Launched 2 and a half years ago by journalist Jamie Breese, Only Connect has held around 15 evening events attracting a sizeable amount of guests, often including celebrities such as author Martin Shervington and comedian Justin Lee Collins.

The events focus on bringing a networking environment to an upmarket venue, allowing attendees to talk business formally, generate leads and explore further opportunities for their company. The organisation is also hoping to attract upmarket sponsors such as Dior and break into a franchise.

Jamie Breese said, “It’s about mixing business with pleasure. It gives people an opportunity to dress up and go to a nice venue but the business element is very strong.”

He added, “Time after time I hear of how a deal was forged or some new alliance made at one of our events.”

Despite having an unconventional setup, these networking events have proven extremely popular and beneficial for all attendees who have enjoyed the unique experience provided.

Marketing business development manager with Office Response, Steve West, said, “Only Connect is a great forum for meeting key decision makers in a relaxed and often very glamorous setting.”

“I think the reason the event works so well is because it brings people together who want to enjoy themselves but also build strong business relationships.”

For more information on Only Connect and any upcoming events, visit the Only Connect homepage.

However, throughout the series, through all the companies failing to gain an investment, a common complaint is: “You don’t know your industry / you haven’t looked at the competition”, which begs the question: Why haven’t these entrepreneurs attended networking events?

Had they attended business networking events, they could build up a substantial understanding of their competitors and prepare themselves much more effectively. Budding entrepreneurs frequently simply request the advice of the dragons, rather than just the investment – and whilst these dragons are successful business owners and very knowledgeable, they are not the oracle of business advice.

With business networking, these entrepreneurs could have attended events and built up a far more varied and comprehensive knowledge base than simply listening to the advice of one grumpy dragon.

Whilst it is likely that much of what we see on the programme is edited and chosen especially for entertainment purposes, it does show a complete ignorance of business networking and further reinforce its necessity in running a successful company.

The event also aims to attract a great deal of tourism, further boosting businesses in the area and increasing opportunities for networking. It is being hosted by USNI Sport, an organisation dedicated to improving economic relations between Northern Ireland and America, who are promoting the event in a progressive and positive manner.

Sport is a fantastic way to motivate people, increase a sense of friendly competition and get your company noticed. This event should provide an ideal situation for effective networking and flowing conversation.

Seamus McPeake, who leads a professional basketball team playing at the event, said, “Our members and our higher end corporate backers would pay to go on a tour like this. It’s costing me personally a lot of money to bring the team over here, but they’ve got to build this up and I was happy to help to get it off the ground and I’m very proud to be coming back to Northern Ireland to do it.”

He added, “This could become one of the biggest events in Northern Ireland on an annual basis and for that to happen the government needs to fund it to get it off the ground; until people realise what the event is and the tickets become a hot item that people want to get every year.”

Sporting events are currently an untapped goldmine of networking opportunities; however with the sheer amount of people attending – participants and spectators, it can be a highly effective environment for business networking.

For more information on the event, which takes place this Friday and Saturday (6th and 7th August) at the Belfast Odyssey Arena, check the Odyssey homepage.

However, which time is best for effective networking and the all-important follow-up process?

First, let’s look at the pro’s and con’s of each:

Breakfast networking:

Pro’s:
First thing in the morning, people are alert and eager
Leaves the rest of the day ahead
Eat breakfast together whilst networking
Less timetable clashes
Easy to remember

Con’s:
Some attendees simply won’t be the morning type
Networkers may have to attend work afterwards, thus making follow-up difficult
Attendees may have the day ahead on their mind, rather than focussing on networking

Evening networking:

Pro’s:
People will have finished work, so can relax
Social atmosphere – could meet in pub or bar
Networkers can follow up on contacts immediately afterwards

Con’s:
Some may be tired after work so not at their most talkative
Time restrictions
Quite easy to forget, following a busy day
Some may have different ideas of evening entertainment

It is clear that whilst both are adequate for business networking, there are some downsides for each. Essentially, it depends on the type of industry that the event is for and the location – breakfast meetings tend to be more business-orientated whilst evening events are more social.

There is no definite answer on which is more beneficial – it is up to the networker to visit both and decide which is most appropriate.

Held in Sheffield, Yorkshire and sponsored by O2, the MADE festival brings together a number of entrepreneurs and SME owners from all over the UK to one location where they can network with each other, as well as attend talks and receive teaching tips.

Doug Richards said, “The UK is still in the throws of a recession. There are good signs of recovery and the Government appears poised to take some of the right steps. But entrepreneurs and small business owners are still struggling. Most people don’t know that entrepreneurs and their teams are responsible for 99% of all innovation in the economy or that small businesses employ 50% of all the people in the UK. They are the foundation of the UK economy.”

He added, “I’m very happy to be supporting entrepreneurs and business owners in the North East this fall. It’s something I’m very proud of.”

