Network & Learn: The Power of Perception

How your business is understood, trusted and chosen — from start-up to exit.

How others perceive your business can influence the opportunities you win, the people you attract, the partnerships you build and, ultimately, the value of your business.

Join us for this Network & Learn event as we explore the power of perception throughout the business journey — from building a strong reputation and attracting customers to securing investment, navigating change and preparing for a sale or succession.

Following the excellent response to our recent Art of Exit event, we’re continuing the conversation about the role perception plays in a sale or merger, while exploring why it matters at every stage of a business’s development.

Through expert insights, practical examples and an engaging panel discussion, you’ll discover how confidence in your business and its leadership is built, tested and strengthened — and what you can do to ensure the way others see your business supports your ambitions.

Featuring insights from Yellowyoyo, EMW, Goldings Communications, ARMD and George Davis Turf & Stone, this event will bring together perspectives on business growth, legal and commercial decision-making, reputation and real-world acquisition experience.

Why attend?

Perception is about more than appearances. It shapes how customers, employees, partners, investors and potential buyers understand your business — and whether they have confidence in what you offer.

By attending, you will:

• Identify your perception gap – Understand where the way others see your business may differ from how you see it yourself, and where this could be helping or hindering your ambitions.
• Recognise the moments that matter – Explore why confidence in your business and its leadership becomes particularly important during investment, acquisitions, senior appointments, succession and sale.
• Build a reputation people trust – Discover how evidence, customer experiences, leadership behaviour and consistent communication help establish credibility.
• Learn from real business experience – Hear from George Davis of George Davis Turf & Stone about his business’s acquisition by Harrowden, including the role of trust, reputation and communication.
• Leave with practical next steps – Take away questions to help you assess how your business is perceived and identify where action could make a difference.

What we'll explore

• Perception, growth and business value – Understand how the way others see your business can influence growth, reputation and opportunity.
• When perception matters most – Explore the role of trust and credibility in investment, leadership changes, succession and business sales.
• Building a reputation people trust – Discover how evidence, customer experiences and effective communication strengthen your reputation.
• Real-world insights from our expert panel – Hear from business leaders, including George Davis, on the role of perception in business and his experience of acquisition by Harrowden.

Who should attend?

This event is ideal for business owners, founders, directors and senior leaders who want to understand how their business is perceived and how that perception affects its future.

Whether you’re looking to win bigger contracts, attract talented people, secure investment, build strategic partnerships, navigate a period of change or prepare for succession or sale, you’ll gain valuable insights into how reputation and credibility can support your ambitions.

Join us for The Power of Perception

The way your business is understood today can influence the opportunities available to you tomorrow.

Join fellow business leaders to explore how perception shapes growth, trust and business value — and discover practical ways to ensure your reputation supports where you want to go next.

Book your place today and discover how to make perception work for your business.

Meet the speakers

Hear from experienced professionals who will explore perception from different perspectives across business strategy, legal and commercial decisions, and communications.

Bryan Wright – Yellowyoyo

Explore how perception shapes business growth and value, why businesses can be overlooked despite their capabilities, and how closing the gap between reality and reputation can unlock new opportunities.

Paul Bevington – EMW

Discover why perception matters at critical business milestones, from investment and commercial partnerships to leadership changes, disputes, succession and preparing for sale.

Kim Hughes – Goldings Communications

Learn how businesses build and sustain credibility through demonstrable evidence, customer stories, trusted advocates, leadership behaviour and effective communication.

Sean DeSilva bio – Owner, ARMD UK

Sean DeSilva is a senior IT Infrastructure specialist and Cryptography Engineer with over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, most notably at Santander UK. Throughout his career, Sean has successfully delivered major infrastructure projects, including large-scale datacenter migrations and the deployment of thousands of ESXi hosts across complex retail banking systems. 

In addition to his deep technical background, Sean is the Owner of ARMD UK, a premier white-glove perception and reputation management service. Leveraging his expertise in digital security, he equips high-profile brands and individuals with advanced tools to monitor, investigate, and defend their digital footprints, delivering strategic Perception Audits and reports that empower clients to maintain absolute control over their public narratives.

George Davis – George Davis Turf & Stone

Hear a real-world perspective on business acquisition and the importance of trust, reputation and communication throughout the sale process.

** Please note that we may share your personal data as appropriate with event partners and that by registering for this event you are agreeing to your information being shared with our event partners.

The personal data shared is as follows – Name/Email/Phone

Should you not want your personal data to be shared, please email: samantha.hunter@southmidlands.org.uk