The first Hinckley Business Association dinner/seminar of 2010 took place last night at Sketchley Grange Hotel & Spa, Burbage, Hinckley and what a start to the New Year!

Our business members and guest started to arrive from 5.30pm as usual and, as ever, Sketchley Grange looked after us from bar to dining room.  The Willow restaurant was laid out beautifully for our members and guests and for the meal we enjoyed a tasty plate of Loin of Pork (or a vegetarian option, which I was assured by a guest was delicious), with a selection of vegetables and Strawberry Mouse dessert, coffee and mints to follow.

Our three speakers for the evening included:

Keith London (Honorary President HBA): who delivered a short, challenging and informative presentation called What really is a Marketing Policy? – an introduction to why, without doubt, a marketing policy is "the most misunderstood aspect of Modern Management" in the U.K. today.  Sadly it is also the most costly area of failure of top management.

Paul Bimson (BT Regional Partnership Director - East Midlands): who provided the members and guests with an insight into the Next generation broadband for Hinckley – with a brief overview of the technology to be deployed within the Hinckley exchange area, the enabling applications and benefits to all the local businesses and residents of Hinckley.

Finally, our guest speaker for the evening was:

Lisa Potts (Former nursery school teacher at St Luke's Primary School, Wolverhampton) and author of the book Believe To Achieve.  Lisa came to the public’s attention when she was injured in July 1996 while protecting children from a machete attack by a man with severe paranoid schizophrenia.  Her presentation was a moving story that took us through the events on that day but of much more significant value was how she has grown from the tragic experience to subsequently set up her own charities, became a successful author and how she continues to give of herself to others in a modest and unassuming way.  This was truly a memorable, inspirational and motivating talk and it was a privilege to meet and talk with Lisa.

For more information on the Hinckley Business Association, how it can benefit you personnaly or your organisation and details of future events, visit www.hinckleybusiness.co.uk or give me a call on 01455 246 342.