Business Knowledge Webinars Series
Helping to grow and develop your business in 2010
The NatWest series of webinars – offered in partnership with business website Smarta – allows you to engage with the topics and issues that matter to you, completely free of charge. So far, subscribers have received important guidance on a wide range of topics from the likes of Deborah Meaden (entrepreneur and Smarta investor), Sir Richard Needham (Smarta Chairman) and Peter Ibbeston (NatWest Small Business Chairman).
Over the coming months we'll continue to look at more of the subjects that customers would like addressing. Please take advantage of these live video sessions. They're easy to use, they're free, and they contain useful and practical knowledge to help grow and develop your business.
A webinar is a free online seminar: a panel of successful business leaders, owners and entrepreneurs discuss key topics effecting small and medium-sized enterprises. This can take the form of an audio or video presentation.
To date, the series has considered issues as varied as winning new business, how to move into exporting and managing cash flow. The panel discussion will typically be accompanied by a series of presentation slides to further illustrate important points.
Webinars are extremely easy to use. You can access them live and send in questions directly to the panel in real time; or you can view or listen to them at your leisure. To take advantage of the webinars, all you need to do is register and we'll send you a reminder so you don't miss out.
If you prefer to receive a transcript of any webinar, just send us an email with the title and date of the webinar in the subject line.
Thinking of starting a business - Help and guidance when you need it
Starting a business is a big step. Our most recent webinar highlights important factors to consider in the planning and early phase of running a business, enabling new entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.
Panel members:
- James Caan - Entrepreneur, Investor and Dragons' Den personality
- Peter Ibbetson - Chairman of Small Business, NatWest
- Amanda Faulkner-Whalen - Founder, FAB 3D Ltd.
Video length: 30 min, plus Q&A
Transcript request subject header: Starting a business/March 2011
Economic Outlook 2011 and Beyond
The financial outlook for 2011 is a key issue for small and large businesses alike. This webinar sets out the main economic issues and trends for the year ahead. Panel members discuss the impact on businesses, as they respond to the changing economic landscape both at home and abroad. Topics include UK and global economic trends, government spending and foreign exchange and interest rates.
Panel members:
- David Fenton of Microeconomics, RBS
- Robert Ward Director of Global Forecasting, Economist Intelligence Unit
- Dr Adam Marshall Director of Communications and External Affairs, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)
Video length: 30 min, plus Q&A
Transcript request subject header: Economic Outlook/December 2010
How to access funding for your business
It is often difficult for SMEs to fund cash flow or growth. This webinar covers the range of funding options available, as well as critical information required when applying for finance. Topics include bank funding, government initiatives and private equity.
Panel members:
- Peter Ibbetson Chairman of Small Business, NatWest
- Peter Hemmington Corporate Finance Director, BDO
- Vince Jervis Financial Director, City Screen Limited
- Alan Button Tree of Knowledge
Video length: 30 min
Transcript request subject header: Access to Funding/October 2010
Manufacturing and Innovation: Maximising your local and global opportunities
Whether your manufacturing business is new to exporting or already trading overseas, there are always new ways to maximise local and global opportunities. In this webinar we consider.
- Investment and cash flow: access to finance, getting paid and mitigating foreign exchange risk
- Reaching new markets: exporting and innovation – how to maximize opportunities and overcome barriers
- Remaining competitive: tax changes, managing exchange rate volatility and protecting your products
Panel members:
- Sir Richard Needham Entrepreneur and Smarta Chairman
- Peter Ibbeston NatWest Small Business Banking Chairman
- Martin Temple Chairman EEF: The Manufacturer’s Organisation
Video length: 60 min
Transcript request subject header: Manufacturing and innovation/July 2010
How to manage your cash flow and trade with confidence
Cash flow is one of the biggest issues affecting SMEs, especially in the current economic climate. This webinar is essential viewing for any business affected by late payments, or if you’re concerned about wasting valuable time pursuing slow-paying customers.
Panel members:
- Nigel Mills Director RBS Invoice Finance
- Michelle Barden Manager Bad Dept Protection, RBS Invoice Finance
Video length: 30 min
Please note this is an audio recorded video only, supported with Power Point slides.
Transcript request subject header: Managing cash flow/July 2010
World Cup Tips for Employers – Your game plan, tactics and maintaining team discipline
Many employers face big national sporting events and other similar occasions with trepidation. This needn’t be the case. In this webinar, Nick Soret, Head of Employment Law Consultancy Support at NatWest Mentor, gives invaluable advice on how to get the most out of your team at such times and overcome potential challenges.
