Raising a glass and a smile – Cheers!

For the last month Creative Capital have been formulating plans for a series of events across the North West.   The events are aimed at raising the profile of the cash flow solutions offered by Creative Capital to small business owners but perhaps as importantly they are a vehicle for meeting up, informally, with customers, suppliers and associates of the business.   “Our events are a thank you, a hello and a let’s get to know you better, all rolled into one.  Taking time out to meet people you’ve known for a long time or a little time in an informal setting helps build lasting business relationships”.

On Wednesday 28^th May, Creative Capital welcomed several Warrington based businesses and business service providers to Corks Out in Stockton Heath.   Sue Moore, Client Services Director of Creative Capital and Keith Bolton hosted the event with one aim, ensuring everyone had an enjoyable couple of hours. Ruth and Richard, who own and manage the very successful Corks Out business, were on hand to provide information about their own business journey and also point us in the direction of their contemporary wine tasting machines. Everyone enjoyed samples of white or red wine on arrival and were also handed wine tasting cards so that they could sample at their own pace and in their own way. Rustic pies, strong cheeses and grapes were the perfect nibbling companion to the wide variety of wines on offer.

The majority of attendees work within business finance and funding, none of them had met each other prior to the event.  “The aim of the 2 hour event was to introduce these businesses to each other and to get to know everyone better ourselves”

The event had been planned as a result of a chance meeting between Sue Moore and Pete Radcliffe, both based in South Warrington who found themselves on the same Liverpool bound train one day, despite getting on together and sitting opposite each other both proceeded to read newspapers without so much as a nod of the head or smile, typical of our shy and retiring Britishness (well sometimes!!) It was when they got off the train, walked the same road and arrived at the same venue that they realized they were attending the same event, both being volunteer mentors for The Princes Trust.  “We both commented on the fact that we could have spent half an hour introducing ourselves on the train rather than reading our papers, it was quite amusing but outlines the way people feel awkward about introducing themselves unless they attend a formal networking event”  Sue and Pete also work in commerce and live close to Stockton Heath. “Ultimately within a few weeks I had met a few people in Manchester and Liverpool who all lived within 10 minutes of Stockton Heath and we all had similar business interests, it was a natural choice to invite a select number of guests to our Stockton Heath social”

Commenting on the success of the event, Dianne Walker, Partner at Dianne Walker & Co, Chartered Accountants said “I really enjoyed it.  Sue picked a great venue and a very nice group of people”. Nigel Garner of Moore Finance added “It was a good blend of people, interesting to chat to them”.

The opportunity to meet people in a more unusual and relaxed setting proved to be a great success.We tried some new wines, made some new chums and resolved to do this again, very soon.

WITH THANKS TO THOSE PEOPLE WE MANAGED TO CATCH ON CAMERA! – Ruth Yates owner of Corks out pictured with Sue Moore/Cheryl Mills, Natwest Women in Business Ambassador pictures with Sue Moore/Steve Simmonite, Partner SGS, Nigel Garner, Chairman, Moore Finance, Jeff Millington,Tecmark and Sue Moore.

Our next event is Wimbledon themed – anyone for tennis?