The Versatile Main Hall

The Community  Hall here at the Main Place plays host to a tremendous variety of activities including conferences, dance classes, mother and tots as well as exhibitions, lunch clubs and children’s parties.

It’s a great space and can be transformed into pretty much any venue to suit the hirer, and includes a modern, well equipped Kitchen.

The ceiling height is also important especially for bouncy castles at children’s parties

If you are looking for such a versatile venue for your function, meeting, or any other event give us a call on 01594 836469.

We can arrange a time for your personal viewing.

Top 5 uses for the Training and Meeting rooms here in the Community Enterprise Centre at the Main Place

1: Networking – great for lead generation, help and advice.

2: Social Media training – Excellent for marketing stratagies

3: Company Training days

4: Job seekers – temporary office

5: Activity training

Of course the rooms are used for a multitude of reasons, being well equipped, modern and comfortable, but the above is our current top 5

For more information on special offers for either room call 01594 836469 

Children's Party Season is Back!

We seem to have had a sudden influx of inquiries for children’s party’s over the past couple of weeks, does this mean Autumn is around the corner? Oh yes it certainly does.....groan.

Still, it’s good to get them and I can fully understand why. The Hall here at the Main Place is an excellent venue for kids to have a fun time, especially when accompanied with a bouncy castle and disco.....yes there’s plenty of room for both and youngsters love them!

We always set up a cafe style area around serving hatch area, so the adults have somewhere to sit together whilst the kids run riot on the castle or dance with the music. This way mums and dads have a good time too!...and we keep them in Tea, coffee and biscuits.

Also, the party’s generate business for local traders, catering, inflatable hire etc, so it’s a great situation to be in and we enjoy the whole kaboosh. Find out more here http://main-place.org.uk/childrens-parties

Now, what else is good about Autumn and the following Winter months? Umm..... 

Networking Rooms

Networking is an important part of building your business and the Forest of Dean has its fair share of Business Clubs, all of which are excellent, well run and have their own styles.

The question is – How important is the venue? Personally I think it is, in fact I would go as far as to say it’s very important......depending what you want!

So what style is best? Grand old buildings, Hotels, Inn’s, or modern premises?  

Now there is no particular right or wrong here, it’s just a case of which suits your group best. The Speech House Hotel is a great example of comfort, good food and grand surroundings, the Orepool Inn is cosy and friendly, Bells Hotel is very corporate, and here at the Main Place we have a modern, well equipped room.

All four examples above are the right rooms for the style of the club. You have to ask yourself “What am I trying to create?” Here at the Main Place we feel the room is perfect for our needs, we have all the technology and equipment in a light airy modern room which is also comfortable. Its the image we have tried to create and it works well.

Main Hall, excellent for......

It’s good to see the Main Hall here at the Main Place, Coleford being used for such a wide variety of activities.

Excellent for business as the room is spacious, airy and modern in appearance. It makes a great AGM, training, class room or just about any indoor business activity required.

Exercise is another usage, but that’s not surprising as when the room is cleared it makes an excellent dance floor, fitness room or any type of exercise class.

Kids Party’s are always fun especially in the Main hall where there is room for a bouncy castle, disco, seating area and dining space....and plenty of room left for the kids run riot!

The adjoining kitchen with serving hatch also helps contribute to the success of the hall, and comes free of charge when hiring the hall.

Whatever your indoor activity, why not give us a call on 01594 836469 to arrange your own personal viewing and talk to us about your requirements. 

Working From Home v Renting an Office

So, you own your own business, it’s just you or perhaps you with a partner. You have probably converted a room or at least part of a room at home.....but, is it the best way forward for your business?

Let’s look at the pros and cons concerning working from home

Pros  

1: Save Money - I guess first and foremost for most people would be money. It cost almost nothing to work from a home office.

2: convenience – You’re already there! Your day can start immediately if you wish.

3: Transport – No travelling time and again, a saving.

4: Flexibility - The ability to choose your hours more conveniently.

I’m sure there are many other great reasons why so many people choose to work from home but the following cons should also be considered, especially if you are thinking of expanding in the future.

Cons

1: Kudos - An office address will usually make your business look more professional to a potential client.

2: Meetings – Often, (not always) your customers will take your business more seriously if you have an office.

3: Work/Life Balance – When your business is at home it’s sometimes difficult to shut off. Offices can be locked.....see ya Monday!

4: Productivity - Distractions at home can sometimes hinder progress.

Really, I think both sides of this topic have good points. It’s personal choice and nature of your business combined with budget that influences the decision for most, but sometimes I feel the wrong route is chosen (both ways) which ultimately could mean limiting the progress of your business. It’s always best to consider both sides thoroughly.

Training staff is an important if not vital area for developing your business. Well trained employees tend to be happier in the workplace, therefore more productive and ultimately more profitable for the company.

Providing attendees with the correct relevant material is of course essential, but some careful thought should also go into the venue. The “Training Room” should be warm, comfortable and well equipped. Pleasant surroundings create a better atmosphere, making the learning process more enjoyable.

Refreshments and regular breaks are good to increase how much of the knowledge taught will be retained as the brain tends to switch off after long periods of information intake.

It’s a simple process really, but ensuring all the above are in place makes good sense. After all if you get it right for your staff....you get it right for yourself and your company. 

Get a Room!

It still amazes me the amount of years I spent as a small business owner entertaining potential clients in my small home office, meeting in cafe's and just about anywhere that really doesn't cut the mustard. 
I often wonder how many deals never came to fruition or how many bigger fish I may have impressed if i had given some serious thought on meeting places.

When I took on the marketing role for the Community Enterprise Centre at the Main Place Coleford it was a real eye opener. Professional rooms for meetings,  training days, demonstrations, in fact as many reasons as you can shake a stick at are available at very reasonable prices. The rooms are well equipped with everything you need to make your business look good and run smoothly in front of your new acquaintance.

We are talking about your business here! You order high quality business cards to impress, design a fancy website, dress accordingly and everything you possibly can to create that important first impression.....do yourself a favour, get a meeting room that matches your efforts with everything else, it needn't be expensive and might land you that contract you have been after.