West Ham United Vice-Chair Baroness Karren Brady CBE joined 100 esteemed business owners and experts at the latest Hammers Business Network event, powered by Intuit QuickBooks, at London Stadium this week.
The event, hosted by broadcaster and former Hammers defender Scott Minto, kicked off with a panel on business growth led by Intuit QuickBooks, West Ham United's Official Accounting Software Partner. The panel featured key members from businesses associated with West Ham United:
- Martin Dyhouse, Head of Sponsorship; Intuit QuickBooks & panel host
- Danny Weatherall, Professional Services Consultant; Intuit QuickBooks
- Nicola Savill, Partner; Moore Kingston Smith LLP
- Mick Jennings, Group CEO; NWVA
- John Lucas, Managing Director; CLP Insurance & Club London member
The on-stage discussion offered insightful anecdotes, experience and advice on business growth, challenges impacting SMBs, Income TaxSelf-Assessment preparation and marketing.
After the panel, guests were treated to an exclusive audience with West Ham United Vice-Chair, Baroness Karren Brady CBE, sharing her thoughts and experiences as a business leader including highlights from her three-decade career in football.
The Hammers Business Network, sponsored by Intuit QuickBooks, has been specially engineered to provide a platform for its members to connect, innovate and grow their businesses.
The network is a space that encourages the sharing of ideas and offers the framework to collaborate with relevant businesses who are equally as passionate about success, both on and off the pitch.
Members of the Hammers Business Network are made up of existing West Ham United partners and selected businesses from within the club’s Club London corporate membership. From global organisations through to businesses earlier in their growth journey, this network houses the very best of West Ham United’s business community.
During the panel, Mick Jennings, Group CEO; NWVA, said: “When West Ham opened up the stadium here, we saw an opportunity and we needed a platform to compete with some more well-known competitors. NWVA used to be a brand that didn’t get awareness or recognition. Since partnering with West Ham United our brand awareness has gone through the roof and provided us a platform where we’re now number one when we’re going for tenders.”
John Lucas, Managing Director; CLP Insurance & Club London member, added: “Advertising-wise we didn’t do anything at all until we partnered with West Ham, now we see CLP branding around the stadium and it's provided us with an all-new perspective.
"When we’re on Sky television or other broadcasters, it’s going around the world and now we have people saying to us they saw us on the television, which is great for our international brand awareness.”
Reflecting on the event, panel host Martin Dyhouse, Head of Sponsorship; Intuit QuickBooks, said: “It was fantastic to see a room full of enthusiastic, like-minded business people at London Stadium this morning as we hosted another fantastic event, empowering businesses to thrive.
"The panel all brought superb insights, advice and stories of success, which were truly inspiring for everyone who joined us. This is exactly what the Hammers Business Network is all about - creating a space for growth, collaboration and innovation, all with the vision of powering prosperity in the West Ham business community.
“This, combined with the Q&A from Baroness Karren Brady, one of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs, offered a real-life lens into leadership, resilience and success which provided true inspiration for everyone in the room. We look forward to future events and networking opportunities in the months ahead.”
Baroness Karren Brady CBE said: “Firstly let me say how delighted I am to be here and to thank the panel members, I thought it was excellent. Thank you for the very kind things you've said about West Ham, it makes me feel so proud. We do so much good in our communities, we are changing people’s lives through our values and purpose and that is what leadership is all about.”
The event comes hot on the heels of the annual Deloitte Football Money League Report which sees West Ham United ranked as the 17th most valuable club in world football, and eighth in the Premier League. The Hammers improved their overall ranking owing to a successful campaign on the pitch in the UEFA Europa League, coupled with enhanced commercial deals off the pitch which has seen the club's overall revenue rise by 17% to €322m in the past year.
If you are interested in joining future Hammers Business Network events and learning more about the exciting commercial opportunities at West Ham United that can support driving the outcomes of your business objectives, please contact our commercial team via [email protected].
