Business Growth Lunch

Red Hall Hotel18th March 2016

Welcome and introductionsTanya HemphillGrowth Start-up ManagerBusiness Growth Hub

Agenda

• 12.00pm – Welcome, Tanya Hemphill, Business Growth Hub 

• 12.05pm – Guest speaker, Paul Morris, The Chocolate Café

• 12.30pm – Questions & Answers from Audience

• 12.45pm – BGH Update and Closing Remarks, Tanya Hemphill

• 12.55pm – Elevator Pitches

• 01.00pm – Lunch & Networking

• 02.00pm – Event Close

Housekeeping

• Fire procedure• Nearest toilets• Phones on silent• WiFi

• Network• Password

• @bizgrowthhub• #BGHLunch• Business Card Draw

Guest speakerPaul MorrisFounder and MDThe Chocolate Café

Paul Morris – Chief Chocolate Taster, The Chocolate Café

@welovechocolate www.chocolate-cafe.co.uk

• Artisan chocolate company & licensed café based in Ramsbottom

• Combine the finest ‘fino de aroma’ cocoa from Colombia with the best British ingredients to create a range of handmade chocolate products

• Launched 2008 & employ a total of 18 staff• 30% of our annual turnover in November &

December

Businesses I started before launching the Chocolate Café include…

• Property Management• Music Promotions• Bakery• Magazine Publishers• Handyman• Car Valeting• Landscaping

5 Biggest Mistakes• Opened a second site after 12

months• Started to wholesale on a large scale• Never set the business up to be

‘Growth Ready’• Thought I could do everything myself• Never asked for help

5 Greatest Achievements 1. Winning Manchester Food & Drink Awards2. Collecting 7 Golds at The Great Taste Awards3. Winning Manchester Tourism Award for our

Chocolate Festival4. Hosting a Chocolate Tasting at the House of

Commons5. Surviving the recession and still being here

5 Best Decisions

1. Choosing Ramsbottom2. Opening a Twitter account

(@welovechocolate)3. Closing the second site4. Attending festivals & events5. Seeking external help

What next?...

Q&A

Business Growth Hub updateand Closing RemarksTanya HemphillGrowth Start-up ManagerBusiness Growth Hub

Make a positive difference

Forthcoming Events

20th April – Business Growth Breakfast, Rochdale

29th April – Business Growth Lunch, Wigan

www.businessgrowthhub.com/events

Please leave your feedback

• Online feedback questionnairehttp://bit.ly/MarchBGHLunch

• Feedback cards available on the registration desk

1 Minute Pitches

Contact us to find out more

Phone: 0161 359 3050

Email: info@businessgrowthhub.com

www.businessgrowthhub.com

@bizgrowthhub

• +Businessgrowthhub

BusinessGrowthHub