BUSINESSES in Southampton involved with the UK’s fast growing networking club are popping open the champagne for a double celebration. Not only has 4Networking just signed its 10,000th member, but the Solent group is moving to a new home . . . at the Royal Southampton's Ocean Village Clubhouse.
The Southampton group, which meets from 8.00 until 10.00am on alternate Tuesdays, is moving to the Royal Southampton Yacht Club from today, allowing members to continue to build their businesses over breakfast!
Leader of the Southampton group, Stephen Kent (Dutton Gregory), says “Small, new businesses know they should ‘network’, but many find the prospect daunting, put off by smart cars in the car park and the perception that everyone is more successful and experienced than they are."
4Networking member Michael Palmer (Ignite Photos) says “we would like to extend a special welcome to all Royal Southampton Yacht Club members to join us on September 30 or at any of our future meetings”.
"4Networking challenges those perceptions, targeting small businesses, very often home-based start-ups and offering genuine business and personal support with a friendly face.”
As well as attending face-to-face meetings, 4Networkers can join an online forum, (www.4networking.biz), where they have the chance to do business with like-minded people and feel comfortable discussing issues that worry them. They can also share problems, knowing they have the support of others who have faced similar challenges setting up their own businesses.
4Networking, which was launched just over two years ago in Somerset, has a vibrant, energetic, un-stuffy approach, with as few rules as possible – and it’s proved a winning formula! It already has more than 190 breakfast groups and by the end of 2008 it’s planned to have up to 250 groups nationwide, plus more than 30,000 members!
Meanwhile, 4 Networking has outperformed hundreds of entrepreneurs to reach the regional finals of two major business competitions.
The group is among the finalists in the West, Wales and Northern Ireland regions in the 2008 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards and has also reached the top 10 in the South West in the Barclays Trading Places competition.