Member Article

Incubator Zone companies pursuing business leads

Businesses who participated in the very first Incubator Zone at this year’s Durham Oktoberfest have secured new contracts and are following up dozens of promising leads.

Twenty-one companies from across County Durham exhibited as part of a Durham Business Opportunities Programme (DBOP) project, created to engage companies who had not been involved with the event previously.

Delivered in partnership with LEC Communications and Design and with European Regional Development Fund funding, the Incubator Zone area enabled new and growing companies, or those who had little or no exhibition experience, to showcase their products and services to an audience of almost 1,000 people.

And following the event, the companies involved have shared their overwhelmingly positive experiences, with one company already delivering a new contract and many actively pursuing promising leads which they hope will result in work.

Lee White is owner of Bespoke Electrical, a mechanical and electrical engineering company based in Newton Aycliffe. He said: “We did so well at Oktoberfest, in fact we have already started delivering a three-month consultancy contract on a furnace smelting project heading to Europe early February 2018 which we secured at the event. In addition, we have costed for a further two projects which we’re waiting to hear back about.”

Craig Williams is Managing Director of Ferryhill-based vertical panel saw manufacturer Sagetech Machinery.

He said: “Durham Oktoberfest was a huge success for us. The guys on the stand had a great day meeting many people and companies which allowed us to discuss who we are and what we do.

“As an incubator exhibitor it allowed us to attend this prestigious event without a huge outlay, which I would highly recommend to companies who have never exhibited before.”

Gary Hosey, founder and owner of The Emotional Intelligence Company, said: “Our team at The Emotional Intelligence Company was over the moon with the 100 plus new contacts we got from Oktoberfest 2017.

“This, coupled with reconnecting with companies we’d had previous contact with, has meant we have one confirmed client meeting and a proposal for a coaching programme that has been sent to a prospective client. This has been great for us and we are already planning to exhibit at Oktoberfest 2018.”

Another company actively following up positive leads is Steadfast Group in Peterlee.

Engineering Director Ian Harbord said: “Since the event, we’ve been following up leads and over the last week alone have spoken to companies in Newcastle, Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland about business partnerships.

“We’ll definitely be taking part in the event next year and can recommend it.”

Each Incubator Zone exhibitor was given intensive support to prepare them for the event and equip them with the skills to ensure they were in the strongest possible position to capitalise on their involvement. They were also given marketing materials such as flyers, banner stands and business cards.

Ben Gilhespy is Operations Director at County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network, which organises Oktoberfest. He said: “Without a doubt the Incubator Zone was one of the highlights of this year’s event. The companies involved got so much from it, while attendees were massively impressed with this new element of the event.

“The main objectives of the project were that companies walked away with strong business leads which could generate work and that they got enough from exhibiting to entice them back as a fully-fledged exhibitor next year. We know from their feedback that these were achieved.”

Lisa Wall, Business Engagement Officer with the DBOP team, said: “We’re delighted to hear exhibitors are now following up leads with the contacts they made. We spent time with each of them during the event and I think all were genuinely impressed with the number of businesses they got the opportunity to engage with. Hopefully we’ll see them back at Oktoberfest next year.”

Managing Director of LEC, Leanne English, added: “The Incubator Zone is a fantastic way to give new starts and growing SMEs the chance to put themselves in front of businesses they wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to meet and there’s no doubt it was a huge success. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with the first tranche of exhibitors, and beginning work on the second phase of the programme.”

Oktoberfest 2018 returns on Thursday, October 18. For updates on the event, or to book as an exhibitor, visit durhamoktoberfest.org.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .