsor in support and I hope to post photos after the event to show us all at the end of the course (apparently only 78% of people complete it - fingers crossed!).

Hayley Knowles

Specialist Early Consultant, Gillian Kitchen at Bamboo Childcare autumn early years networking event

Consultant Clinics with Gillian Kitchen, will enable attendees at our early years network evening to get free professional advice from Gillian whom brings a wealth of experience within early years and coaching and mentoring. This is an opportunity not to be missed!!!

Gillian Kitchen:

I bring over 25 years experience at senior management level in the field of early years and childcare. I have worked in many local authorities, advised local authorities on the development of children’s centres and have also worked with the private and voluntary sectors. Currently working as:

• early years inspector for Ofsted

• tutor for NDNA

• mentor for Lancaster university for leaders of children’s centres

• qualified leadership coach and mentor

• early year’s consultant

• registered and approved Growth Coach for Growth Accelerator enabling growth orientated businesses to gain up to 50% match funding for leadership development


Specialities include:

Preparation for your early years Ofsted inspection, including mock inspections, review of your SEF and building staff confidence to achieve the best outcome for your setting. Training and workshops for staff in safeguarding, peer observation, induction, supervision and appraisals. Coaching and mentoring for leaders developing innovation and leadership.

I bring energy, passion and insight to support those I work with to assist them to gain a better understanding of themselves and their work.

Qualifications

MA - Leadership, ILM qualified in leadership and executive coaching and mentoring, qualified social worker and NNEB.

I will be available for prescheduled 10 min slots on the evening to discuss any issues that you may have relating to your setting in the area’s identified. Alternatively why not use your session to try out speed coaching and plan some positive changes at work or at home.

Contact us on 08448225727 to attend the event and to book your session with Gillian on the 17th June at the village hotel from 5.00pm

Early Years Networking event praised for content, organisation and enjoyment

Nursery professionals and suppliers have praised our networking event.

The evening was a complete success:

Nursery attendees enjoying the event

Terry Goulds inspirational speech

• Early years and suppliers Presentations were excellent and well received.
• Speed networking enabling suppliers to pitch their products with business revenue expected imminently for PACEY, Peach photography, Vitec global solutions, Bamboo childcare recruitment, the change agency, Ask Askew and The early years consultancy.
• Consultant clinics providing expert advice to setting on finances, Ofsted and staffing
• Food and drink of very high standard with a great venue

 
Feedback from nursery owners 100% positive, comments included:

‘a very informative evening with plenty of networking time between groups'

‘wonderful evening – i have gained so much and can’t wait to share my new ideas with my team, thanks.’

‘I would highly recommend this event, it was amazing’

‘Outstanding content and fantastic speaker. Definitely a must for all managers and leaders’

Suppliers feedback also fantastic, with requests to attend the next event:

Well, what a fantastic first event, you should be very proud. As a supplier it was informative and fantastic to be able to chat first hand with owners and management of nurseries in the UK. I learnt what is expected of the nurseries and was able to tailor my product offering to meet their requirements.

'The venue was great, upmarket but not too formal, the speakers were informative and engaging and the food was – well I had seconds!! – Nichola Robinson Vitec Global solutions

It was an excellent evening. Great venue, set up, running order and refreshments.

It was excellent to have the chance to speak as when it came to the speed networking all I had to do was collect contact details. I had about 90% interested parties – Eleanor Lestrange Peach photography

'The recent bamboo childcare networking event in June was extremely successful. As a consultant I found the set up most useful as I was able to meet with all the owners and managers attending and explain my services.

From start to finish it was a very worthwhile and well organised evening which I can confidently recommend to all colleagues in the early years sector. '

Terry Gould( Educational Director) The Early Years Consultancy Ltd

Next event in October set to be even more successful with attendees wanting to book places already.

Please contact us for more information on 08448225727 or enquiries@bamboochildcare.co.uk