The day-long Next-Up conference on Tuesday November 20th, is taking place at Northern Ballet’s premises on Quarry Hill, and will target those leaving the world of business but still keen to avoid the word ‘retiring’!
However, after a life of dishing out orders, senior managers in question will be hushed to silence as 10 young tech entrepreneurs are invited to give them an overview of where next generation technology is headed.
And, if the audience like what they hear, there will be an opportunity to get involved as the young tech-turks appeal for experienced mentors in the room to step forward and help them build their businesses.
Victoria Tomlinson, founder and Chief Executive of Next-Up, which has organised the conference, said: “We have helped hundreds of people to shape a successful ‘unretirement’.
“There is a wealth of experience in the 50+ generation and many want to become non-executive directors, however, there are also dozens of other ways to use their skills and that’s what we want to help them understand at this conference.
“But, whatever individuals do – mentor, trustee, advisor, consultant – they increasingly need to appreciate what the future of the world looks like, and that means fully understanding and becoming more familiar with the digital age.”
She said that the conference would help delegates understand new markets and opportunities, share their skills, build new networks and increase their chances of getting non-executive roles – if that was what they wanted.
Keynote speaker Lexi Mills, business analyst, digital entrepreneur, government adviser and international speaker, will be looking at the ways that both young and mature generations can help and support each other, bridging the skills gap between the two.
“There is a generation of tech entrepreneurs crying out for the skills of seasoned professionals to help them grow their businesses. Large numbers start with limited management experience and this often shows up when it comes to motivating employees, talking to bankers and funders and forecasting cash and profit requirements,” said Lexi
“However, too many mature professionals avoid technology meaning they are isolated from opportunities and also fail to see the potential risks.”
Another speaker, leading headhunter Sue Tyrer of specialist non-executive search firm, The Orcid Partnership, said that non-executive directors who stood out were often those who added value in terms of changing markets, technology and spotting disruptions and threats coming over the horizon.
“This conference is not only an opportunity for non-executive directors and advisers to keep up to date, but it will also give them the ability to have a wider ‘conversation’ when discussing non-executive roles.”