This festival is the first-of-its-kind and will feature a 48-hour boot-camp hosted by Doug Richards, as well as an address from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. This event presents a fantastic opportunity for networkers to benefit from advice from a famous and highly successful businessman, as well as a highly effective environment for business networking.

The event will take place this September in the Hilton Metropole, Brighton and is expected to attract up to 250 businesses, all of whom can take a significant benefit from the exciting atmosphere and numerous amount of networking opportunities.

Michaela Walker, of Brighton and Hove Business, said, “Once more Brighton business stands out on the UK map with this speed networking attempt. This will be our twenty-first speed networking event and our biggest and best ever.”

Attendees will each participate in three-minute networking sessions before joining guests in the Visitors Gallery for a more relaxed and deeper discussion. All attendees will also receive a fully-loaded USB that contains all of the networkers’ details, which will undoubtedly help networkers in the long-term.

MP representing Hove & Portslade, Mike Weatherley MP, said, “There is so much energy and enthusiasm for business in Brighton & Hove that I am sure a new world record is guaranteed.”

The event will cost £49 (inc. VAT) and all details can be found on the Brighton and Hove Business home page.

The theme of this networking event is to advise sellers and provide them with a venue and outlet to discuss key challenges within the industry, such as how to time selling for full effectiveness. Chairman of DBSG, Leigh Berkley, said, “The market is clearly beginning to thaw and timing is fast becoming a major issue.”

The event will also focus on developing the business and becoming a leader, as well as developing systems, structures and compliance approaches.

The conference will feature a spa networking event, where attendees will be able to benefit from a two-hour ‘Fire and Ice’ bio-thermal experience which will help them relax, as well as network in a luxurious and comfortable environment.

The DBSG was set up to help industry members with the buying and selling of debts and how members can become an expert in the industry, sharing guidance and exchanging ideas. The CSA caters for companies such as debt recovery agencies, tracing and allied professional services.

For more information or to book a place, visit the DBSG homepage.

Named ‘Anglesey’s Got Talent’, entrants will be required to make a presentation lasting 15 minutes to a panel of business experts, who will then judge and advise them. The best business idea and entrepreneur will win a £1,000 package of mentoring, support and advice, sponsored by the Xenos Wales Business Angel Network.

The event is free-to-enter and each entrant will receive guidance on the structure of their presentation. Entrepreneurs will also have a great chance to network with each other and potentially organise business relationships with each other.

Yvonne Owen, organiser of Anglesey Business Week, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for every business out there which has a great idea, but just needs a little bit of expert help to get it off the ground. Our Anglesey’s Got Talent event can provide them with the boost they need.”

The winner will also feature on Xenos Wales Business Angel Bulletin and the winning idea will be presented to a group of industry leaders as part of a forthcoming investment forum. Anglesey Business Week will also provide a number of businesses with an effective networking environment and provide advice on grant application, business planning and tendering.

The co-founder of SuperMondays, Ross Cooney, also a small business owner, had previously attended a number of networking events when he moved to the North East from London. However, as an IT developer, he desired an alternative way of gathering contacts.

Mr Cooney said, “I bumped into people all the time who were small business owners, but it was very rare that I’d meet people who designed the code itself. You don’t get to meet the techies. They don’t get invited to anything because they don’t have the purchasing power. I wanted to set something up where we’d get together and talk about technical stuff.”

He added, “My wife thinks I’m mad. I do it because I want to meet these people, rather than generate business out of it.”

This aim led to the foundation of SuperMondays which allows attendees to gather contacts and arrange business relationships, attracting over 650 web designers, developers and IT professionals from across the UK.

Former investment manager Jon Bradford, speaking about the benefits provided by SuperMondays, said, “Prior to SuperMondays, there were a large number of small disparate developer groups, which were brought together under the umbrella which is now SuperMondays.”

He added, “SuperMondays has become a focal point for the developer community in the North East and its support has been a key factor to the success of the Difference Engine programme who have taken it to their hearts.”

Held in partnership with training and development company No Guru, the launch party offered an array of facilities, networking events and the chance to sign up to the new LEAD programme.

The LEAD programme is a 10 month leadership programme designed to cater to the needs of SME owners and prospective entrepreneurs, helping them improve and become more knowledgeable on business matters.

The £9.5 million investment programme has already benefitted a number of businesspeople, such as Kevin Thompson, a recent graduate, who said, “LEAD gave me the chance to draw on the knowledge and experience of other business owners to help me find solutions to problems in my own business and move it forward.”

World Welterweight Champion Boxer John H Stracey also attended the event, donating signed boxing gloves. Other prizes included a separate free hot air balloon ride, a Land Rover experience tour and a magnum of champagne.

The launch event attracted a number of start-up companies as well as established businesses, all of which were able to see a real benefit from the networking opportunities, as well as the fresh approach and exciting attractions on offer.