Seminars 2026
This year we have 3 great seminars running throughout the afternoon, offering you practical insights and help to support your business growth.
Timetable
3:30pm - 4:15pm: Mat Keys, newlens, Practical AI for Small Businesses: Save Time, Reduce Admin, Start Sensibly
4:30pm - 5:15pm: Abbie Thoms, Polyspiral: Where to Start with a Website
5:30pm - 6:15pm: Penny Wilby, Liam Gardner & Farley Boxall How to Create Content when your Target Market is Dead
This year, it's free to attend the Expo. However, due to no shows, you will need to pay a refundable deposit of £10 to reserve your space. When you arrive, we will process your refund. If you are a no show and haven't given warning, we will donate your deposit to our nominated charity, Hourglass (Safer Ageing) and Sudbury Arts Centre
Practical AI for Small Businesses: Save Time, Reduce Admin, Start Sensibly
Many small business owners have tried AI tools, but are still unsure how to use them consistently, safely, and in a way that saves real time.
In this practical 30-minute session, Mat Keys, founder of newlens, will show where AI can add value in a small business, how to get better results from everyday AI tools, and how to choose a sensible first use case without overcomplicating things.
The session will cover practical examples such as inbox triage, meeting follow-ups, quote support, customer replies, and simple automation opportunities. It will also highlight common risks, including unreliable outputs, sensitive data, shadow AI, and the need for simple internal rules.
Delegates will have opportunities to ask questions after the talk, and leave with clear first steps for using AI to reduce admin, improve follow-up, and stay in control.
About Mat
Mat Keys is the founder of newlens, a Sudbury-based AI, automation and business intelligence consultancy. He helps small businesses reduce repetitive admin, improve enquiry handling, and use AI tools safely and practically. Mat has over 20 years’ commercial data and reporting experience, with a background in pricing, CRM analytics, reporting, and process improvement.
You can follow him on LinkedIn here or visit him on stand 9 at the Expo
Where to start with a website
Starting out with a website can feel overwhelming.
This seminar cuts through the noise, and with over 28 years of professional experience, Abbie Thoms from Polyspiral will help you leave knowing exactly where to start and what to avoid.
She will cover the key decisions every small business owner faces when building their first website - from the basics of domain registration and platform choice, to hosting, security, design, and whether to go DIY or bring in a professional.
You'll find out which platforms suit different needs and budgets, what "free website" offers really mean for your ownership and control, and why some of the most common shortcuts can cause real headaches further down the line.
Abbie will also look at what good design actually means for a small business site, how to make your content work for real people rather than just search engines, and the questions you should be asking before you spend a penny.
Whether you're starting from scratch or wondering if what you've already got is doing its job, this session will give you a clear framework for making confident decisions.
About Abbie
Abbie Thoms is the founder of Polyspiral Website Design and Hosting, based in Sudbury, Suffolk. With 28 years of experience, she specialises in custom WordPress websites, renewable energy hosting, and SEO services for small businesses and charities across Suffolk and Essex. Known for her personal, one-to-one approach, Abbie works without templates or call centres, and genuine ongoing support. A multiple award winner, including Best Eco-Friendly Website Designer 2025 and 2026, she also runs educational webinars helping business owners understand SEO and web design. Find out more at polyspiral.com.
How to Create Content When Your Target Market is Dead
Penny is founder of the Sudbury Business Expo and owner of thebestof Sudbury. She is passionate about promoting great local businesses in and around Sudbury, helping them stand out and get noticed. Penny has over 25 years marketing and advertising experience, over 12 of those has been at the helm of thebestof Sudbury.