Hertfordshire Businesses celebrate the success of fundraising at 5th Annual ‘Ambition 2019 Sales & Marketing Conference

The Spotlight Theatre in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire was the venue for the ‘Ambition 2019 Inspiring Business Success Conference’ which was organised by local businesses who donated their time and talents to deliver an inspiring conference including business networking, round table ’Ask the Experts’ sessions and inspirational professional speakers. International speakers offered motivation in abundance to approx. 135 attendees on Tuesday 12 Nov 2019, with all proceeds donated to two local charities: Teens Unite Fighting Cancer and Samaritans Herts & Essex (Ware).

Last Thursday 6th February 2020, the sponsors and organising committee of the event reunited at The Ambition Broxbourne Business Centre to present an impressive £10,000 to the charities; £5,000 to each. Over the past five years funds raised for charity has reached more than £25,000 in total.

As a founder volunteer organiser of the event, Ashbourne Insurance’s Sarah Smits commented, ”We have been delighted by the overwhelming success of the Ambition 2019 Conference and the outstanding donations we have been able to make on behalf of all who attended this extraordinary Conference.   I never imagined that the event would grow to such a scale and become such an important annual date for the local business community to come together and be inspired by outstanding speakers and brands who donate their services to help us fundraise.  I very much look forward to this year’s event to be held on 10 November 2020.  Thank you to all the sponsors, speakers, business colleagues, volunteers and to Broxbourne Council!”

Photo (left): Sarah Smits with Debbie Pezzani, Co-Founder of Charity Teens Unite.

Photo (right): All the Sponsors and partners together with representatives from the Samaritans and Teens Unite.

Ambition 2019 was a collaborative event which was organised by a volunteer committee and for the first year since its’ inception, last year managed and funded by Ambition Broxbourne (Broxbourne Borough Council). Sponsors, partners and contributors included: Ashbourne Insurance,  Cariad Marketing, HB Accountants, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, Ambition Broxbourne, Shepherds Property Sales & Lettings (Hoddesdon), Austins Family Funeral Directors, Curwens, The Business Independent, IT Builder, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Love Hoddesdon, SWCO Financial Planning, Adam Jones-Lloyd Video, Phil Bourne Photography, Broxbourne Design and Print, Hertfordshire Growth Hub and Better Business for All. Professional guest speakers who supported the event included: Andy Lopata (Professional Relationships Strategist), John Stapleton (a Founder of the New Covent Garden Soup Company), Esther Stanhope (former BBC broadcaster), Nathan Littleton (Marketing Expert), Sam Rathling (LinkedIn Expert), Lysa Hardy (CMO Hotel Chocolat) with Event Master of Ceremonies Jeremy Nicholas.

Photo above: Mayor Wortley with Sarah Smits and professional speaker John Stapleton.

The event was officially opened by The Mayor of Broxbourne, Councillor Steve Wortley.