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Finding the right business network for your firm could boost your opportunities to sell, make contacts, strike deals and raise your profile.
But where do you start looking for networking groups and how do you find the right one?
Think local
Your local council website is a great place to start looking for business associations in your area, often providing links to their websites if they have one. Also, each town or county has a chamber: an association of local businesses. The British Chambers of Commerce network is a non-political, non-profit making organisation, owned and directed by its members.
Some towns club together to form a regional supergroup of chamber associations - like Surrey, for example. Chambers regularly hold events for businesses of all sizes and sectors throughout the UK, and are regionally focused, which helps members to enhance their links with local businesses and organisations.
Chambers tend to hold regular networking breakfasts and dinners for both members and non-members, at a central location: often a hotel, restaurant or golf club. The organisations also provide business services, information and guidance to their members, and have a strong voice in the community.
Town planning
Town-specific guilds and associations also exist throughout the UK, with members from all sectors. These tend to focus on preserving and promoting the local town culture and raising the profile of local businesses.
They do this by working closely with other interest groups and the local authorities, and by fund-raising activities on behalf of a specific town project.
Examples of business guilds are Chudleigh Business Guild in Devon and Reigate Business Guild in Sussex. Associations like this can be good places to make local contacts in yours and other industry sectors, while taking part in social responsibility activities - always a good way to get your business known.
Business parks
Many business parks have residents' associations that work together to ensure the space they share remains secure and clean, and to work to lower communal costs. These groups can also give your business a stronger voice in the community and offer you opportunities to network with other tenant businesses.
However, such groups tend to rely heavily on the work and input of the member businesses, so if you want to get involved, or even to start a new association, be prepared to put in the work.
Industry focus
Most business sectors have their own networking groups, whether they are in professional services, construction, retail, and so on, and it may be worth locating the local branches of these organisations and attending the meetings. As well as being good for making lateral contacts, these sector-specific business associations can help you find the right law firm, accountant or supplier, or even discover a good business to partner with.
Online networking
Social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Ecademy, Xing and Ryze have also proved useful to businesspeople looking to extend their circle of contacts. Many people have found suppliers, buyers, employees and business partners by joining these groups and using the search and question tools that they provide.
However, online networking can take time and skill to master, and is not for everyone, in which case you might prefer to stay with the traditional face-to-face approach.
Related information:
Expanding your business - you need to plan a business expansion carefully - read our summary on how to do it profitably and avoid common pitfalls.
Putting together a business plan - you'll need one of these if you're seeking any investment for setting up a business.
Getting your name out there - simple ideas for getting your business noticed.
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