The Business Breakfast Club,
Bournemouth

Visit To Cherbourg

Friday 25th September 2009

• Spend a day networking with friends and colleagues.
• Meet the Cherbourg Chamber of Trade (to be confirmed)
• French style shopping and leisure!

General Information

We will travel to France on the early Fast Ferry from Poole, returning in the evening on the Barfleur. Detailed times and joining instructions will be given out nearer the time.

Programme

The visit will include a presentation from the Cherbourg Chamber of Trade, and opportunity for shopping and French style leisure!

Booking

Booking for this trip is now closed. Please email us if you want to go on a 'reserves' list.

September 2008

It was bit dark and murky as we met up in Poole port, but the forecast was good and we were all looking forward to a calm crossing and a fine day. As this year's party was quite small, we were all accommodated on one table and enjoyed breakfast in various guises, sleep and conversation during the voyage.

On arrival in Cherbourg we went to the Chamber of Commerce for a meeting in their conference room - which must have one of the best office views in Cherbourg. Here we learnt something from François Dublaron about how the French Chambers operate and work with each other, and also about the range of industries and businesses in the area. We then explained our own businesses and discussed the types of business contacts we were hoping to develop in France.

Next was the all important time for lunch and shopping - we all came back with something interesting!

The final session of the day was a meeting with Jean-Pierre Rose of 'Propulsion'. Jean-Pierre explained how his company helps UK businesses become established in France and we had some very useful conversations about our particular needs.

Following that, we made our way back to the ferry terminal for more informal networking and a calm, pleasant return crossing.

This trip was most successful for everyone who came, and we hope that our contacts will grow into business before too long!

Now that's REAL networking!

27th September 2007

Our second fun day out to Cherbourg began at 6:30 in the morning. Poole was dark and cold and we were glad to get on board the Normandie Vitesse for our outward crossing.

Once settled into our seats, everyone got down to breakfast (or not!), catching up on some sleep and getting to know each other better.

On arrival in Cherbourg, the plan had been to meet representatives from the Cherbourg Chamber of Commerce but, due to an unfortunate clash of dates, everyone was 'out of town' and the meeting wasn't possible. The next best thing was to head off into town and indulge in some sightseeing, shopping, eating and sampling the local atmosphere.

Breakfast Club in a Nuclear Sub!

Highlight of the trip was a visit to 'La Cité de la Mer', located in the former transatlantic liner terminal complex. We toured Le Redoutable - France's first missile-launching nuclear submarine, launched by General de Gaulle in 1967, and were totally amazed by the size and complexity of the vessel.

Equally impressive was the oceanarium with it's wide ranging displays and the highest cylindrical aquarium in Europe. At 10 meters deep and weighing in at over 1,000,000 Kg, this is definitely not one to try at home!

Advanced networking - French style!

One of the problems with short trips to France is the difference in time. Keeping track of which times were UK and which were French, as well as knowing which was being shown by watches and phones is a feat that not everyone completely mastered. However by a combination of language skills, applied panic and a high speed taxi, everyone made it back to the terminal before the Barfleur left (just).

Having assembled the party once more, the journey home was uneventful, but with plenty of informal networking going on in the bar and restaurants!

The trip was a great day and we going to repeat the event next year. Watch this space for details.

Visit 'La Cité de la Mer' web site

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