Lincolnshire gets ready for its largest virtual networking event
20th June 2020
Lincolnshire is to host its biggest ever networking event next week – alongside the Lincolnshire Show Online, and it is attracting huge interest and key speakers including The Black Farmer Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones.
Lincolnshire is to host its biggest ever networking event next week – alongside the Lincolnshire Show Online, and it is attracting huge interest and key speakers including The Black Farmer Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones.
The Lincolnshire Show Digital Breakfast and Community Conference will run from 7am to 11am on 24th June and will be called Connecting Lincs: The Future. The event will be focusing on the county post COVID-19 – and beyond. Organisations and individuals across Lincolnshire are being urged to take part – to attend, sponsor or host their own event within the digital breakfast.
Organiser of the breakfast Steff Wright of Gusto Homes has been working closely with the Lincolnshire Showground team to make the event happen.
He said: “Traditionally the Lincolnshire Show brings together people from all backgrounds for two days. People meet with others who they may not have seen for a year since the last show. The Lincolnshire Show Digital Breakfast aims to bring visitors together digitally, where we can meet up with existing contacts, make new contacts, listen to interesting speakers and join discussion rooms to share knowledge and better understand what a post COVID-19 future may look like.
“We are looking for contributors for our two break out discussions. The subject for the first session is The Future of… with panellists discussing what the future may look like for their area of specialism. The second session is How to… with panellists offering ideas around personal and business support.
“We are linking with many other Lincolnshire networking groups and organisations including the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, People in Property in Lincoln, Team Lincolnshire and the Lincoln Business Club to encourage all their members and attendees to join us next week. We could have as many as 1000 people join us on the day.
“We are absolutely delighted to have secured The Black Farmer as our key speaker. He’s an incredibly inspirational man who encourages others to follow their dreams and find ways to reimagine their future.”
Streets Chartered Accountants is a key sponsor of the event. Other sponsorships are available to those organisations wishing to be involved in the networking rooms or hosting a panel. The sponsorship payments are in the form of charitable donations to the Lincolnshire Showground’s charities.
The 136th Lincolnshire Show will take place on 24th June on an online platform.The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society made the decision to cancel the traditional show earlier this year due to COVID-19, but will now replicate the typical show format in an online world. Visitors to the website can explore six different zones including Main Ring and Aviation, Education Zone, Kitchen and Food Court, Trade Exhibitors, Agriculture Zone and Countryside Area.
Jayne Southall, CEO of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, said: “The Lincolnshire Show has become one of the county’s most well-loved events over the years. With more than 60,000 people attending annually it’s the perfect place to showcase the incredible people, local businesses and products the area has to offer – and we hope that the online show will provide an equally valuable platform. The online show has proved really popular so far – we have more than 1000 people registered for tickets already. We have an action-packed virtual show, featuring local exhibitors, cookery demonstrations, educational and agricultural content, and entertainment.
“The Lincolnshire Show Digital Breakfast and Community Conference adds another big element to what we are doing on 24 June. We are delighted to be working with Steff and his dynamic team in the delivery.”
Free online tickets for the Lincolnshire Show Online have now been released, which will give visitors exclusive access to the full line up and timetable of events throughout the day.
The Lincolnshire Show Digital Breakfast event will be hosted on Zoom and live streamed through the Lincolnshire Show Online website.
The agenda for the Lincolnshire Show Digital Breakfast:
| 7:00am | Technical set up – The Zoom doors will be open. Guests will be shown how to use the platform, use the chat function, ask questions, and show their contact details. |
| 7:30am | Introduction to the event – Steff Wright. |
| 7:45am | First network session. All guests will be split out into breakout rooms hosted by the breakout room sponsors. Guests will introduce themselves to others in the room, letting them know who they are, where they come from and how they have been impacted by the COVID-19 situation. |
| 8:00am | Welcome from Christopher Bourn, The president of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society |
| 8:10am | Linking our networks. Representatives from the various networking groups attending will discuss the benefits of making links between groups to help improve the flow of information and knowledge as Lincolnshire adapts to a post COVID-19 future. |
| 8:30am | Second network session. All visitors will be split out into different breakout rooms where they will be able to introduce themselves to others in the room and discuss how they see the future unfolding from their perspective. |
| 8:45am | Main panel session – ‘Creating a New Normal’ |
| 9:15am | First discussion room session. Guests will select a discussion room they wish to attend. Theme: The Future. |
| 9:45am | Second discussion room session. Guests will select panel sessions they wish to attend. Theme: Business Support and Personal Development. |
| 10:15am | Keynote speaker – Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones – ‘The Black Farmer’ |
| 10:45am | Conference wrap up and handover to the opening of the first ever digital Lincolnshire Show. |
| 11:00am | Main Show starts |
The online show, taking place virtually on 24 June, will recognise the best of rural Lincolnshire with an eclectic mix of entertainment, food, shopping and agriculture.
The Lincolnshire Showground team is partnering with CityX, Gusto Homes, Cartwright Communications and TRS Design to help bring the Lincolnshire Show Online to life. Sponsors include Woldmarsh Producers Ltd, Branston Ltd, Lincolnshire County Council, Harper Adams University, Thompson & Richardson and Duckworth Motor Group.
The Lincolnshire Show Online is also teaming up with BBC Radio Lincolnshire. BBC Radio Lincolnshire usually relocates to the showground for the two show days every year, bringing each of its programmes live from the show. This year the radio station will be re-creating the feel good factor, fun and atmosphere of the show as part of a dedicated day of broadcasting celebrating the Lincolnshire Show featuring people who normally visit, exhibit or help run the event.
People who are out and about on the day of the Lincolnshire Show Online can listen to BBC Radio Lincolnshire on 94.9FM, DAB, Freeview, via the BBC Sounds app or online at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_lincolnshire
To find out more about the Lincolnshire Show Online, how businesses can get involved and to register for tickets, please visit www.lincolnshireshowonline.co.uk
If you would like to contribute to the Lincolnshire Show Digital Breakfast please visit the www.communityconversation.org.uk
