Together with the increasing work pressures, expectation or feeling that we are all doing two jobs, how can we justify attending non essential events? The business gurus tell us that face-to-face meetings ‘top trump’ email/telephone, social media - reasons being: • Body Language is Communication • Ensures Engagement. • Clarifies Meaning • Drives Participation • More Efficient • Develops transparency and trust • Makes it personal Why should we attend events, conferences etc? • To build relationships • To keep up-to-date with trends • To benefit from new ideas • To connect with key influencers • To be motivated • To socialise • To recruit new employees All of the above make sense and I would urge you to consider whether it is more productive to sit at your desk continuing your day-to-day activities or attend an event where you will do all of the above, whilst securing new knowledge, contacts and potential expertise or. In the end it comes down to value versus cost. BFBi believes it delivers value via its events and attendance will deliver an ROI in excess of the cost. In researching this I came across a number of studies that confirm that networks and social relationships are important in fostering value creation and business competitiveness. So it is not just me…. I don’t want to be the first to speak of New Year resolutions but I will. Please make one of your New Year resolutions to get out more, attend industry events, especially those that are free of charge – what have you got to lose other than your time (and yes, I do appreciate it is precious)? With that in mind, may I direct you to our second BevExpo event, an opportunity for the wider beverage industry to meet, learn and discover the excellence of products and services within the entire beverage industry supply chain. Further information on pages 44 and 45, with details of some of the companies exhibiting at BevExpo on the following pages. Ruth Evans MBE, BFBi C.E.O. We believe that we are unique in that we represent an entire value chain - from seed merchants, barley growers, maltsters, hop merchants, suppliers of raw materials through to production and packaging machinery manufacturers and suppliers and dispense/point of sale suppliers, manufacturers and installers. Our core values are sustainability of the value chain; fraternity; promotion of our Members, enabling them to act together in all areas relating to their trade or professional interests. Today, our strength and depth of membership expertise continues to help manage the opportunities and challenges facing our modern industry. 6 BREWING & BEVERAGE INDUSTRIES BUSINESS Representing the entire value chain supplying the Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Brewers - the BFBi is open to you too! - Telephone 01902 422303 for more information We have all read articles about how the millennium generation doesn’t go out/mix/engage face to face. I don’t think it is fair to blame it on millennials and view it as a culture change. After all, with phones, ipads, andriods, computers, social networking etc, etc, it is not surprising that we don’t bother to speak face-to-face anymore. For a full calendar of BFBi events visit: www.bfbi.org.uk/industry-events/consolidated-programme-of-events We should all get out more… Word from the BFBi RUTH EVANS MBE 6_Layout 1 13/11/2017 11:12 Page 1