Out of date at dinner

Sep 20 2005 By Evening Gazette

The organisers of business dinners and other corporate functions really have their work cut out to make their event stand out.

Because the way such occasions are staged has become more sophisticated.

Strict attention to detail when it comes to branding, stunning colour schemes and table decorations, and stimulating and entertaining speakers are all the order of the day.

They can also be enjoyable social occasions if the right mix of guests are sitting along side you.

The Tees Valley and County Durham annual dinner of the North East Chamber of Commerce ticked most of the boxes.

The room has been dressed with style based on a black and white theme.

When it came to the speakers cult comedy blended with business and proved to be an excellent combination.

One was the Chancellor of Teesside University Lord Sawyer of Darlington and the other comedian Dave Spikey, of Phoenix Nights fame.

And those on my table were good company.

The only element that jarred was the image for the branding - the invitations, programmes, and place cards all featured a man in dickie bow, white dress shirt and black dinner jacket.

Even the serviette rings were in the shape of a mini bow tie. I thought this a throwback to days gone by when company bosses were mostly men. Times have moved on. The business world is more inclusive as could be seen when looking round the room as a significant proportion of the guests were women.

Indeed this summer the Chamber appointed a woman - Maggie Pavlou - as president for the first time in its 185 year history in the North-east.