So, we have got proposals coming out of our ears and many of them are for data cleanses – it’s great to see so many companies have realised what a valuable asset their data base is!

We also suggest to our clients that the first place to start is with existing data before we even look at ways to build their database further.

Our top tip is keep your database up to date, cleanse it every 18 months and it will pay dividends!

We have also just started a data cleanse project for Newcastle Gateshead Conference Bureau which involves us cleansing their database  ready for their new conference guide to be posted out in March.

Amongst all this activity we have had a visit from the local Fire Department and as Fire Marshall, I have to make sure that our team are safe in the office.

The office was checked to make sure we had no hazardous items stored and the fire regulations protocol was signed off by them. I have to say that the firemen did leave a little disappointed, but this was only due to the lack of chocolate biscuits we had in the office.

I’m glad to say though that we can carry on offering a fabulous service to our clients in our fire safe environment!

I’m Ocean Harmony Star. Yes, a very unusual name I know!  I have worked full time at BBS since October 2011. My current role at BBS is Admin Apprentice.  In the short period of time I have been here, I have been involved in two events: NAPF and European Microwave Week 2011. Both of these were held in Manchester Central and I was looking after delegate registrations. This involved handing out delegate visitor bags and also helping with any queries they may have. Both events were very interesting and also a great experience. I met so many different people who had travelled over from many different parts of the world.  I have also been involved in many other exciting projects and have met lots of our lovely clients. One of my favourite and probably one of the biggest projects I have worked on was a tourism audit, which meant me getting on the phones! I was a little nervous at first but after a few calls, I was fine.

 I am keen to progress my job role within BBS and am currently looking into different training qualifications. Will keep you posted…

Ocean. x

BBS had a great year in 2011. We went all social with Twitter and LinkedIn, we celebrated our 10^th Birthday, gained lots of new and interesting clients, we got a new BBS website, a new member to the BBS team, Ocean and Helen came back after being on maternity leave.  And if that wasn’t enough, we have jumped on to the BOB Club bandwagon and not only are we members of 1 club, not 2 clubs but 3 BOB Clubs.

BBS were well travelled last year, spending time in Telford, Scotland, Manchester and Leeds with various different clients.

We have already lots of exciting things planned for 2012 here at BBS. Something I am looking forward to this year is starting my CIM Professional Diploma in marketing, so if I am not in the office, you can find me in the library buried under a pile of books…wish me luck!

Lesia x

It was then back to base for the North Manchester Bike Show to support our neighbours Orbis Solicitors who sponsored the event – we must have done something right they’ve booked us for 2012 already!

From then on in it’s been Manchester Central all the way with a full team on site for over 2 weeks to run European Microwave Week closely followed by NAPF.

Now I know that the team love to be out at events but boy can it be hard on your feet so as a little thank you for and to support one of the newest businesses to Ramsbottom we arranged for the lovely BBS girlies to have a lovely fish spa at Buena Vida to refresh their tired feet.  And what a treat it was, a little unusual and a bit tickly but it’s fair to say we all really enjoyed the experience and are now planning our next visit.  Lesia even tried the aqua massage!

Ruth

This year the event was held at Manchester Central Conference Centre however BBS still provide staff when the event is held at the ACC, Liverpool, every other year.

BBS provided staff to manage the delegate and exhibitor registrations.  This involved handing out delegate and exhibitor packs and dealing with any queries they had regarding the event.

We also provided Charter Room managers who brief the speakers and chairman at the beginning of each seminar session and manage the smooth running of the conference room throughout the event.

Microphone handlers in the main auditorium are also required.  We allocated this role to the most athletic members of the team as it sometimes meant dashing from one end of the auditorium to the other as fast as possible to get the microphone to the delegate who wants to ask a question.

This year we also provided badge scanner who had the task of scanning badges before delegates entered a seminar session.  This was used to monitor which sessions were most popular and what session delegates were attending.

After working with the NAPF team for 7 years, we always feel like an extension of their team and I know the staff members who have worked on the event for several years always look forward to it as we are always looked after well by the whole NAPF Team.

Love Andrea x

Anyway, after some googling we found out that the event was actually all about radars, microwave components and satellites etc. We were all very intrigued!

The exhibition ran from Oct 9^th – Oct 14^th and included many early starts for the BBS team…luckily across the road from Manchester Central was a Starbucks so we paid many a visit there!

BBS worked with the EuMW team in various different roles including: conference cashiers, delegate bag stewards and conference registration hostesses. Everyone we met at the exhibition were lovely and it was pleasure to work with the EuMW team and hopefully we can work with them again in the future.

Unfortunately we learnt nothing about radars/microwave components however Andrea learnt some Polish and I met a fellow Ukrainian there who knows my dad! Small world!

Bye for now,

Lesia x

BBS supplied stand personnel for the North Manchester Bike Show at Ramsbottom Cricket Club on Sunday 25^th September 2011.  Orbis Solicitors were the main sponsors of the event and we were only too happy to help the guys out with drawing attention to their presence at the event.

The start of the day began with the Krypton Factor type challenge of constructing the gazebo.  Me being only 5 foot tall did not help the situation either.  However a quick smile and a flutter of the eyelashes to some athletic looking men and the gazebo was up in no time.

We went over to Telford on Thursday morning and spent the day prepping for the weekend ahead. We were all staying at the Holiday Inn Telford and I must say a big Thank you to all the members of staff there as they were extremely helpful and friendly (especially when it came to handing out spare key cards)!

Friday morning was spent getting the reception desk ready to check in the guests on arrival, along with their welcome packs, name badges and gala dinner tickets. The guests started arriving mid afternoon and before we knew it we were all on coaches heading to our first port of call – Blists Hill. We all arrived at Blists Hill and took a step back to Victorian Times! Guests were able to wander around the Victorian town freely, greeted by Victorians in their shops and on the streets. And I must say, the fish and chips we had there were amazing!

At the bottom of the town, there was a Victorian fairground which had a coconut shy and other traditional fairground rides…we couldn’t refuse having a go on the carousel!

On the Saturday, all of the guests had pre-chosen an experience they could go on. The options were:

Taste, Active, Lifestyle, Cultural and Country Living

I was managing the lifestyle experience. The day started with a trip to Albrighton Hall Hotel – a lovely venue. Guests were able to use their spa and beauty facilities or have a go on their adventure rope course.

After sitting down with Ruth for a briefing, it didn’t seem as bad as I thought! All I had to do really was talk about what we do, how we can help the client, a bit about the BBS team and why they should choose us– Easy!

The first thing I did was do a bit of googling on how to make a good powerpoint presentation – I can always rely on google! So I got a few ideas from there and then it was time to get cracking.

To make the presentation a little bit different we decided rather than talking about ourselves we would all talk about another member of the team – I chose Andrea seeing as she is my desk buddy so I know all about her bad habits…I mean strengths!

The presentation was finalised with Ruth.

There have been a few nerves in the BBS office today but Ruth assured us that it would all be fine and to be ourselves…think that’s what was worrying us the most and it was!

All in all, the presentation went well and now we just have to keep our fingers crossed…hopefully we will have some good news to share with you all soon!

Bye for now,

Lesia x