A small team from the Cooler Innovation office headed up to Crewe to assess the state of the UK industry, meet friends old and new, and test the waters as we head further into this new decade.
One of the most memorable parts of the conference was the opening address from motivational speaker and former riot police officer Adrian Webster, author of Polar Bear Pirates. He gave an impressive and inspiring talk on how to succeed in business and deal with various characters you may meet along the way, whether they prove to be friend or foe.
His rousing talk could have applied to any industry, but was particularly relevant to the water cooler industry, which employs such a varied group of people.
Every company, from small startup to major business, needs to make the most of its staff from top to bottom; finding the fresh ideas, motivating people to do their best and contribute.
It was also interesting to hear a speaker from the NHS reveal what water cooler companies need to do to break into lucrative contracts in the sector.
Overall, the conference was upbeat, and the industry (in the UK at least) seems well prepared to seize the opportunities that do still exist in all sectors, from the commercial office and residential, to high risk areas and the on-trade.
Hannah Oakman is editor of Cooler Innovation magazine. Subscribe here.
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