Business Networking Event

Join us for an engaging and informative evening designed to support your business growth. Gain valuable insights into the legal considerations surrounding neurodivergence and how to foster an inclusive workplace. Then, learn how to develop effective value propositions that genuinely address your customers’ needs using the practical Value Stack™ framework. The event concludes with an opportunity to network with local professionals over light refreshments, providing a valuable space to connect and explore new business opportunities.

4.30pm - 5pm: Arrival & Registration.

5pm - 5.20pm: Welcome & Introductions Dr Mel Bull, Director of Executive Education, Nottingham Business School.

5.20pm - 6pm: Introduction to Neurodivergence and the Law Dr Anne Cockayne. This session takes a brief look at the legal framework surrounding neurodivergence, setting out the key facts relating to neurodiversity, reasonable adjustments and managers’ responsibilities. We’ll also explore how you can apply recent case law to common scenarios.

6pm - 6.45pm: Why would anyone buy from you? Value Propositions - marketing fluff or addressing commercial reality! Dr Paul Johnston How seriously do you take your firms' value proposition? Is it a promise of real value your customers can expect when they buy from you or is it merely an attention-grabbing marketing communications strapline? In this session we introduce the Value Stack^TM framework to help you explore the practical business of developing value propositions. This is a step-by-step process using your customer insights about their pain points and ultimate needs. Each step examines how your general proposition can be adapted to the value sought in different market sectors and by different customer types. The Value Stack^TM can be used to support your thinking and action in either business to business or business to consumer situations.

6.50pm – 7pm: Closing remarks Dr Mel Bull, Director of Executive Education, Nottingham Business School.

7pm – 7.30 pm: Networking with Light Refreshments.

Biographies of Speakers

Dr Mel Bull Mel is the Director of Executive Education at Nottingham Business School. Mel has collaborated with senior leaders across the public, private and third sectors, over the last 22 years, to develop relevant development programmes for staff, an example of which includes the Nottingham Leadership Transformation Programme for the public sector in the region, women in leadership programme for SMEs, and has developed international programmes for leadership development for clients including the European Space Agency. She has led the development of a flexible approach to learning through the Nottingham Business School Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Management Practice which gives organisations and participants the opportunity to create an individualised journey of stackable microcredentials to an award. Mel is an EMCC accredited coach and mentor and is passionate about co-creating development opportunities with partners.

Dr. Anne Cockayne Anne delivers neurodiversity awareness training, aiming to deliver mutual understanding for neurodivergent and neurotypical people and enabling employers to create neuroinclusive workplaces. She works 1-1 with line managers and neurodivergent employees to build productive working relationships and enjoy meaningful careers. With an HR background, Anne brings practical knowledge to the learning environment. Anne is also a qualified coach and has led the roll out of in-house coaching provision for senior managers in public and private sector organisations.

Dr. Paul Johnston Senior Lecturer and Assistant Course Leader for BA (Hons) Business Management and Marketing course. Prior to joining academia, Paul had a 20-year commercial career including main board roles in the leisure & electronic games & gaming sector with hands on experience of; entrepreneurial marketing, new product development & innovation, product management, value proposition creation, key account management, MBO's & trade sales. His academic research specialises in customer value creation and delivery. Paul has co-authored two business books Value-ology on value creation in B2B and Stand Out Marketing on senior level strategic marketing competency.