Panel members:
- Nick Soret Head of Employment Law Support, NatWest Mentor
Video length: 15 min
Transcript request subject header: World cup tips/June 2010
Exporting: Widening your opportunities
Exporting into overseas markets seems a logical step for many ambitious businesses: but how do you maximise your chances of success? In this webinar, the panel impart their wisdom and knowledge on such topics as: the issues facing businesses that are new to exporting; how to maximise your export opportunities, if you're already trading overseas; and understanding and managing the risks associated with overseas trade.
Panel members:
- Lewis Scott International Trade Director, UKTI
- Andrew Williams Managing Director, Industrial Penstocks Ltd
- Rob Keller Global Trade Finance, NatWest
Video length: 17 min
Transcript request subject header: Exporting/June 2010
How to win new business
Winning new business is essential to any successful enterprise. In this webinar, our esteemed panel share best practice and top tips on ensuring a solid cash flow to enable growth, how best to build a sustainable new business strategy and how to effectively market your business.
Panel members:
- Deborah Meaden Entrepreneur and Smarta investor
- Peter Ibbeston NatWest Small Business Banking Chairman
- Marcus Peffers M&C Saatchi
Video length: 20 min
Transcript request subject header: How to win new business / May 2010
Employment law in 2010 and beyond
Employment law is likely to change following the election. How will it affect you? Nick Soret, Head of Employment Law Support at NatWest Mentor discusses the key legislation surrounding additional maternity leave, new flexible working rights and increased minimum holiday entitlement.
Panel members:
- Nick Soret Head of Employment Law Support, NatWest Mentor
Video length: 15 min
Transcript request subject header: Mentor Pre-election Special/April 2010
The NatWest Business Knowledge Webinar Series will be broadcast in one of the following formats:
Video Business Webinars
Online audio and visual seminars. Think of them as a seminar with delegates attending via their computer. Participants will have the ability to submit questions to the speaker in advance and live.
Audio Business Webinars
These allow participants to listen and view a slide presentation via their PC and submit questions to the speaker in advance and live.
Technical requirements:
Which video players are supported?
- Windows Media Player 6.4 and above
- RealPlayer 6.0 and above
- Flash Player 8.0 and above
- QuickTime Player 6.5 and above
Which browsers are supported?
- Internet Explorer 5.5 and above
- Firefox 1.0 and above
- Mozilla 1.7 and above
- Netscape 7.0 and above
- Opera 8.0 and above
- Safari 1.3 and above
Which platforms are supported?
- Windows 98SE
- Windows ME
- Windows NT4 SP4
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
- MacOSX
Which system specifications are required?
The required system specifications depend on the used player - browser - platform combination. A PC with a 400Mhz CPU, 128MB RAM and a soundcard should be capable of viewing a webcast. A screen resolution of 1024x768 is recommended.
Transcripts
Transcripts of individual webinars can be provided on request by sending an email with the title and date of the webinar in the subject line.
James Caan Prize Draw - 16 March 2011
- (a) Prize draw open to viewers of the NatWest Business Knowledge live webinar taking place on 16 March 2011. Entrants must be aged 18 or over and resident of the UK. Draw not open to employees of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group of companies, their families or anyone associated with this draw.
- (b) (One entry per person). Entries are not returnable and will be automatically submitted when you register online to watch the webinar. To fully qualify for the draw, you must finish watching the live webinar.
- (c) No purchase necessary – Register your details and watch the full live webinar to qualify.
- (d) Entries not submitted in accordance with these rules, delayed, damaged, incomplete, altered or illegible will be disqualified. No responsibility is accepted for entries lost, delayed or damaged in the process. Email confirmations will not be accepted as proof of entry.
- (e) The winner will be drawn at random on 16 March 2011. The prize is a one hour mentoring session with James Caan, at his office at Hamilton Bradshaw, 23 Grosvenor Street, LONDON, W1K 4QL 9. Alternatively, the mentoring session can take place over the phone. The date of the session will be agreed by both parties and before 16 September 2011. Travel arrangements are not included. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- (f) The winner will be announced at the end of the live webinar. The winner will be informed by phone, post or email within 5 days of the closing date. Information about the winner will be available by sending an SAE to "NatWest Business Knowledge Webinar -James Caan prize draw Winner List" at the address given in condition below.
- (g) The winner agrees to take part in publicity in connection with this prize draw.
- (h) If a prize is unclaimed after reasonable efforts have been made to contact the winner, the promoter will be entitled to dispose of the prize as it sees fit without any liability to the winner for having done so.
- (i) The promoter reserves the right to alter, amend or foreclose the promotion without prior notice.
- (j) The promoter is National Westminster Bank plc. 135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3UR.
