The Skillfair Conference, the only event of its kind in the UK, will be held in Shropshire on November 8 2011. It will bring together business leaders and consultants from a variety of sectors from IT to professional development and technology to SME support.
The theme of the 2011 conference, being held at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford site, will be Transformation in Business.
Skillfair is a UK-wide service that matches consultants and freelancers with clients and projects. It provides a marketplace for consultants, freelancers and agencies to showcase their services and for potential clients to seek out suppliers for their projects, across all consultancy disciplines.
Skillfair director Andrew Corbett said: “The Skillfair Conference is the only event of its type in the UK, aimed at consultants who want to establish or grow their business.
“We have an outstanding array of speakers in place, all leading consultants in their particular area of expertise. Delegates will have access to a wealth of workshops and information which can help them transform their business, with advice from experts who already have. The event is also a great chance for consultants to network with open space sessions, participative workshops and seminars.â€
The event will be the first Skillfair Conference since the organisation was taken over by the UK IT Association early this year. UKITA plans to nurture and grow Skillfair as a key hub for linking experts with clients throughout the country.
Mr Corbett said: “The introduction of government-backed online tendering service, Contracts Finder, put Skillfair’s future in doubt and plans were advancing to close it down in the face of the new public-funded competition. However, an outcry from many of its more than 1,000 members and some of the 10,000 or so regular users, led to the UKITA stepping in to take on the company.
“Skillfair itself as an example of a transforming business, and we’re looking forward to welcoming consultants from across the UK to the Midlands for this conference.
“We know times are tough in the current economic climate, but post-recession there are increasing opportunities for consultants as companies look to shed internal posts and out-source projects.â€
Among the speakers at the conference are John James Dew OBE, a visionary workplace modernisers who is passionate about change, and leading business coach Simon Bozeat who has worked with an impressive client of clients including Rolls Royce Aerospace, Lloyds TSB, Marriott Hotels, NFU Mutual and Quicksilver.
Costs to attend are £135 plus VAT for Skillfair members and £165 plus VAT for non-members. This includes access to all of the talks and workshops and includes a three-course lunch.
For more information on the event being held at the Conference Centre, University of Wolverhampton, Telford Campus a full list of speakers and to book, go to www.skillfair.co.uk, email enquiries@skillfair.co.uk or contact Skillfair on 0844 4457571.
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