Networking success all under one
The 2018 Check-in @ Stansted Business Expo brought together over 80 exhibitors
Thursday 21st June 2018 saw over 80 exhibitors showcase their businesses and services from under one roof at the annual Check-in @ Stansted Business Expo.
Taking place within the Diamond Hangar, London Stansted Airport, a very different venue for such an exhibition, companies exhibiting included London Stansted Airport, Emirates, Air Corsica, LPL Construction, Border Force, XJet London, Medigold Health, Three Counties Refrigeration, X-Clusive, Coral Mead Accountancy Services, Just displays, Barclays Bank, Premier Travel, Vision Co-Working Spaces, Essex Police, Ginger Beard Productions, ULODA, Swissport, ACL Essex - to name a few.
Celebrating its 5th anniversary (of course with a celebration cake baked by Heart and Soul), the event kicked off with a free talk from Brad Miller, Chief Operating Officer at London Stansted Airport followed by talks from Uttlesford District Council, HNE Media, John Turner Photography, BBC Apprentice Paul Sullivan and Optimus Learning Services.
Simon Jackson, business development manager at Uttlesford District Council, said: “Well done for today.” Uttlesford District Council is a key sponsor for the day, alongside London Stansted Airport, Premier Inn, Radio Essex, Reach Plc, LPL Construction and the Diamond Hangar.
Another sponsor, Justin Martin, hotel manager at the Premier Inn at London Stansted, said: “Premier Inn London Stansted were proud to take part in Check-in @ Stansted 2018. A great event and chance to meet local businesses and suppliers.”
The event also raised more than £650 for charity For Nanny and Bobby, which is dedicated to helping find a cure for cancer. The money was raised from raffle prizes and a charity auction.
Julie Budden,Chair of the SACC, said: “Thank you to everyone who donated to this amazing charity on the day. As a massive West Ham fan, this is a charity I very much support and would like to say a special thank you to Tony Cottee who kindly donated a few hours to attend the exhibition and help For Nanny and Bobby on the day. I know Tony was very much welcomed by many exhibitors, sponsors and visitors and it was lovely to hear ‘is that Tony Cottee?’ as the team escorted him around the venue."
Those who visited the expo were escorted to and from the hangar by students from Harlow College, who kindly donated their time to help on the day.
For the students it was a chance to gain real-life work experience and interact with visitors and businesses on the day.
In addition it was great for them to get feedback from visitors, with comments like:
“It was good to come along and see what today is all about"
“I am looking to expand my business this way and look forward to signing up to exhibit next year.”
Nicola Wisbey, director of marketing at The Sowerby Group, said:
“We’d like to say a very big thank you to all our suppliers on the day who helped make the event happen – especially XHibit, CBSVL, Alfresco Hire, British Event Catering, Brohmon, Diamond Fun Casinos, Harlow College and of course the venue.
“When organising such events, especially in a working hangar, you can be faced with last-minute changes which people do not see.
This was the case for 2018 when at very short notice we were faced with the arrival of a last-minute aircraft inside the hangar where the exhibition would normally take place, as well as extra security measures to ensure a worldwide-known band.
We managed to overcome all obstacles and put on a show for all involved to network and enjoy, so thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.”
COMPETITION
The organisers were keen to offer a Best Stand competition with the winner getting a free stand at the 2019 Check-in @ Stansted Business Expo, which is due to take place in June 2019.
The winner was picked based on stand visual, interaction with visitors and looking at the fun element on the day, and it went to business IT support and telecoms company Riviera Networks
A very close second place was given to the Premier Inn London Stansted.
And the winner is.....
Riviera Networks (www.rivieranetworks.co.uk).
Welcoming Emirates "Game Changing" Boeing 777-300ER to London Stansted Airport.
The day has finally come! A historic moment for London Stansted Airport that we have all been waiting for so long...
On Friday 8 June 2018, Emirates celebrated the inaugural flight of its new daily service from Dubai (DXB) to London Stansted (STN). The flight marks the first time an international airline based in the Middle East operates out of the popular London airport, and connects the East of England with Emirates’ global network of over 155 destinations via its hub Dubai.
Where will London Stansted Airport and Emirates take you next?
To celebrate the airline’s arrival to the airport, Emirates and Stansted airport held a launch event for local dignitaries and stakeholders, hosted by Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations West, and Richard Jewsbury, Divisional Vice President, UK, alongside Ken O’Toole, Stansted Airport’s CEO.
Hubert Frach, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President said:
“We decided to add London Stansted to our network because we saw an opportunity to directly connect the local community with some of the world’s most popular leisure and business destinations. Previously, London’s north east, and the wider 7.5 million people that live within Stansted’s catchment areas had to travel into the city, or further, to access airports with global reach. Now, this daily flight to Dubai connects passengers seamlessly to Emirates points across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia.There’s been a real appetite for increased connectivity between the thriving business community in the East of England and our global network too. The new gateway will support the swell of new start-ups, SMEs and established businesses in the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor by giving them access to new cities and countries across the globe."
Ken O’Toole, London Stansted’s CEO said: “Today is a truly significant moment in the history of London Stansted and we are delighted that our millions of passengers, based in London and the East of England, will see huge benefits from the direct connectivity between the airport and Emirates hub in Dubai and its vast array of onward connections.In 2018 Stansted is set to be the fastest growing London airport and a key enabler of economic growth for both the UK and East of England, and the addition of the new Emirates service will provide a further boost to our long haul ambitions and ultimately save local passengers valuable time and money that is associated with flying from other airports across London."
Click to hear more from Emirates' Hubert Frach and from London Stansted's Mark Souter Head of Aviation - Key Accounts and take a look inside this magnificent aircraft!
