Global Horizons Business Breakfast

Emma Garrett writes:

What a morning! The sun was shining, the room was buzzing, the breakfast was delicious, and the energy was absolutely tangible. Our inaugural Global Horizons Business Breakfast, hosted by the Eastbournian Society in the College dining hall, was a resounding success. Thank you to everyone who joined us.  

We were thrilled to welcome Pam Loch, founder and managing director of Loch Associates Group, as our first guest speaker.

Pam’s talk on 'Navigating Change: What Business Leaders Need to Know About Employment Law' was insightful, practical, and perfectly pitched for our audience of senior leaders and decision-makers from across Eastbourne’s business and professional community. Pam’s table of props immediately spiked our curiosity: what could screenwash, Mars bars, mayonnaise, and a half bottle of whisky possibly have in common? (We were all relieved to discover they weren’t prizes for a fundraising raffle.) As it turned out, each item was cleverly woven into her talk, making her insights even more memorable and engaging. 

Thank you to Jonathan Winchester (Craig 1980-95) for offering us a survey to capture feedback, and to Mike Lawrence, father of two current College pupils, at Global Horizons for his help in bringing this event to life. Thank you too to Holroyd Howe, the College caterers, for providing the best breakfast I have eaten at a networking breakfast.

Conversations That Count 

One of the most enjoyable parts of the morning was getting to know the others on the table. Each guest introduced themselves and shared two things: a memory or lesson from their school days, and one thing they’d change in their business today if they could. The school reflections were brilliant, from learning to be an individual and treating others with respect, to the confidence gained from cracking a tough maths problem, and to the impact of an inspirational teacher. It was a powerful reminder of how formative those early experiences can be.

Then came the business insights. Two themes stood out loud and clear: 
Recruitment – not just hiring, but finding the right people. 
Motivating younger staff – helping new entrants to the workforce go above and beyond. 

We also heard some wonderfully specific challenges: 
A passionate plea to fight proposed inheritance tax legislation on farms. 
The uphill battle of generating new business for a start-up. 
And the classic non-profit dilemma: finding a treasurer for a charity! 
These conversations were honest, energising, and exactly what the Global Horizons series is all about: connecting, sharing, and supporting one another through the real-life challenges of leadership. 

What’s Next? 
We’re excited to continue the momentum and look forward to hearing from Josh Babarinde MP at our next breakfast on 21 November so book your place today. We hope to see you there.