Make the most of Cumbria's growing networking opportunities by following this advice.

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Peter Fleming, in-Cumbria's Business Doctor, has put together these easy to follow steps to make networking less daunting and more effective.

  • Do your research - Target the networking events where you’re ideal clients or their associates would attend, i.e. other businesses whose clients are in your target sectors. 
  • Don’t sell , it is all about building relationships and contacts – you need to Meet - Know - Like - Trust, before you can successfully gain business. 

This may take a number of meetings and a year or so in many cases. 

  • Be consistent , don’t just go once and think, “Well that was a waste of time”, and be seen at each meeting to build relationships. 
  • Be prepared – have plenty of business cards, handouts, wear a name badge, know your products and services inside out – get an attendee list if you can and target who you want to speak to. 
  • Be personable – use their name, remember details discussed last time you met, i.e. holiday destinations, family, who they know etc. Good tip; write down/brain dump as you get in the car after each event. 
  • Show your expertise – people buy “Knowledge” – give tips, advice, share contacts, introduce to other business people you know at the networking meeting, use examples and tell stories to explain where you have added value to a client’s needs, be remembered to be the person to go to! 
  • Get there early , some of the most successful networking is before the crowds arrive and stay to the end, as late arrivals will still want to meet new contacts even after the event has officially closed 
  • Set an objective – e.g. to get five business cards at each event. Remember to have quality discussions rather than the number. 
  • Be yourself , don’t try and be someone you’re not. Follow up, drop each person you met a simple email, to say - “it was nice to meet you yesterday”, “loved to hear your story”, ”catch up again sometime for a coffee”.


If you are looking to grow your business, Business Doctors Cumbria offer a free business health check where we can help you to set a clear vision to understand the steps you need to take to fulfil your aspirations. 

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Cumbria's big networking opportunities

BECBC – monthly networking specifically aimed at the nuclear and energy sector supply chain, Energus Lillyhall, Workington. http://www.becbusinesscluster.co.uk/ 

BNI – weekly breakfast referral networking, 2 chapters in Carlisle, 1 in Kendal, 1 in Barrow in Furness http://www.bnicumbria.co.uk/index.php/find-a-meeting/find-a-chapter 

Carlisle Ambassadors – bi-monthly meeting for any business associated or wants to be, with Carlisle and the surrounding area - http://carlisleambassadors.co.uk/ 

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce – holds an array of events across the region and beyond, Network Five, after dinner drinks, in Carlisle, Cockermouth, Kendal, network lunches across the county, cross border events with Northumberland, Lancashire and Dumfries and Galloway Chambers, Expo’s, speed networking etc. http://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/networking-events 

Rural Women’s Network – specifically for women in business with a number of groups across the region, whether your self-employed or a female MD of an organisation, go along to share tips, best practice and learn from each other - http://www.ruralwomen.org.uk/networking.html