Strawberry Lemonade Events

26/08/2024

On what might be the eve of the greatest ever band reforming () I thought I would take the time to remind/ reshare the story of why we are called Strawberry Lemonade Events.

As a lifelong Oasis fan I always loved the song . It’s up there with the greatest ever written and I especially love the lyric “All your dreams are made of Strawberry Lemonade.”

When I started thinking about tinkering away doing my own thing, I knew Strawberry Lemonade was going to be the name whether we were a blog or business. I thought I wanted to be a wedding planner but one fateful wedding fair and the idea was extinguished.

So I set up a corporate events company even when many business advisors and marketing gurus told me the name would never work… but we are 6 years old and have been crowned Agency of the Year in this short time! Some might say we are doing ok😉

As a people pleaser, stating that all yours dreams are made of strawberry lemonade seems like the kind of bold statement the Gallagher brothers would be proud of.

We’ve had a lot of press activity today off the back of our name and my love affair- not to mention the fact that Mr Strawberry Lemonade Events is also a die hard and I actually swiped on Tinder because he said he was an Oasis fan & played in a covers band- I have lived out my groupie dreams many times now!

Hoping now that finally will sponsor us! (The strawberry lemonade that Noel wrote about in San Francisco after falling out with Liam in LA)

8am tomorrow- I might need a little time to wake up wake up …

Love Sian 🍓🍋🥤

23/06/2024

🍓🥤🪩

19/06/2024

🌟 Exciting News from Strawberry Lemonade Events! 🌟

Our very own Sian Downes, events partner of the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce, recently spoke with ITV Border about the pressing needs of the business community in the South of Scotland.

🔗 Watch Now: https://www.itv.com/news/border/2024-06-17/catch-up-with-the-latest-representing-border

At Strawberry Lemonade Events, we are dedicated to more than just planning spectacular events, we're here to ensure that your voice is heard, enhancing not only media and PR visibility but also representing your needs on larger platforms. Whether you're looking to launch a product, host a gala, or need expert PR services, we're here to elevate your event. 🍓

🔗 Learn more about what we do and how we can help you: https://strawberrylemonadeevents.com/

22/05/2024

Always fab hanging out with the young team! Preaching our message of how events is the best industry in the world! 💛✌🏻 thanks to Works+ for having us!

06/05/2024

Sometimes you don’t need a LinkedIn reminder to remind you of milestones.

Officially running Strawberry Lemonade Events (after being a “side hustle” for 4 months) coinsides with my birthday and reminds me of a surprise trip to Rome my now husband organised for me.

It reminds me of getting a 6 month contract and thinking “well let’s just see” where I (now we) go.

Lots could be said of a big work anniversary but mainly that I’ve now worked for myself longer than any employer, I’m so proud that this wee business has supported my family and supported so many other families along the way.

We haven’t really deviated from our two main strands of business- corporate plannning and social impact training. We’ve picked up awards along the way but mainly the ultimate reward is fulfilling dreams and supporting others with there’s. Our line up has changed frequently and something I wondered if affected us long term but 1) obviously not and 2) Strawberry Lemonade Events being a breeding ground for people to be able to take the next steps in their lives makes me really happy.

I’m often asked about the name. So here’s the story.

I’m a massive Oasis fan and the song talk tonight contains the lyrics, “All your dreams are made of Strawberry Lemonade.” And well it’s all about being in California drinking Snapple if the stories are true…

Our tag liken is also Events Made Sweeter- which because of the Strawberry Lemonade sweetness and the fact that Strawberry Lemonade Events still are Scotland’s only social enterprise events management agency.

So snapple, I’ve waited 5 years for a promo…. Call us!

01/04/2024

Glad it’s after 12pm otherwise some folks might think this was an April Fool 😉

Adding a new string to my bow after a fair few requests of late- sometimes you just don’t see your career going one way and then the big money offers start pouring in 😂

Proud to launch my Only Sian’s page today.

www.onlysians.com

MC’ing, compering, panels and keynotes- what else could it be? Surely you weren’t thinking…

As many of you know I love the sound of my own voice and now happily use my gift of the gab for you at your event.

So I’m not just organising them via Strawberry Lemonade Events but also would love to help out at your own do!

Email:
[email protected]

04/03/2024

Well that’s the secret out now- our CEO & Founder Sian Downes, has been named as a 2024- meaning she is one of the top 100 women in social enterprise in the UK.

Sian, speaking on her recognition said, “Obviously it’s beyond flattering and I’m so proud to be showcasing how the events sector can have true social impact. From winning Agency of the Year, to now this , it’s amazing to see how things have changed since we set out 5 years. The appetite to be a business for good is having a huge trajectory and we love seeing clients come to us because of our social mission.

