Xposing AI Insights
Around eighty businesspeople from Newark and the surrounding areas gathered at the YMCA for Newark Business Club’s September meeting.
After the welcome from chairman Simon Gabbitas of Future Prospects Group, the roving mic travelled around the room. This gave everyone the opportunity to introduce themselves and their businesses, highlighting the diverse range of businesses based in the Newark area.
Meeting Sponsors – Xposure Creative
Xposure Creative, a digital marketing agency based in Laxton, sponsored today’s meeting. In the first presentation, managing director Nigel Lamb shared some valuable information on how to gain a high ranking in the search results when people search for information using artificial intelligence (AI).
It’s no longer enough for your business’s website to be ranked highly on Google, it now also needs to rank highly on AI because an increasing number of people are using AI to research information and find extremely specific answers to their questions.
For example, when a person is shopping for an item such as a camera, they may have specific and detailed requirements that they input into an AI program, such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini. The AI answers will only include websites that mention all those requirements, and many other websites won’t come up at all, even if they are selling comparable items.
The latest research shows that the total number of website visits is decreasing now that people are increasingly using AI to solve specific problems. Therefore, it’s critical to ensure that your business’s website is optimised for AI. The first way of doing this is by giving your website access to AI by making sure that no AI blockers are in place.
Did you know that AI programs gain most of their information from blogs? Since this is the case, it is more important than ever to populate your website with articles and blog posts that give answers to the questions that your customers typically ask on all aspects of your products or services.
Despite the increasing use of AI, it’s still important to rank highly in Google for your business’s unique selling points. You can do this by SEO-optimising all your webpages and publishing articles that answer customers’ questions, which will also help your website to appear among the results when people ask AI specific questions.
Small, on-going improvements to your small business’s website on a regular basis, such as optimising each webpage for SEO and adding ALT tags to all images, can make a dramatic difference to its ranking on Google and AI platforms. Xposure Creative works with small businesses to improve their websites so that they bring better results, including a larger number of visitors, online bookings, enquiries and sales leads, as well as higher conversion rates and an improved return on investment. See https://xposurecreative.uk for case studies and success stories.
Member Spotlight
This month, Chris Breedon, founder of Prospero Mediation and Training, spoke about the staggering cost of workplace conflict. Some £25 billion per year is spent on resolving workplace conflict in the UK alone, with £951 being the average cost of resolving each grievance raised by an employee. Therefore, it is important for all businesses to invest in training and mediation services to avoid these costs and save money in the long term.
Through training courses on how to deal with conflict in the workplace on such topics as active/reflective listening and conflict resolution, Prospero helps businesses to improve workplace communication so that conflicts are avoided or resolved quickly.
If conflicts do arise, Prospero’s mediation services facilitate discussion among all parties involved, leading to a resolution and helping to avoid situations escalating and being referred to employment tribunals or litigation.
Who Gives a Book?!
Since this section of the business club meetings began, over fifty business books have been given away. Many of these are being passed from one person to another, improving knowledge and skills for all. This month, a copy of Screw It, Let’s Do It by Richard Branson, recommended by Simon Gabbitas, was won by Connor Pollard of Duke IT. Paul Andrew of Brand Newark won a copy of Maverick! By Ricardo Semler, a book that was recommended by Craig Wilkinson.
Action Group Update
Michael Hardy gave a round-up of Newark Business Club’s Action Group’s recent activities. This included the good news that LNER is adding nineteen more train journeys between Newark and London, vastly improving our town’s links with the capital city from mid-December 2025.
On the roads, Newark is benefiting from significant investment of £600 million in the construction of the southern relief road that will link the A46 with the A1. In the longer term, an extra £500 million will be spent on bypassing Newark completely, reducing congestion in the town.
The next meeting of the Action Group will be held on 22nd September at 6pm at the Organ Grinder pub. If you would like to help to make Newark a better place for business, you are welcome to attend.
Announcements
Among the closing announcements were that free advice and support is available for local businesses through Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Business Support Surgeries, which will take place in Collingham on 11th September and in Ollerton on 20th November. Newark and Sherwood District Council is also hosting a one-day Economic Growth Conference at Southwell Racecourse on 9th October.
Newark Dining Network combines business networking with enjoying a delicious meal at a different location each time. The next meeting will be on 12th November at the Swan and Salmon in Newark. Tickets are available on EventBrite.
The Thrive Tribe Live Business Expo, on October 1st, will showcase a wide range of local businesses and include talks and panel discussions on a variety of topics of interest to business owners. More details can be found at https://events.thethrivetribe.com
Positive Pants Family CIC is a new community interest company (CIC) set up by Newark Business Club members Claire Clements, Laurence Childs and Paul Wright to support children and families with their well-being and mental health.
Radio Newark is looking for local business owners to voice their own 30-second Christmas wishes commercials. Contact Radio Newark for more information.
Member Spotlight – Just Beer Micropub
I am Simon Parr and run the Rose and Crown Balderton with my wife Donna, we took over the Rose which is a small wet-led community Pub in January 2020. We regularly raise money for local charities, including Children Bereavement Centre, Beaumond House, Newark Dementia Group to name a few, along with the recent installation of a Defib. The venue benefits from Football, Skittles and Darts teams along with a Golf Society.
On 1st April my wife and I, with our business partners David and Chantelle Welsher purchased Ann et Vin and Just Beer micropub. David, who some of you already know, owns Primeprint and has many years of experience delivering your printing needs.
The acquisition of the two new ventures was a great opportunity to take on two well established, successful businesses, with great reputations within the town. We have no intention of changing the concept of either business, just building on the success. Ann et Vin is a great independent Wine, Spirit and Cigar shop, offering a local and national delivery service, with a Wine Bar and Courtyard area for a relaxing glass or two. We also sell to other businesses from a wholesale point of view or for corporate events. In conjunction with Just Beer we can offer a mobile bar along with a great wine list for your family function or event, along with a range of glassware for hire.
Next meeting
The next meeting of Newark Business Club will take place on October 3rd at the YMCA, starting at 6.45am.
By Roz Andrews, RA Writers for Hire Ltd and RA Book Editing
Thank you to Our Patrons & Sponsors
We are delighted to announce the following Patrons for 2025: Gusto Group|GXO in Partnership with Currys|Barcode Warehouse|Motorfinity|PeachyEvents|Radio Newark
Next Meeting – The next meeting of Newark Business Club will be on 3rd October at the YMCA and doors open 6.45am.
The YMCA catering team offer a range of delicious breakfasts which are available to purchase.
Please Book your tickets online
YMCA Community and Activity Village
Lord Hawke Way
Newark
Nottinghamshire NG24 4FH
For sponsorship opportunities, contact chairman@newarkbusinessclub.co.uk
