Networking in Surrey News - week beginning 1 November 2010

Bonfire night again - don’tcha just love fireworks? Now call me old-fashioned, but I miss the old 'Penny for the Guy' routine in the run-up to 5 November. Trick or treat just doesn't do it for me, I'm afraid... But enough of the nostalgia, already - let's look forward to a bright future out there in Networkland :-)

We've had lots of new sign-ups to NiS again this week. A very warm NiS welcome on behalf of all our Members to Jason Hibbs, David Harding, Andy Dawson, Nigel Hall, Ram Somasundaram, Peter Swettenham, Neil Richard Armstrong, Jayne Westwood, Mark Lawson, Mark Williams, Charles Pearson, Peter Robinson and Venture Catalyst's David Thackray. We are now speeding towards 250 Members (still chasing Networking in Berkshire's
impressive 360+ - but we will catch you up Chris, I promise :o)

Lots happening next week - check out the Events listing for Bob Gardner's FREE LinkedIn Surrey Networkers Evening in Woking, FREE Surrey Jelly at Foxhills organised by Lyn French and Hazel McLellan (the Jelly Women!), Elmbridge Women in Business with Nicky Rudd presenting, and Shirley Barton-Gunning's FREE Arbonne Makeover in Ripley. All the usual suspects - BNI, 4N, Business Biscotti et al - are also networking away enthusiastically and are listed in our Regular Group Events section.

Later this month we have Elaine Hickmott's FREE Surrey Style, plus launch events for Yvonne Stone's Ladies who Latte in Sutton and Tanja Gower's Athena Heart of Surrey in Guildford, and if you fancy a jaunt into 'darkest Sussex' :o) a FREE Regus Business Booster with speakers and buffet in Horsham organised by Lottie Skuthe-Cook.

Well, we finally did it - we've introduced sponsorship advertising to NiS for the first time, so NiS Membership is now free, thanks to our brilliant Sponsors:

David Simpson's Mainstream Marketing, the telemarketing specialists for any business, large or small

Sarah Martin's Ladies at Eleven - networking for women who are serious about their business

Jessica McGregor Johnson's Passion Test Workshop,- identify the things that ensure you live a passionate life.

Lynda Harvey's The Wine Place - wine tasting events and independent wine retailer based in Berkshire

John Cassidy Photography - for a superb 'headshot' that captures your personality for your online profile

Rhona Anderson's HR Advice Centre - HR professionals in policy, procedure, redundancy & conflict management,

If you'd like to promote your business very cost-effectively to our 230+ Members (and more - we had over 660 unique visitors in October, averaging 7 page views and over 6 minutes on the site per visit) please message me, or give me a call on 01932 845814

Diary of a Networker...
My feet haven't touched the ground in the last week - and the food's been great too! Rumours that I only network for the grub are greatly exaggerated :o)

I went along to Elmbridge Council's inaugural meeting of the Weybridge Business Network, with networking Ninja Derek Williamson (sometime Councillor, Government adviser, FSB and IOD stalwart, etc etc) We wish the local businesses every success in teaming up to promote themselves and their town (as Cobham, Molesey and Walton on Thames have already done) with some Council funding.

I met Derek again at the Surrey Business Club Social at the Jolly Farmer in Puttenham on Tuesday. At Wednesday's FREE Access Business Expo in Twickenham for the Networking Lunch with speakers Gareth Chilcott and Claire Young (Apprentice runner-up) I sat next to Apprentice candidate Kimberley Davies and got some good behind the scenes 'goss' on Lord Suger and the gang. At the Expo itself I had a chat to lots of NiS Members including Aernie Fabius of Bookkeeping Connections (another mega-networker), Nick Taimitarha (thebestof Richmond), Jeremy Webb (SatNav for Business), Stewart Graham (Avalon Solutions) and Sarah Giles (projectfive).

Later that same day I was in Guildford for Andrew Widgery's huge Business Scene event featuring 4N supremo and high-energy motivational speaker Brad Burton - phew! Also there were several NiS Members including Max Wright, Daphne Diluce, and Jane Lester,

Today I was at the 4N breakfast in Walton with Dan Smale, John Edward and Martin Reeve, and my last event of the week was Sarah Martin's Ladies at Eleven plus One in Brooklands, with Rosemary Hemmett, Julia Britten , Daniele Donfack, Tom Evans and Alan Rogers.

I've just put the phone down from Chris Lunn of NiB who has secured a discount for our Members on tickets to the E2 Entrepreneur Event at London's Excel where the speakers include NiS Member and Ecademy Founder Thomas Power - details to follow.
Happy Networking!
BRs
K