Julie Budden, Chair of SACC: "I had the pleasure of being part of this historic day welcoming Emirates to London Stansted Airport alongside other business leaders and representatives from businesses from around the region.
It was a magical afternoon which actually brought tears to many eyes, including mine! I have been part of Stansted for many years and have seen so many positive and rewarding changes and long may it continue.
London Stansted continues to grow and brings important change to the region for both passengers and businesses alike as well as working with the community – well done “Our Stansted” – on behalf of myself and our members I applaud you for all the hard work you continue to do! Thank you.”
Click here to take a look back at the evolution of London Stansted Airport, from its 1943 roots as RAF Stansted Mountfitchet airfield, to the announcement that Emirates is launching a daily non-stop direct service from London Stansted to Dubai.
NEW FACES SET TO JOIN STANSTED BUSINESS EXPO
Thursday 21st June 2018, 10 am to 4 pm is a date/time that should be in your business diary. Regional businesses will meet inside a unique venue – the Diamond Hangar, London Stansted Airport for the 5th annual business expo Check-in @ Stansted brought to you by The Stansted Airport Chamber of Commerce.
Showcasing their businesses and promoting their products and services on the day, latest exhibitors signed up include: Just Displays, Coralmead Accountancy Services Ltd, CSS Recruitment & Training Ltd, Three Counties Refrigeration Ltd, Eurobase People, CeeLab and Collective Property Services. A full list of exhibitors, sponsors and the latest floor plan can be found online at www.check-in-stansted.com
Those attending will not only get the chance to meet new companies and network with like minded people, but they will also have the chance to participate in FREE speed networking and enjoy a whole range of free seminars that are scheduled to take place from within the main exhibition hall.
Visitors will also get the chance to enjoy some fun brought to you by Diamond Fun Casinos, sample food and beverages from British Event Catering and help support the 2018 Charity of Choice – For Nanny and Bobby (www.fornannyandbobby.com). We also have a little surprise in store for West Ham fans, ex Pro Tony Cottee will be making a special appearance!
Visitors can register for FREE online at www.check-in-stansted.com or turn up on the day!
Julie Budden, Chair of The Stansted Airport Chamber of Commerce said:
“Our region is home to some exceptional businesses. Businesses that year on year are growing and opening more opportunities. Whether that be supplier agreements, new clients, new staff - Check-in @ Stansted is a place where we can help make all of this happen. We put on the show – you go out and do business! We’re really pleased to announce that LPL Construction Services will be back this year as a sponsor. They are a great testimony of how a business can grow and use local suppliers and people to achieve this”.
Darren Shepherd, Procurement & Supply Chain Manager at LPL Construction Services added:
“LPL Construction Services are pleased to announce that they are returning to support the Check-in event this year on the launch of their new corporate identity and look forward to supporting this fantastic event as Stansted Airport moves into an exciting new growth era in the UK aviation sector”.
Local taxi firm, CSL who are also exhibiting on the day will be offering reduced rates if any visitor requires transporting to and from the venue on the day. You can book in advance by calling 07508 980 204 and quoting Check-in @ Stansted.
Limited stands are now available so if you are looking to jump onboard from as little as £250 cos we’ve one left? £325 + vat, get in touch with either Julie (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or call 01279 870064.
London Stansted Airport responds to Government statement on UK airports making best use of runway capacity
5th June, 2018
Today, alongside confirming support for the development of a third runway at Heathrow, the Government has confirmed, in a statement to Parliament, its support for other UK airports looking to make best use of existing runway capacity. The policy makes clear that Government supports all UK airports making best use of their existing runways.
This follows a consultation last year as part of the Government’s development of a new Aviation Strategy.”
Please find link to the making best use section - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/713741/making-best-use-of-existing-runways.pdf
In response to the Government statement, Ken O’Toole, London Stansted CEO, said:
“Ahead of the anticipated decision from Uttlesford District Council relating to our application to increase the airport’s limit on passenger numbers to 43 million per year, we welcome today’s statement from Government confirming its support for airports looking to make best use of existing capacity.
“It is vital for the UK economy that the country has the best possible aviation connections and that there is an urgent need to actively support airports, like London Stansted, that can deliver that access now.
“Over the last five years we have increased passenger numbers by nearly 10 million, doubled the number of airlines and secured six new services to the most popular destinations for passengers from the region including Dubai, New York, Boston, Toronto and Washington.
“Building on these successes, we are investing £600 million to improve the airport experience and have submitted a planning application to make best use of our single runway. This will unlock Stansted potential and enable us to serve up to 43 million passengers, deliver 50 percent of London’s expected passenger growth over the next decade and extend the choice of airlines and destinations we serve.”
New to business networking?
Are you new to networking, unsure of what to do, or nervous and apprehensive about attending? Don't worry, we are on hand to help you.
Networking goes hand in hand with running a successful business, however many of us dread walking into a room and introducing ourselves to a bunch of strangers.
Take a look at some of our tips to help get you on the road to becoming a successful networker!
Resist the urge to arrive late. It's almost counter-intuitive, but showing up early at a networking event is a much better strategy than getting there on the later side. As a first attendee, you'll notice that it's calmer and quieter, people won't have settled into groups. It's easier to find other people who don't have conversation partners yet.
Ask easy questions. Don't wait around the edges of the room, waiting for someone to approach you. Simply walk up to a person or a group, and say, "May I join you" or "What brings you to this event?" Don't forget to listen intently to their replies. Listening can be an excellent way to get to know a person.
Ask open-ended questions. Who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be 
answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
Ditch the sales pitch. Remember, networking is all about relationship building. Keep your exchange fun, light and informal – you don't need to do the hard sell within minutes of meeting a person. The idea is to get the conversation started. People are more apt to do business with – or partner with – people whose company they enjoy.
