Surrey Business Club
join the club
Membership Options
Click the arrow to find out how you can join SBC.
newsletter
Previous meeting
Our November meeting was kindly hosted by Richard Butcher of Business Link Surrey at their Woking HQ, Hollywood House.
Welcome to Hollywood...
As the theme of the evening was improving your networking skills, we decided to skip the structured networking session which is the way we usually start each meeting, and go straight for the buffet. This was the usual sumptuous spread from local caterers, Haylee's Sandwiches.
Where do you network?
The workshop was facilitated by Keith Grover, and as we were a small group it was decided we'd work in the boardroom format around the large table (with the remains of the buffet to hand - very informal!)
We went around the table sharing our networking experiences. Most SBC Members belong to other networking groups as well, and it was very informative (and often revealing!) to hear how other organisations work.
What a lot of networking opportunities!
We all discovered networking groups we weren't aware of - there are dozens of organisations running events in Surrey, as Keith has discovered whilst researching for his new website - www.surreybusinesnetworking.com
Richard was a great source of information - one of his remits as a Business Link Adviser has been to connect with local business networks.
Networking styles and techniques
The discussions continued by looking at different formats used, from the highly structured referral breakfast groups (originated by BNI) to less formal lunch and evening gatherings, and the frantic and often exhausting speed networking.
Online networking - Twitter etc
We had intended to look at all the opportunites to network online - Ecademy, LinkedIn, Twitter, Business Scene - but sadly, we ran out of time! This will have to wait for another day...
Wetherspoons awaits!
Thanking Richard for his hospitality, and for giving up his evening to host us (and join in the discussions), the majority of us strolled round to the Woking Wetherspoons pub for a nightcap and our version of 'social networking'. On arrival, the ale lovers amongst us were delighted to find a beer festival week in progress, with ten real ales at just £1.75 a pint... Cheers!
Welcome to Hollywood...
As the theme of the evening was improving your networking skills, we decided to skip the structured networking session which is the way we usually start each meeting, and go straight for the buffet. This was the usual sumptuous spread from local caterers, Haylee's Sandwiches.
Where do you network?
The workshop was facilitated by Keith Grover, and as we were a small group it was decided we'd work in the boardroom format around the large table (with the remains of the buffet to hand - very informal!)
We went around the table sharing our networking experiences. Most SBC Members belong to other networking groups as well, and it was very informative (and often revealing!) to hear how other organisations work.
What a lot of networking opportunities!
We all discovered networking groups we weren't aware of - there are dozens of organisations running events in Surrey, as Keith has discovered whilst researching for his new website - www.surreybusinesnetworking.com
Richard was a great source of information - one of his remits as a Business Link Adviser has been to connect with local business networks.
Networking styles and techniques
The discussions continued by looking at different formats used, from the highly structured referral breakfast groups (originated by BNI) to less formal lunch and evening gatherings, and the frantic and often exhausting speed networking.
Online networking - Twitter etc
We had intended to look at all the opportunites to network online - Ecademy, LinkedIn, Twitter, Business Scene - but sadly, we ran out of time! This will have to wait for another day...
Wetherspoons awaits!
Thanking Richard for his hospitality, and for giving up his evening to host us (and join in the discussions), the majority of us strolled round to the Woking Wetherspoons pub for a nightcap and our version of 'social networking'. On arrival, the ale lovers amongst us were delighted to find a beer festival week in progress, with ten real ales at just £1.75 a pint... Cheers!
People and businesses attending this meeting included:
Keith Grover Freelance Copy
Ian Hamilton UKWWE
Martin Evans The Martin Evans Consultancy
Ian Kent Certax Accounting
Phil Arnett Find Me A Home
Karen Worcester Expatriate Tax Advisory Service
Kathleen Starkey Guest, Accountant & Interim FD
Charles Barbour Web Design
Richard Butcher Business Link Surrey
Ian Hamilton UKWWE
Martin Evans The Martin Evans Consultancy
Ian Kent Certax Accounting
Phil Arnett Find Me A Home
Karen Worcester Expatriate Tax Advisory Service
Kathleen Starkey Guest, Accountant & Interim FD
Charles Barbour Web Design
Richard Butcher Business Link Surrey