Make Your Mark - Connect

From Chic Canary:

Hi Oli

Thank you for contacting me. 

I was on the Committee of 'Women in Dockland' I think one of the original networking groups in Canary Wharf.  'Women in Docklands' was run as a charity and everything had to be done according to the constitution which was a huge amount of work.

To run the networking group we had to have 7 committee members each with their specific tasks.  At the AGM last December we decided to close the network as we had difficulty getting volunteers to fill the posts.

However 4 of us decided we would still meet every month, but this time on a very relaxed basis, no more constitutions, memberships fees, paperwork etc.  We decided it would be our 'chill out time', to get together to bounce ideas off each other.  We changed the name to Chic Canary and everything seems to have escalated from thereon.  We are still a small group, but have built up solid friendships.  Each month, through word of mouth we have new people joining us.  We are also on Everywoman's website, and have had a write up in 'The Wharf' newspaper which again generated interest.

I have attached a couple of notices of our forthcoming events.

Our statement is as follows:-

"A forward thinking group of smart professional women who value each otherʼs company and expertise, enjoy taking time out on the first Tuesday of each month for a mid-morning cappuccino, in stylish venues in Canary Wharf."

All the best,

Heather

From Gen at Blind In Business:

Blind in Business was founded a decade ago by three blind law graduates.

One is now CEO of Cincinnati Bell, another a Partner in CMS Cameron McKenna law firm and the third a Partner in Eversheds law firm.

All three are Trustees on our Board and have a close interest in our charitable activities. Our Chairman, John Spence, is an Ex Main Board Director at Lloyds TSB. He too is blind.

All are an example of what is possible for a blind person to achieve. Our job is to help visually impaired graduates achieve such things.

Blind in Business runs a number of peer networking events throughout the year. This is a chance for blind graduates and undergraduates to meet other visually impaired people in an informal setting.  Held every few months, candidates have the opportunity to network, chat to like minded people and try out the wine list!

Recieved the following, very exciting email from Si who runs a group in Leamington:

Hi Oli

I found your website on a link for www.starttalkingideas.org from an email forwarded to me by a friend.  From there I found a link to your website and thought it was a great idea.  As Chairman of BRE Leamington, I thought it would be good to advertise the group on there and have currently added all our November meetings to your list.

Today, I received a call from a recently estabilshed letting agent who saw our advert on your website.  He had apparently received it from the
Business121 newsletter.

I expect to be welcoming this guy as a guest to our group next Thursday.

And who says networking doesn't work.....?

All the best

Si

Similar stories are very welcome!!

First Bite is an independent networking group and like many other "high commitment" groups has struggled to maintain membership numbers. Members tend to stay with a group for 18 months or so and then once they have established trading contacts leave, perhaps moving to another group in a different area.

We decided recently to revise the way we run our meetings and their format.
First Bite has always seen it's self as a group for new business start ups, who we can support, offer services and act as another sales team for the members of the group. Our meetings have always been informal and fun, with no pressure to make a referral; we have always looked for quality referrals, rather than just leads.

We now hold 2 meetings a month, one for members only and one a visitor day, but with a guest speaker. The guest speaker is not just there to promote his business or products, but to offer advice or give an insight into a subject that would be of interest to people in business.

The member's only meetings offer an opportunity for the group to share any news that they have and discuss problems or situations they are faced with in their daily working lives. We don't need to sit around a table and tell it each who we are and what we do, we already know that!

Regards

David Morris

When I first started my business and became self employed, I had no support network or knew any fellow business owners to help, assist, advise, support me, then I was invited to a network event, but found it wasn't really the sort of network group that I wanted to attend, or that would be interested in my business... so I decided to start my own local group for business women and a year ago 'Networking Business Women', was started.

Since then we have several very successful and well attended lunches and the membership is growing.

The aim of the group is to create a support network with a social element, which also of course hopefully leads to referrals.  I wasn't so keen on the expensive membership groups that also expected high referral rates.

