Exhibitors and public delighted with Expo THE inaugural North Hants Business Expo has been hailed as a success – attracting more than 50 exhibitors and over 700 people.

Held at The Anvil in Basingstoke, the event had a futuristic theme with the aim on helping Basingstoke and north Hampshire businesses to best prepare for a successful future.

The event was organised by Andover-based TWA and provided networking opportunities and seminars looking at how businesses can best adapt their offering to meet society’s demands as they evolve.

TWA creative director Edward Thomas was delighted with the event, which had 55 exhibiting companies, whose representatives were kept busy dealing with plenty of new business leads.

Mr Thomas said: “Around 700 people went through the doors and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback, so it was a great success.

“We are now thinking about what we can do for next year as we want to make it an annual event.”

The keynote speaker was futurist Ray Hammond, who spoke to around 200 people. Other speakers at the event included Paul Cranston, head of marketing at Compsoft and Bluesulphur Digital Design, and representatives from Black Swann Training. Topics covered included social media, search engine optimisation and apps, as well as using technology to grow a business.

Among those impressed with the Expo was early bird Carlie Cohen, who has just set up a copywriting, marketing and PR business in Lychpit called CopyWorks Communications.

She attended the Expo’s free breakfast seminar, which started at 8.30am called The Future of Social Media, by The Social Media Guys.

Carlie said: “I’m looking to work with more of my clients on the social media side, so it was interesting to get more of an idea about how social media marketing works.”

She also tried her hand at networking for the first time, with Basingstoke Networking.

She said: “It was really good because I got to meet lots of people, where we got two minutes each to speak about what we do, what our company offers and what we’re looking to achieve – it was really good for me.”

Nikki Edwards, revenue and sales manager for Audleys Wood Hotel, manned a stand at the Expo with a view to raising the hotel’s profile.

Nikki said: “It’s been a great day – it’s the first time since the hotel has been part of Handpicked Hotels that we have exhibited at an event like this.

“We’ve had lots of enquiries – especially about our teambuilding and conferences – from a complete mixture of people, so the Expo has been a success.”

Malcolm MacInnes, from Basingstoke Transition Network, who made enquiries at the Greenhouse Graphics stand about getting a banner made for a community green fair, said: “It’s been a very good networking event, helping small businesses to grow.”

Nicola Smith, from PETA Training and Consultancy Services, manned a stand with her colleague Heather Williams to promote the company’s training courses.

Nicola said: “The Expo has been nice and busy with a real mixture of people. We opened a training centre at Tuscany House, in White Hart Lane, in the last nine months, so we’re just upping the profile of the company. From there, we run a Work Ready Programme for 16 to |18-year-olds, who are not in training or employment, teaching them skills to prepare them to go out to work.”