UK Director Business Events: Is your business ready if disaster strikes?

ABOUT THE EVENT

Essex Director, along with its sister publications, Suffolk Director and Norfolk Director, are part of the UK Director magazines portfolio which all have one very simple aim, to help you run your business better.

Our theme is ‘What If?’ and our focus for this event is business continuity, planning and strategy.

In the turbulent world we find ourselves in, it is getting increasingly challenging to ‘ride out’ the curve balls that keep being thrown our way.

This event is only open to sole traders, directors, entrepreneurs, partners, owners and senior decision-makers of businesses from all market sectors.

As well as providing opportunities to network with other business leaders, attendees will be positively encouraged to question the keynote speakers and the panel of experts; all with a focus on sharing knowledge and experience and stimulating a healthy discussion around the real issues linked to running a business.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

The event is divided into two sections interspersed with opportunities to network:

8.00am: Arrival and registration at The Essex Business School,University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, where delegates will gather for coffee, tea and pastries.

8.30am: Taking place in the lecture theatre, part one will be presentations by keynote speakers, Rob Thacker, Founder and CEO at Sona Insurance, and Mark Hart, Joint Managing Director at Barnes Construction, who will be talking about events that impacted business continuity.

In a nod to the date of this event, September 11th, Rob will be speaking about the Twin Towers collapse in 2001, its impact on the insurance sector and the wider global economy, and the lessons learnt around planning for the unexpected.

As well as talking about the risk management and planning involved in running a construction business, Mark will also talk about the impact to his business and the wider construction community that came when the previous MD passed away in December 2017.

9.45am: Break for networking and refreshments in the Foyer Area.

10.20am: Back in the Lecture Theatre for part two, the Q&A session. Presented in a similar format to ‘Question Time’, this will be an opportunity to discuss and put questions to a panel comprising of business leaders who are at the 'coal face' of running their own organisations, and experts representing professional services in the county. Chaired by Editor in Chief, Sue Wilcock, all the panel members are currently working with local businesses and bring a wealth of ‘real’ experience and knowledge that they are happy to share.

Please note this part of the event will be a closed session and take place under the ‘Chatham House Rule’, which allows anyone to use the information discussed but without revealing who made any particular comment.

11.30am: Close

COST

Early Bird Tickets are £25 +VAT

(Available until midnight on Wednesday 3 September when ticket prices will increase to £50 +VAT)

OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Rob Thacker, CEO at Sona Insurance

Rob started Sona Insurance in 2019 with one client, having been an insurance broker and risk manager since 1988. He specialises in complex business risk and insurance solutions for organisations and businesses.

From a standing start Sona now has 19 employees and has doubled each year. This year the business has partnered with Vinttro, the classic car lifestyle brand, ventured into High Net Work insurance and made a portfolio acquisition in the property owners’ sector.

The business has a clear set of Values which are the foundation of Sona’s growth. Rob says he is building the insurance broker he always wished he had worked for.

He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, has an honours degree in Economics and an MBA from the Open University – re-enforcing the business’s Value of being a Learning Organisation.

Mark Hart, Joint Managing Director, Barnes Construction

With over 45 years in the construction industry and 25 years as a director, Mark is currently Joint Managing Director of Barnes Construction, a highly respected and successful regional construction company, a position he has held since 2017.

Throughout his career, Mark has remained deeply engaged in the local construction scene at the highest level. He is member of The Chartered Institute of Building and an active member of both the National Federation of Builders and the Suffolk Joint Construction Committee.

He prides himself on championing the non-adversarial culture for which Barnes Construction is known, and Mark’s business philosophy is simple yet effective: focus on people, deliver excellent service, and build long-term relationships. This approach, combined with strong technical expertise, has earned him a reputation as a knowledgeable and trusted leader in the industry.

OUR Q&A PANEL

Chaired by Sue Wilcock, all the panel members are currently working with local businesses and bring a wealth of ‘real’ experience and knowledge that they are happy to share. Please note this part of the event will be a closed session and take place under the ‘Chatham House Rule’, which allows anyone to use the information discussed but without revealing who made any particular comment.

OUR SPONSORS

Larking Gowen is a top 50 UK accountancy and business advisory firm. We have specialist teams in corporate finance, personal tax, trusts, probate, not-for-profit, VAT, legal, medical, tourism, business strategy, and insolvency & recovery.

With the rise of digital transformation in the financial industry, our focus is on building long-term relationships with clients to help navigate these changes. Our dedicated teams offer timely advice and support to help you achieve your goals, with a strong commitment to service and expertise. Larking Gowen is dedicated to securing your future and helping you to reach your goals. www.larking-gowen.co.uk

Specialist brokers for Business, Property, and Personal Asset Insurance — built around you. We combine expert advice with smarter risk protection to keep your world moving forward. No hard sell. Just tailored cover, proactive insight, and access to insurers you won’t find on comparison sites. www.sonainsurance.com

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