Member Article

BT connects with Accelerate 2014 to boost SMEs

BT is supporting the UK’s economic fight-back by backing one of the International Festival for Business 2014’s signature events.

As part of its support for IFB 2014, the biggest business festival of its kind in the UK for more than 60 years, BT has teamed up with Accelerate 2014.

The one-day event aims to provide an accelerator for growth, motivation and connecting high-potential businesses. The communications provider is holding an Accelerate session on the theme of ‘Potential’ with Danny Longbottom, Managing Director, UK SME BT Business hosting the event and speakers Adam Morgan, founder of eatbigfish, Emmanuel Gobillot, leadership consultant, and Rob Blackie, Director at OgilvyOne, on how SMEs can best use social media.

Danny Longbottom said: “Business success is so often about unlocking untapped potential, and that’s exactly what our ‘Potential’ event will explore.

“It will focus on leadership and driving business success, sharing insights and strategies from people who’ve done it, to help real businesses achieve their goals – whatever they may be.”

Taking place at ACC Liverpool on Friday June 20th, Accelerate 2014 will feature business advice from speakers sharing knowledge on the themes of ‘Passion, Performance & Power’.

They include: Karren Brady CBE, UK Small Business Ambassador; Michelle Mone OBE, founder of Ultimo; Wayne Hemingway MBE, founder of HemingwayDesign; Lara Morgan, founder of Pacific Direct; Kresse Wesling, founder of Elvis & Kresse; Steve Smith, Olympic medallist and co-founder of Raise the Bar; Bryan Adams, CEO of Ph. Creative; Adam Shaw, founder of The Ideas Company; and Andy Bounds, best-selling author of ‘The Snowball Effect’.

Accelerate 2014 will be presented by Liverpool-born TV news and foreign affairs journalist and presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, supported by Oli Barrett MBE co-founder of COSPA.

Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, which developed the Accelerate initiative, and Chair of IFB 2014 said; “Liverpool has become an internationally recognised hub for trade and industry and last year’s inaugural Accelerate event was a huge success with people from across the UK coming to Liverpool for inspiration and advice from some of the most successful names in business.

“I am delighted that our Festival partner BT has seen the importance of Accelerate 2014 and is taking a significant part in the event, reflecting their commitment to supporting brilliant British business.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .