The ‘Back to Business’ support exhibition and the Tech & Beer networking event that followed it in the evening at The EpiCentre, Haverhill, on Wednesday 21st July proved a great a success.
Centre Manager, Kelly Boosey, said: “Visitors were very happy to be meeting face-to-face again after 18 months of lockdown and we had an excellent turnout for both events.”
The exhibition was targeted at entrepreneurial, and growing companies who came and were able to seek advice from the experts.
The exhibitors included the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce; New Anglia Growth Hub , Scale Up New Anglia and Peer to Peer Programme; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Authority Growth Hub and Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor, Innovate UK Edge, Cambridge Regional College, Keep+, MENTA.
Nathan March of Innovate UK Edge, said: “It was a really well organised, enjoyable day at The EpiCentre and a fantastic way to establish new connections in a face-to-face environment.”
James Lee Burgess of Urban XR, commented: “It was great to meet a cross section of people involved in tech and science sectors. To be able to share knowledge and ideas around mixed reality was inspiring.”
And Sue Simmons of Norwich Cambridge Tech Corridor, added: “There was a fantastic range of people & business from all types of inspirational companies. It has been a great way to kick off the start of physical events again. Thank you The EpiCentre team.”
Romy Frow, a travel counsellor who has been using The EpiCentre’s Co-Working space as part of its campaign to introduce the space to potential occupants with a ‘complimentary pass’, said: “I took advantage of attending the ‘Back to Business’ event. It was very informative and fantastic to speak to people face-to-face again to get some ideas and information about how to restart business.
“I was also lucky to attend the evening Tech & Beer event too. The atmosphere was brilliant, the speakers were very talented and inspiring. I had the chance of networking with some great new people in a relaxed environment.
“The Epicentre in Haverhill is a fantastic location for meeting, office and co-working spaces that I have had the pleasure of using. I would definitely highly recommend it if you want to avoid the commute into Cambridge,” added Frow.
The ever-popular Tech & Beer networking event that followed had a top-class line-up of business speakers, who had six minutes each of inspirational views, as follows:
- Paul Dyer of Halo Labs. He and his team are revolutionizing biopharmaceutical drug product quality
- Thuria Wenbar the CEO and co-founder of award winning and fast-growing online pharmacy service, e-surgery
- Lee Burgess the Founder Director of Urban XR, an expert on virtual reality, cross reality and augmented reality
- Sian Cook a User Researcher for the Home Office, driving research to improve product design and deliver better services for all
- Charles Macdowell, representing the science and technology hub of Virginia Beach, USA, and helping companies to launch their business in the USA
Chris Kelly, of Jacobs Allen, chartered accountants, who attended the Tech & Beer event, said: “It was fun, interesting, well organised and with a great crowd.
“It was some of the most productive time I have spent networking. I have already received a referral for someone looking to sell their business and two other attendees asked for my details as they were looking for a local accountant,” he added.
The next event is the Café opening at The EpiCentre on 8th September, 9.30am to 12.30am. The ‘Cool Beans’ launch will have live music with inspirational guest speaker Scott Russell of Paddy & Scott’s, supplying the coffee for The EpiCentre cafe and lots of coffee! A brilliant way to help us open this new business but also to network with professionals in an informal environment.
