Programme Director at Home Business Network
Guildford, United Kingdom
- Current
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- Programme Director at Home Business Network
- Programme Director at The Telegraph Business Club
- Managing Director at Auto Retail Network
- Programme Director at Sunday Times Enterprise Network
- Owner at WordZone Ltd
- Education
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- Open University
- Sussex University
- Recommended
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20 people have recommended Dave - Connections
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487
connections
- Industry
- Writing and Editing
- Websites
Dave Sumner Smith’s Summary
Becoming such a prominent figure in the small & medium enterprise (SME) community was never planned. My early career involved editing motoring magazines, running a publishing division for BT & being chief copywriter at a London ad agency. I went on my own in 1989 as a freelance copywriter & journalist & within months had to employ 3 ghostwriters to meet demand. I established WordZone as an editorial services agency, specialising in case studies on SMEs. The company (www.wordzone.co.uk) attracted clients including The Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, UK Trade & Investment & the DTI.
For many years we ran The Sunday Times Enterprise Network - a business network for owners of middle market businesses. This involved weekly pages in the Business sections of the UK and Irish editions of The Sunday Times, together with quarterly magazines, two websites, monthly broadcast emails & numerous business conferences.
When the Sunday Times' Business Editor moved to a similar role at The Daily Telegraph he invited WordZone to take control of The Telegraph Business Club. So in January 2006 WordZone took control of operations for the Club, providing a package of online, event management and account management services - plus the Business Club page in the paper every Tuesday. In the 3 years since, we have quadrupled the membership & introduced online video MasterClasses & (in Dec 08) launched Home Business Network for everyone who does business from home.
I am also managing director of Auto Retail Network (a business network for the senior directors of franchised car dealership groups).
Eighteen years in the sector have given me great familiarity with the challenges facing entrepreneurs and business owners plus valuable experience of business speaking. But most important of all is my wide network of contacts, which has combined with my creative thinking to prove extremely valuable to companies seeking to reach owner / managers of medium, small and now micro and soho businesses.
Dave Sumner Smith’s Specialties:
Deal making. Introductions. Business case studies. Copywriting. Public speaking. Television presenting. Business conference chairmanship. Business journalism.
Dave Sumner Smith’s Experience
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Programme Director
Home Business Network
(Marketing and Advertising industry)
December 2008 — Present (8 months)
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Programme Director
The Telegraph Business Club
(Public Company; 501-1000 employees; Newspapers industry)
January 2006 — Present (3 years 7 months)
The Daily Telegraph invited WordZone to take responsibility for all aspects of the Business Club programme from January 2006 onward. I am therefore responsible for the page in the Business section every week, together with the weekly members' email, the website and the business seminars - as well as building the commercial success of the programme.
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Managing Director
Auto Retail Network
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Automotive industry)
February 2004 — Present (5 years 6 months)
* Publishing an in-depth monthly Bulletin for senior directors of franchised motor dealers
* Organising a nationwide programme of motor industry conferences and networking events -
Programme Director
Sunday Times Enterprise Network
(Public Company; Newspapers industry)
January 2001 — Present (8 years 7 months)
Using my experience of SMEs to manage a membership programme for The Sunday Times in Ireland. The programme encompasses a weekly page in the newspaper plus the website www.enterprisenetwork.ie and is sponsored by companies such as Bank of Ireland, Deloittes, Action Coach and PC World Business.
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Owner
WordZone Ltd
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Writing and Editing industry)
September 1989 — Present (19 years 11 months)
* Editorial control of weekly case study features in the Business section of The Daily Telegraph.
* Editorial management of the Telegraph Business Club website (www.telegraphbusinessclub.co.uk)
* Writing weekly broadcast emails to members of the Telegraph Business Club
* Design, production and publication of other printed materials for News International - such as the Motor Show Guide.
* Managing the supply of case studies on UK businesses for various websites and publications.
* Speaking and chairmanship of business events - both for The Daily telegraph and other parties.
* Miscellaneous appearances on TV programmes such as Watchdog, Top Gear, Panorama and the BBC News.
Dave Sumner Smith’s Education
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Open University
MBA , September 1989 — December 1992
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Sussex University
BA Hons , Developmental Psychology , September 1978 — June 1981
- Activities and Societies:
- Commodore of the University Sailing Club
Captain of the University Debating Society
Additional Information
Dave Sumner Smith’s Websites:
Dave Sumner Smith’s Interests:
Downhill skiing, Sailing, Motoring, Fast cars...
Dave Sumner Smith’s Groups:
Member of the Guild of Motoring Writers
Member of Frensham Pond Sailing Club
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Future Focus -
Business Scene
Dave Sumner Smith’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
