What & Where

The awards will showcase the individuals and organisations which have done most to help start ups, the self-employed and small business owners to survive and thrive during 2008.  Most nominations for the awards are taken from small and home run businesses, which make up 99 % of the UK’s total business community.  Categories include awards for professional advisers, such as accountants, through to volunteer business mentors.  There is also an award for the business owner or entrepreneur who has done most to support other small and home business owners.  The awards will be presented at an informal UK Enterprise Support Awards Lunch at The Magic Circle Headquarters in London, on 16th April 2009.

SFEDI aims to raise the quality of small business support and training by setting standards.  It also accredits and endorses the people, products and programmes that meet these standards and are 'proven in practice' with prospective and existing small and home business owners.  This work is guided by the SFEDI Advisory Board who are the hosts for this UK Enterprise Support Awards 2009. The SFEDI Advisory Board includes the key business membership and enterprise support bodies in the UK, including the British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Forum for Private Business, the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies, the Association for Chartered Certified Accountants, the International Association of Book-keepers, Customer First UK, Institute of Leadership and Management and representatives from UK Sector Skills Councils

Location:

The Magic Circle Headquarters, 12 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HD.

This is the spectacular home of The Magic Circle, a private club, where the finest magicians from all over the world meet regularly to invent illusions, share secrets and master their magic.

The amazing building, located in a quiet street less than a minute’s walk from Euston station in central London, includes a club room and bar, meeting and dining rooms packed with magic tricks and exhibits. Libraries, museums and one of London’s best kept secrets, The Magic Circle Theatre.

Numbers:

160 - Pre show reception and Enterprise Magic Awards Show

130 - Sponsors' luncheons

Timetable:

10:00 to 10:30 - Early Arrivals - Magical Mystery Tour of the Museum

From 10:30 - Arrivals: tea and coffee

11:00 - Sponsor's Welcome Address and Pre Show Reception

11:35 to 13:00 - Enterprise Magic Awards Show in the Magic Circle Theatre

13:10 - Sponsors' Luncheons in the Devant and Club Rooms

14:15 - Close but opportunity for informal networking to 15:30

Style

Mainly informal with ‘magical interludes’ the event will be fast paced and lively.  Formal interludes will include the introduction of each sponsored section – a short address by the sponsor of that section (or by a nominee of that sponsor) - and the presentation of the awards themselves.

The pre show reception and the post show sponsors’ lunch will allow the SFEDI Advisory Board and other sponsors and organisations time to influence their guests

The stage is a permanent structure in a beautifully appointed theatre with comfortable tiered seats and comprehensive lighting and sound equipment which will showcase sponsor’s logos and award winner’s details on the A/V produced for the event. Each finalist will have a photograph and brief summary of why they are a finalist projected on the main screen in the Magic Circle Theatre.

SFEDI Advisory Board Members’/Sponsors’ logos will be on their sponsored table, in all media and on the award certificates.

The post show sponsors’ lunch will comprise 13 tables of 10 in two rooms – the Devant Room and the Club Room.  Each table will be hosted by the SFEDI Advisory Board/Partner table sponsor. 

Dress code is smart but reflects the theme and enterprise in practice, that suits and ties are not required.  All delegates can wear what they would normally wear to relate to their small and home business clients.

Speakers: In addition to the Chief Magician, Tony Robinson, OBE, who will co-ordinate the magic acts for the day, a speaker from the main sponsoring organisations (or a nominee of their choice) will give a maximum 10 minute address to introduce each of the three event sections.