Pictured above: The Mayor & Mayoress of Walsall invite Headz Up Business, Pushpa Alexander & International guests to tea! with Dr.Eng.Elmo De Angelis, Director of Training 2000, Mondavio

In the current economic climate, growing your business isn't an easy task for new or established businesses, but Pushpa Alexander, founder of Headz Up Business is helping businesses in Walsall and the Black Country do just this. Through a number of innovative and unique professional networking events across the region, the most recent of which offered delegates the opportunity to meet with Italian and Latvian business leaders, she has created exciting environments for business ideas and networks to grow.

The cosmopolitan and modern setting of the Wharf 10 Bar, adjacent to the stunning and award winning New Art Gallery Walsall, was the location of Headz Up Business's most recent event. Of the 60 or so delegates, five were business leaders from Italy and four were from Latvia; all attended the event to make links, exchange knowledge and experience with local and European Partners. The visit was facilitated through the support of Christine Lester, CEO from West Midlands Tomorrow Ltd as part of the Lifelong Learning Programme and the UK partner for the Women Innovating Network project (WIN).   

The event was opened by the Mayor & Mayoress of Walsall, Cllr Gary Clarke & Yvonne Clarke, who gave a warm welcome to the overseas visitors.  In his opening address he indicated how the Walsall economy has thrived throughout the years through a variety of overseas links, and that he hoped further relationships with the international delegates would continue. The welcome was followed by an engaging and thought provoking presentation from Pushpa Alexander who set the scene for the future of business in Walsall and how links with Latvia and Italy could be further nurtured. Mrs Alexander often referred to as the 'Networking Ninja' for her expertise in networking skills, creating networking events and astute business acumen, gave attendees an overview of the Networking model that helps businesses to link up with like-minded business partners.  

Roy Bayliss from the Winning opportunities in Walsall Programme (WoW) was next to offer details about the programme that supports companies to help them innovate and grow in the current economic climate. He talked about the need to be creative and to link with others businesses, both overseas and closer to home, to help support each other and grow together. This was followed by a talk from Jon Burnett, from Regeneration Walsall Council. Mr Burnett gave an exciting overview of the plans to regenerate Walsall, citing many examples of success and good practice. Tony Kemshall from Intelligence Matters, then followed with details of the Triple Tower Challenge, which involves 2 cyclists to cycle from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, through to the Eiffel Tower, Paris and then onto Blackpool Tower; raising money for the Mayor of Walsall's charity appeal Walsall Hospice. 

The International delegates expressed their delight at meeting so many business leaders from Walsall. Settimo Bravi, The Mayor of the Municipality of Sant' Angelo in Vado (Italy) said that Headz Up Business Networking event further confirmed to him that there were so many ideas and practices that could be shared with the business community in Italy; he could see opportunities for business partnerships between Walsall and his region and he would be exploring these further upon his return. Inara Mukane, Head of Culture Daugavpils District Municipality (Latvia) was delighted to see the arts, culture and business regeneration projects in Walsall and also commented about the opportunities that could be fostered between Latvia in the future.

Through Headz Up Business Pushpa Alexander is helping companies meet and network, but its just one of the strands of support she offers businesses in and around Walsall. She also assists companies with their training needs, and through business consultancy she offers expert people and management services as well as business and event planning services (full details of networking events, essential business resources and news please see www.headzupbusiness.co.uk. You can also find details of other events specifically for business women & other professionals). But it's not the first time that an event led by Pushpa Alexander has received overseas attention. Pushpa hosted an overseas delegation last year, attended by 19 Female Entrepreneurs from Sweden:

"Overseas visitors are extremely important to our local economy and this exposure provides and opens up opportunities for business growth within Walsall. I've lots of experience working with international partners and coupled with my knowledge of Walsall & the Black Country, where I was born and brought up, I'm able to assist businesses in all aspects of their work - from developing initial ideas, to delivering current projects efficiently, through to identifying new ways of working and new partners. Networking is one way, developing good business links and supporting businesses through information and training provides companies with the complete package to succeed. "

The Headz Up Premier Networking event closed with a note of thanks to the Mayor & Mayoress of Walsall, the overseas delegates and the Walsall Business leaders who attended. The Mayor & Mayoress of Walsall invited the International delegation to receive tea in the Mayor's Parlour before concluding their visit to Walsall.