Discover All Events

PowerPoint remains one of the world's most widely used presentation platforms for businesses, educators, consultants, and professionals. Whether you are presenting a sales proposal, pitching a business idea, delivering internal training, or speaking at conferences, a well-designed presentation helps communicate your message clearly and professionally. The Free Virtual PowerPoint Training Session, hosted by the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub, has been created to help professionals improve their PowerPoint skills without spending hours designing slides. During this one-hour online workshop, attendees will discover 14 practical PowerPoint techniques that simplify presentation creation while producing polished, engaging, and visually appealing results. Delivered via Microsoft Teams, this interactive workshop is suitable for beginners as well as experienced PowerPoint users who wish to improve productivity and presentation quality. Why Attend This Workshop? Many professionals spend unnecessary hours adjusting fonts, formatting slides, aligning graphics, and designing layouts. This workshop demonstrates practical shortcuts and efficient methods that dramatically reduce preparation time while improving presentation quality. Participants will gain insights into: Faster slide creation Professional formatting Smart design principles Time-saving shortcuts Improved visual storytelling What You Will Learn The session introduces practical skills that can immediately improve everyday presentations. Topics include: PowerPoint productivity hacks Professional slide layouts Design consistency Effective colour selection Font pairing techniques Using templates correctly Animation best practices SmartArt and icons Visual hierarchy Image optimisation Charts and infographics Presenter tips Collaboration tools Presentation delivery techniques Benefits for Business Professionals Professional presentations improve communication across every organisation. Benefits include: Stronger client proposals Better sales presentations Improved internal meetings Professional company branding Faster project reporting Clear communication Enhanced stakeholder engagement Benefits for Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs frequently present ideas to investors, customers, and partners. This workshop helps entrepreneurs: Create investor pitch decks Present business plans Improve sales presentations Deliver webinars Build brand credibility Save preparation time Benefits for Students Students regularly prepare presentations for coursework and academic projects. This training helps students: Produce professional assignments Improve confidence Present research effectively Build workplace skills Prepare for future careers Why PowerPoint Skills Matter Presentation skills remain among the most valuable workplace competencies. Organisations increasingly expect employees to communicate ideas through visual presentations. Effective PowerPoint skills support: Leadership communication Marketing campaigns Sales meetings Corporate training Project management Client engagement Learning efficient PowerPoint techniques enables professionals to communicate information more effectively while reducing preparation time. Interactive Learning Experience Unlike watching prerecorded tutorials, this live workshop allows attendees to learn directly from experienced trainers. Participants can: Watch live demonstrations Follow practical examples Ask questions Learn real-world techniques Apply skills immediately Flexible Online Format Hosted via Microsoft Teams, the workshop allows attendees to participate from: Home Office Co-working spaces University Anywhere with internet access No travel is required, making participation convenient for busy professionals. Professional Development Opportunity Continuous learning is essential in today's workplace. Adding PowerPoint expertise strengthens professional development by improving communication, increasing productivity, and supporting career progression. Many employers value staff who can produce high-quality presentations efficiently. Networking Through Growth Hub The Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub supports businesses through: Business advice Skills development Workshops Funding guidance Networking opportunities Professional training Attending Growth Hub events introduces businesses to valuable support services available throughout Staffordshire. Key Takeaways After completing the workshop, attendees will: Design presentations faster Improve slide appearance Deliver more engaging presentations Increase workplace productivity Build professional communication skills Why Register? The workshop is completely free and provides practical knowledge that can be applied immediately in the workplace. Whether you work in business, education, government, or the voluntary sector, these presentation techniques can help improve both efficiency and presentation quality. Seats are limited, and early registration is recommended. Wrapping Up The Free Virtual PowerPoint Training Session offers an excellent opportunity for professionals to strengthen one of today's most valuable workplace skills. By learning proven productivity techniques, design principles, and presentation best practices, participants can significantly improve the quality of their presentations while reducing preparation time. Hosted by the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub, this online workshop combines expert guidance, practical demonstrations, and actionable tips that benefit business owners, employees, entrepreneurs, educators, and students alike. Whether you regularly present to clients, colleagues, or stakeholders, attending this free training session is an investment in your professional development and communication skills.

