Review Of Networking Groups

Networking Groups:
This is not a definitive list, but they are groups that I have personal experience of. They are low cost or FREE!
Other networking groups are available!!

1.    Meet & Mingle
Venue: LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, LE1 1RE
Frequency: Monthly 6-8pm
Website: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/7428036457/eorg
Cost: N/A
Good: FREE – free refreshments, so a big turnout 40+ people especially start-ups, and speed networking.
Bad: Maybe to many people, speed networking can be a bit chaotic and noisy. Not everyones cup of tea.


2.    Pickle & Paratha Breakfast Networking
Venue: Observatory Meridian
Frequency: Thursday every 2 weeks, 7.30-9.00am
Website:  www.pickleandparatha.co.uk
Cost: £50 one off joining fee, then £10 for full breakfast/ £6 for continental for each meet. Introduce 3 members and you get a FREE i-pad mini.
Good: Parathas!!! Low cost and i-pad incentive. One business from each trade.
Bad: Needs more members and a bit more structure in meetings.


3.    Enterprise Club/Friendly Friday
Venue: Coffee Rupublic, Granby Street
Frequency: 2nd Friday of every month: 10.00-12.30pm
Cost: FREE
Good: FREE!, Friendly and informal, good speakers, good mix of start-ups, established businesses , and pre-start-ups.
Bad: A lot of micro businesses, or those just thinking of starting, so may not be attractive to certain businesses.
Website:  http://engage-multimedia.co.uk/events/friendly-fridays/


4.    Business Biscotti
Venue: Observatory Meridian
Frequency: Every 2 Weeks 10.00am-12pm
Cost: FREE
Good: Very informal, come and go when you like.
Bad: Pot luck –you never know whos going to turn up, no commitment required so lots of one off attendees.
Website:  http://www.businessbiscotti.co.uk



 
5.    BOB- Business Over Beer
Venue: Various
Frequency: Monthly in city pubs
Cost: FREE
Good: Beer!!! Very informal, come and go when you like.
Bad: Pot luck –you never know who’s going to turn up, no commitment required so lots of one off attendees. Better organisation at event to identify whos there for the meeting, and who’s a pub customer!
Website: http://www.creativedirection.info/blog/
STOP PRESS: Have recently launched Business Over Biriyani, so we’ll see how this develops.