Work Empowerment Foundation Pitches at Sparkle Network Event
The foundation had the pleasure of doing its first pitch at a Sparkle Networking Event run by our partners, Future Foundations, for the "First Steps!" graduate event (click here to see the post giving an overview for the event).
What is the Sparkle Network?
The Sparkle Network is a group of twenty and thirty somethings which meets on a monthly basis in London to support each other at the start of their careers. I have attended two Sparkle Events so far and have enjoyed them tremendously...typically the events consist of:
- Free form networking
- Sparkle Pitch 1 - here a small business "pitches" to the Sparkle Network for no more than 5 minutes and asks for help on certain aspects of their business from the network members...with 10 minutes of questions and answers
- Speed Networking - here you have the opportunity to meet with up to 9 other Sparkle Network members for 2-3 minutes and explore how you can help each other
- Sparkle Pitch 2 - another small business pitches to the Sparkle Network
- Free form networking
What did the Work Empowerment Foundation Pitch?
Here is a summary of my Sparkle Pitch:
"Message from Hina Patel of Work Empowerment Foundation…
“It was great to meet you at the last Sparkle event…I really enjoyed your enthusiasm in response to my Sparkle pitch on behalf of the Work Empowerment Foundation (www.WorkEmpowermentFoundation.org) – a non-profit social enterprise seeking to help people create fun, freedom and fulfilment at work through a variety of services (online portal, social conferences, projects, consultancy etc)
As a summary, my pitch covered a social conference planned to run in November 2007 that the Work Empowerment Foundation is developing with Future Foundations. This social conference will explore the key issues that graduates are facing in the current job market…read my Blog for more information.
We want to involve both students and graduates in the development of this social conference – we are planning to pitch this to potential sponsors as an event “Created by Graduates for Graduates”.
We are looking for ways to create an active and passionate steering group of students & graduates who will work with us to (taking into account the summer vacation) to help us to achieve this.
If you are interested in participating in the steering group or have ideas to suggest on how we can create this to an impactful event, then please contact myself (Hina@WorkEmpowermentFoundation.org – mobile 0771 713 2026) or Jack Butler.”
Key Input From Sparkle Network
- People don't generally know what social conferences are...this needs to be described more clearly and concisely so that people get how they are different from conventional events
- Include student bodies in the event development (NUS, Welsh UMCA)
- Get a clear idea of what the issues that each of the stakeholder groups are facing by holding a series of focus groups as part of the event development - this will give the opportunity for the key issues to be aired so that the most appropriate people / organisations can be invited to the social conference. Also keeping the groups separately initially in the focus group phase will ensure that people are really free to speak openly about the issues that are being faced
- Use the results of the focus groups name what is really going on out there from different perspectives...this will support the development a social conference proposition that is cutting edge and addressing what really matters...this is the key USP of the event and will attract the people who are interested in actively meeting the issues face on as opposed to just having a nice discussion
Posted by: Hina Patel
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