Naturally the good work isn’t purely done by me so this nomination is also a testament to our teams relentless passion for creating positive social change in Scotland and beyond!”

The WISE100 recognises the most inspiring and influential women in social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business. Find out who is in our Top 100 List, plus – new for this year – our 30 Ones to Watch.

03/02/2024

A series of events designed to inspire and galvanise the region- delighted to be behind the scenes doing our thing on this one! Tickets available at borderschamber.com/events

🟢 The Big Small Business Festival🟢

This series of events taking place across the Borders from March 11th to March 14th will welcome speakers from a range of sectors including agriculture, finance, tourism and green energy as well as seek to put on a truly accessible and innovative events programme open to members and non members alike.

Trevor Jackson, Chair of the SBCC said,
“The inaugural ”Big Small Business Festival” is a truly transformative series of events taking us from Eyemouth via Cardrona to Kelso including hosting online sessions. We will lead the way by showcasing key speakers who will inspire and spark entrepreneurial activation. We shall ensure each session provides actionable insights for SMEs to apply to their businesses.

SBCC is all about supporting, networking and inspiring the business community in the Scottish Borders and being its clear voice. The Chamber is delighted to create a new comprehensive series of events that hasn’t been seen in the Scottish Borders before. With the majority of the events free to attend for both members and non-members, we are keen to reach and motivate as many organisations as possible.

We ask that people support us by sharing posts and attending events to ensure the region capitalises on the great pool of talent and opportunity we have in the South of Scotland.”

https://borderschamber.com/events/

30/01/2024

Excited to be bringing this back!

🍲 DISF Fest 2024: A Foodie's Paradise! 🍲
June 22, 2024 | Dock Park
Get ready for a culinary adventure at DISF Fest, featuring the best international street food. Don't miss out!

20/01/2024

📊 Food Lovers, What's Your Street Food Fave? 🍽️

Join our fun poll! Tell us your top street food pick. Whether it's something savoury, sweet, or uniquely gourmet, we want to hear from you. With DISF Fest around the corner, get excited for a wide array of delicious choices!

Your favourite might just be among the many tantalising options available! 🌮🍔🥗🍩

29/12/2023

Hi all! Me again! (Sian) I’m hiring again at Strawberry Lemonade Events 🍓🍋🍹

I posted recently but I obviously wasn’t clear enough about what we needed and in that same time period we had some staff changes so I’ve flipped the role up and can really make it work for the right candidate.

This is a contract role for a Freelance Event Planner. The Freelance Event Planner will be responsible for project managing events, working with stakeholders, and executing events with excellence. They will be accountable for the quality of the work produced and will need to exercise initiative and creativity in delivering events to high standards.

Pay £130 per day- 3-4 days per week (some weeks will require 5 days but to be dicussed) We can split the days into half days and try and be as flexible as possible.

We are flexible on the length of this contract but looking from January- March to start with but for the right candidate this could be made permanent or extended to Nov at least. We are keen to find a planner who enjoys a range of projects from Corporate conferences to Food Festivals.

All details and how to apply below 👇

Strawberry Lemonade Events

08/12/2023

🌟 Short-Term Freelance Event Planner Opportunity! 🌟

Join Strawberry Lemonade Events in creating impactful in-person and virtual experiences. We're seeking a Freelance Event Coordinator with a passion for social change!

🚀 Who Are We?
Strawberry Lemonade Events, Scotland’s leading "Event for Change" social enterprise, empowers marginalized individuals through training and employment in the events industry.

🎉 Responsibilities:
-Event preparation, budget management, vendor negotiations
-Venue selection, logistics coordination, and timeline development
-Day-of event ownership, problem-solving, and customer experience management
-Post-event evaluation, feedback gathering, and report generation

📌 Qualifications:
-English fluency and strong communication skills
-Edinburgh/Scottish Borders based with a full UK driving license
-Experience in planning diverse events with various budgets
-Resourcefulness, grace under pressure, and strong interpersonal skills
-Flexibility for evening/weekend work and travel

💼 What We Offer:
-Competitive pay (£3500 + £500 expense stipend)
-Supportive working environment
-CV-building experience
-Potential for recurring freelance opportunities

📆 Contract Details:
-Duration: 9 weeks
-Start Date: 16th January 2024
-Event Dates: 28th Feb (Glasgow), 11th-15th March (Scottish Borders)
-Non-event day work: 20 hours over 4 days

📍 Location:
-Remote working

📧 How to Apply:
Send your CV to [email protected] by 5 pm, 22nd December.

