Network or Notwork!

"Network or Notwork" is one of the key pieces of advice that successful entrepreneur Nigel Risner will be offering to business leaders when he speaks at Destination Growth 07.

In recognition of the importance of learning from fellow business leaders Destination Growth 07 will have a dedicated networking and exhibition hub brimming with like-minded leaders from across the East of England.  About 700 business leaders are expected to use the networking hub - making Destination Growth 07 the biggest business networking event to hit the East of England this year.

More than 50 business support organisations will be on hand throughout the day offering delegates great opportunities to network, share ideas and build contacts in order to grow their businesses further.

Richard Ellis, chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), which is hosting the event, said: "One of the key pieces of advice I continually hear from leading business experts is how important it is to learn from others. It is absolutely crucial that key decision makers in any business take time out of the daily grind to network and get some really sound advice on how to develop and grow their enterprises further. 

"Destination Growth 07 is dedicated to achieving this goal, hence we not only have a programme packed full of inspirational speakers and experts, but also a dedicated networking and exhibition hub where businesses leaders can go throughout the day to share ideas, experiences and advice."     

Award winning motivational speaker, respected author and television presenter, Nigel Risner, will lead a masterclass called 'Finding your A-Team' at Destination Growth 07. Nigel said: "To succeed in business there are a few things that are vitally important and one of those is networking. In my book its 'Network' or 'Notwork' - it's important to learn from fellow business leaders if your business is to succeed, develop and grow."

Altogether 22 experts will be on hand to lead a session or give a key note speech. These include creative thinker Dr Edward de Bono and Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben and Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream. News of other high profile speakers will be announced over the coming months.

Destination Growth 07 is the East of England's biennial flagship business event and will be held on Tuesday 6 November. It is exclusively for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region and will be held at Duxford Airspace in Cambridgeshire. It will begin with registrations from 8.30am and will culminate in the final of EEDA's investment competition, Running the Gauntlet, which offers entrepreneurs the chance to win a share of £2 million of equity funding.

For more information or to register for the event visit www.eeda.org.uk/destinationgrowth.
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Notes to Editors

For photographs of Nigel Risner or further information please contact:
Lisa Davidson in EEDA's press office, tel: 01223 200871, email: lisadavidson@eeda.org.uk

About Destination Growth
Destination Growth 07 is the region's flagship business event, hosted by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA). It is a biennial conference for leaders of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the East of England. The first Destination Growth was held in 2005 was a runaway success with more than 500 delegates attending to get advice, ideas and tips from a range of business experts including Edward de Bono, Evan Davies and John Timpson.

This year's event is set to attract up to 700 senior decision makers from the region's fastest growing SMEs. The programme will feature three lively keynote speeches - one of which will be led by Jerry Greenfield. These will be supported by a packed programme of educational master classes and topical debates led by 19 other high profile speakers, including Edward De Bono, Nigel Risner and Sir Robin Young - more will be announced over the coming months. These sessions will focus on accelerating business growth and will have four themes:

. sales and marketing
. innovation
. accessing finance
. leadership

Destination growth will also showcase regional arts and have a lively networking and exhibition area for up to 50 business support organisations, offering opportunities to network with likeminded business leaders.

For more information or to register visit www.eeda.org.uk/destinationgrowth.

Businesses can also chat online on the business blog at: www.eeda.org.ouk/destinationgrowth/blog

About EEDA
The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) is the driving force behind sustainable economic regeneration in the East of England: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The vision for the East of England is to create a leading economy, founded on a world class knowledge base, creativity and enterprise to improve the quality of life for all who live and work here.  For further information visit www.eeda.org.uk
 
About Nigel Risner
Nigel Risner is an award winning motivational speaker, respected author and television presenter. He is the only motivational speaker in Europe to have been awarded Speaker of the Year from both The Academy for Chief Executives and Vistage (formerly known as The Executive Committee).

As one of the youngest CEOs of a financial services company in the City of London, Nigel knows business as well as he knows life and more importantly he knows what it takes to lead a successful business. He conducts more than 150 motivational seminars and corporate speaking engagements a year in Britain and oversees.

When he isn't travelling Nigel lives with his wife and two children in Hertfordshire.  

At Destination Growth 07 he will lead a masterclass on leadership called 'Finding your A-Team'.