Through networking I have met many business women and made many good friends, the support and pool of experience that you gain from joining network groups is invaluable.

I would recommend networking to everyone in business!

Julie Winner
www.essexnetworkingbusinesswomen.co.uk

In the 1700s the British Parliament banned coffeehouses for fear that they were hotbeds of subversive activity. I came across this fact on a lovely website called Conversation Café which encourages people to meet up across the world in cafes to talk to each other. They say that when you put strangers, caffeine and ideas in the same room, brilliant things can happen. I couldn’t agree more.

The RSA runs the Coffeehouse Challenge every year as a way for people to come together over coffee to talk about the issues they care about and maybe do something about them. Some innovative projects have come about as a result such as creating a carbon neutral car pool in Bristol and creating a Fairtrade district in Bradford.

Women entrepreneurs are meeting up in cafes around the country to form SEED Circles to discuss ideas and share resources as they start up their businesses.

I went to Russell Davies’ coffee morning recently at the Breakfast Club which was a very enjoyable way to chat to people I wouldn’t normally meet. He has spotted others doing the same thing –  likeminds having coffee and conversation in NY, San Francisco and Sydney.

Sometime people ask me where they can find funding to start up a group or network. The good new is you don’t need money – the simplest way to start a group is this - just pick your favourite coffeehouse, invite a few people – and start talking ideas. If you already do this – tell us about it – and post your photos here.

I met with Peter Hewkin a while ago – he runs the astoundingly successful Cambridge Network, connecting academics and businesses to the global high technology community. His advice to anyone starting up a network is to make it unashamedly geeky – this will make the purpose of your network distinct. You don’t have to be a techie, but whatever you are passionate about, shout it loud and clear and your network will attract other enthusiasts.

Here are some groups I like the sound of – The Brighton Animators Networking Group, Café Scientifique, Green Drinks. Help us build a list of other specialist groups around the country for enthusiasts of all kinds – include the name, location and a web link if poss and what makes the group special.

Annie from the fantastic Sister Snog writes:

What
Definitely give your group a name.  And make it something memorable and appropriate for your target audience.  Don't call it 'Blokes Galore' if you want to appeal to women (or maybe do??)

Why
You have to decide what's in it for you.  Are you hoping to get new business from it yourself?  Turn it into a businesss? What sort of networking group/club are you going to be.  Are you going to be a membership organisation, or not?

When
One of the things we considered when launching Sister Snog was the fact that women have so many roles in life that we had to appeal to all women's diaries.

We thought about doing something different which is why we organise Afternoon Tea events.  I think I can safely say no other networking group/club does that.  What a civilised way to do business over scones and Earl Gray!

Where
We've started to hold events in Conran Group venues because we consider their brand is just the sort of brand we want to align Sister Snog with. Brand association is very important. It helps to set the scene for your event attendees.

We're currently holding our Brainstorming Breakfasts in the Private Dining Room at Quaglino's and our First Friday lunches in Sartoria and we get very favourable comments about the venues. They say high quality, delicious food and efficient service.

We want Sister Snog to be aligned with that kind of brand promise.

Who
We send all our invitations out by email and have a rather interesting engine behind the scenes. Our members and guests can book online and we send out different emails and have different websites for members and guests, simply because the messaging is different.

Our 'one liner' is about connecting sassy business women which actually says quite a lot. For example if you're a man then sorry - it's not for you. If you're not in business it's not for you either. And if you're a shy retiring wallflower it's definitely not for you!

The first step takes less than 60 secs. Post a free notice saying who you would like to meet [link to list an event form].

Start with your 5W's:
What? Why? When? Where? Who?

What? Give your group a name
Why? Work out your blurb
When? Pick a date and time for your first meet-up
Where? Find a place to meet-up
Who? Figure out how to get people to come

Instead of us trying to give you one, prescriptive way to start your group, we figured it might be more useful to pool experiences of what works and what doesn't.

If you run a group, and can share something, please do add it to the comments below.