Research and Innovation are offering a free Ingenuity Breakfast Event for SMEs based in Nottingham and Derbyshire.

People infuse their businesses with their own backgrounds and beliefs whilst also adhering to the demands of the business environment at the time of founding. Yet the “rules of the game” in this environment are gradually shifting; we are moving away from formal business wear, networking events at unsociable hours and the need to fit into a stereotype which could be described as male, pale and stale. “Authenticity” is having its moment; business owners are encouraged to follow the example of business leaders like Anita Roddicks and wear their values on their sleeves. Yet at times, business owners may still feel pressures to “fake it” to fit in with expectations as a way to gain a new client or reach a new market.

At this breakfast event, entrepreneur Debbie Clarke will share her story of how she navigated the tricky waters of self-employment; running a business for 3 years that she felt dissociated from, until she launched debbiedooodah and – in Debbie’s words – “came fully into the light, doubled her income and become 100% truly and completely authentic”. Following this, Dr Isobel O’Neil from the University of Nottingham will broaden out the discussion by sharing her research findings about how entrepreneurs engage in a process to balance the competing demands of “standing out” as an authentic-to-self business owner and “fitting in” to meet others’ expectations.

The programme:
07:45 – 08:10 Registration, breakfast and networking
08:10 – 08:15 Welcome and introductions
08:15 – 09:00 Keynote
09:00 – 09:10 Q&A
09:10 – 09:30 The Shop Window
09:30… Networking – for those that want to stay on

This event will take place 7.45-9.30am on Tuesday 12 March in Sir Colin Campbell Building, Triumph Road, Nottingham, NG7 2TU.

For more information, and to book your place, please visit the event page.