Seize this chance to contribute to meaningful events and make a difference! 🌈

01/11/2023

Looking for a wee change? Fancy learning some new skills (and getting some free swag?!) then join Strawberry Lemonade Events at the Heart of Hawick from Nov 6th (this Monday!) between 12-2pm. 🪩

We’ve been running this course for years across Scotland and in Liverpool but finally running it on our doorstep!🎉

Events can be a great career but often it’s hard to get into it! That’s why we’ve set it up!🚀

We cover modules like planning and marketing but it’s not intense and we actually like to have a laugh!🤠

If you haven’t been feeling like yourself lately, been struggling with your mental health, want a new challenge and want to make some new pals then get yourself along!🥳

It’s fun, free and you’ll get snacks!!!🥤🍩🍿

If it goes well and you like it we are always needing a help at events (living wage employers here 🙋🏻‍♀️)

Drop me a DM or email [email protected] 💛

27/09/2023

“Funding has been some journey for Strawberry Lemonade Events “ said CEO and Founder Sian Downes.

“When we first started out I almost couldn’t see how we could survive without it, but our corporate work quickly grew and after a while, we reached the North Star of social enterprise- running the organisation and delivering social impact programmes without one penny of grant funding- this is a stage 99% of social enterprises do not get to and I will forever be proud that we made it here. However, Strawberry Lemonade Events mission is for the many and not the few, so we are delighted to have been granted £15k to deliver our Event Management Fundamentals training programme right here on our doorstep in the Scottish Borders

Having delivered this programme in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool- it feels amazing to be delivering social impact so close to home.

The team will be getting in touch with trusted partners and seeking out new ones in the coming weeks as we look to engage with people of any age who are feeling a little lost, not working and not feeling they have a purpose.

Our course is fun, lively and led by people who have been where you are right now.

DM us for more info.

It really is the best knowing that every event we organise creates a positive legacy!”

Grant funding available for constituted voluntary/community groups

21/09/2023

to our annual business awards back on the 1st of Sept! We love reminiscing!

05/09/2023

And the 2023 Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards winners are…

05/09/2023

How lucky we are to get to do this job 💛

21/07/2023

Thanks to the Great British Entrepreneur Awards for profiling us. To read more about the Strawberry Lemonade Events story and impact click the article 🍓🍋🥤

Sian Downes founded Strawberry Lemonade Events in 2018 driven by a vision to empower disadvantaged people through the transformative power of events. Her inspiration came from witnessing first-hand the profound impact that providing opportunities and support to those facing social challenges could h...

19/06/2023

Just saying....
After a few years of being at capacity we've worked our magic, made some savvy hires and from October on, we've got some space to work on quirky conferences, creative ceremonies and generally speak with clients who are looking to mix up their events calendar, create some social impact and make a name for themselves

13/06/2023

Without our dedicated team, top notch clients and supportive friends we wouldn’t get to bore you all with another award nomination - so you only have yourselves to blame 😉

Say with me in a Joey Tribbiani voice, “London Baby!!”

Great British Entrepreneur Awards

13/06/2023

We aim to offer a diverse range of events for our members and non-members, so please get in touch to find out more!

17/03/2023

A huge moment for Strawberry Lemonade Events as we are nominated at this years awards- basically the only awards for Scotland’s events industry.

It feels amazing to be in such good company all while seeing while our social mission being recognised.

A huge shout out to our partners, friends and fellow good guys 💛

Roll on on April 27th for the big night!



This hard work doesn’t happen due to one person and Sían would like to take a minute to thank all the staff whom have worked with us over the past 12 months 💛

24/02/2023

It was great to chat with C&IT about the issues event planners face when sourcing venues
Read the full article below

https://www.cit-world.com/take-the-pain-out-of-venue-sourcing

21/02/2023

Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce Announce Women’s Lunch at Melrose 7s.

The Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce its inaugural lunch in partnership with Melrose 7s on Friday April 7th 2023.

The event promises to be the first of its kind with a female focus and a range of guest speakers from across various sectors in the Borders.

Speakers and sponsors will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets can be purchased here- https://tickets.melroserugby.org/sales/events/2023/friday-7-april-2023/women-in-business/ticket

03/02/2023

Alexa play California Dreamin’”
What better day to be heading to work in Palm Springs than with an “International Business of The Year” nomination from Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce .

Thanks to Edinburgh Gin for sponsoring- defo the party category especially alongside Appointedd& Summerhall Distillery!

I’ve worked internationally for other organisations lots in my career, but I never thought I would be able to get the business for Strawberry Lemonade Events. I honestly can’t believe we get to plan Events abroad.

Thanks to everyone in our team who make this a reality for us.

- Sían Downes
Founder
Strawberry Lemonade Events