The Bolton Food and Drink Festival returns to central Bolton for its monumental 21st anniversary celebration, establishing itself as one of the premier food and culture events in the North West of England. Organized directly by Bolton Council, this grand four-day outdoor festival transforms Victoria Square, Le Mans Crescent, and the historic Albert Halls into a thriving celebration of international gastronomy, regional produce, and family entertainment. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of food enthusiasts across the August Bank Holiday weekend, the festival highlights the very best of British artisan food culture, independent hospitality, and creative cooking talent. Celebrity Chef Masterclasses and Interactive Demos A central cornerstone of the festival program is the world-class lineup of celebrity and regional chef masterclasses hosted inside the Albert Halls and main festival kitchens. World-renowned culinary icons, including Michelin-starred chefs and famous television personalities, demonstrate their signature recipes, share insider techniques, and discuss seasonal ingredient sourcing. Attendees can book tickets for exclusive intimate masterclass sessions, Q&A panels, and live cookery demonstrations. These live stage shows offer both amateur cooks and seasoned foodies direct inspiration, kitchen secrets, and unique insights into modern gastronomy. Extensive Artisan Street Food Market and Local Produce Sprawling across the town centre, the festival marketplace features more than 200 artisan food stalls, independent pop-up bars, and specialty craft producers. Visitors can embark on a global tasting journey featuring authentic street food ranging from wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, sizzling Asian dumplings, and aromatic Indian curries to gourmet British pies, vegan delicacies, and hand-crafted patisseries. Alongside ready-to-eat dishes, the market hosts independent regional farmers, cheese makers, gin distillers, and microbreweries, allowing guests to sample and take home high-quality local goods made across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Family-Friendly Entertainment and Live Music Designed to engage visitors of all ages, the Bolton Food and Drink Festival offers a full schedule of free family entertainment and interactive youth zones. Children can participate in hands-on cooking classes, creative arts and crafts sessions, and interactive street theater games. Complementing the culinary attractions, multiple music stages showcase live acoustic performers, regional indie bands, brass ensembles, and tribute acts throughout each day. The lively, inclusive atmosphere creates the ultimate community gathering spot for families, friends, and holiday visitors. Supporting the Local Economy and Community Beyond celebrating great food, the festival serves as a vital economic engine for the borough, promoting local hospitality businesses, town center retailers, and independent traders. Bolton Council prioritizes sustainability, accessibility, and environmental responsibility throughout the festival footprint, providing recycling facilities, accessible seating areas, and smooth transport connections. By uniting local heritage with international culinary excellence, the festival reinforces Bolton's reputation as a top cultural destination. Visitor Planning and Transport Details The festival site opens daily from 10:00 AM across Victoria Square and surrounding streets. While access to the street food market, live music stages, and outdoor entertainment is entirely free, tickets for premium celebrity chef demonstrations and special dining experiences can be booked online in advance. Located conveniently within walking distance of Bolton Interchange (train and bus station) and central parking structures, the venue is easily accessible for visitors traveling from Manchester, Preston, and beyond. Join Bolton Council for an extraordinary Bank Holiday weekend celebrating food, flavor, and community.

As the "Smart City" concept gains momentum, the "Smart Campus" is following close behind, particularly in the realm of academic housing. The Seminar on Tech Integration in Academic Housing in Sheffield is dedicated to exploring how Internet of Things (IoT) devices, automated management systems, and data-driven security measures are revolutionizing university accommodations. Modern students expect their living quarters to be as connected and efficient as the rest of their digital lives. This seminar provides a deep dive into the practicalities, costs, and benefits of upgrading university housing portfolios to meet these high-tech demands. We will begin by exploring the ROI of smart building technology—how automated heating and lighting systems not only provide a better user experience but significantly slash utility bills and carbon footprints for the university. Data privacy and security will be a major focal point; as we collect more data on student habits and movements to improve services, how do we ensure ethical usage and robust cybersecurity? The seminar will feature a panel of IT experts and housing managers discussing the balance between high-tech convenience and the "human touch" in hospitality. Furthermore, we will look at the rise of the "all-in-one" student app, which integrates room keys, maintenance requests, laundry monitoring, and community social boards into a single interface. Attendees will see live demos of these platforms and hear from housing providers who have implemented them. The event also covers future-proofing—how to build infrastructure today that can support the technologies of 2030 and beyond. This seminar is essential for decision-makers who want to ensure their university’s accommodation remains competitive in a market where tech-savvy students shop for the best digital living experience.