Like it or not, we network all the time. From the moment we step over the school ground threshold, we start building relationships. We continue to do so through college, university, work; the church, the pub, the golf club. Nowadays, we can do it through online social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, ecademy and Business Scene and suddenly ‘networking’ is trendy again. So what do we need to do to make the most of this ongoing phenomenon

(Virtual) Opening Presentation – Karenlee Knott

Karenlee gave a virtual presentation to open the meeting as she was unable to attend. The presentation gave an update on the network, upcoming projects/events and membership numbers.

Guest Speaker Presentation – Laura McHarrie

Laura McHarrie is a Business Advisor who has actually been there and shrunk most of the business tee-shirts she has worn. After an early climb up the corporate ladder, she has started two businesses, a retail outlet and a freelance practice. In between, she managed a medium sized fashion business that she had to liquidate during the millennium dot com boom.

Working part time in a freight forwarding company she spent three years at Weymouth College – got a teaching qualification and now puts all that learning to practice in her management of the brilliant BusinessXchange service, a learning and support network for business owners.

Feedback Consolidation

Everybody found the opening presentation useful, particularly those attending their first event. Many attendees also enjoyed the interactive nature of the presentation from Laura McHarrie and being given a chance to get to know more about the other ladies at the event.

Suggested topics for future meetings were how to balance home and work commitments, how to expand when you are no longer a start up business but not quite established, marketing on the internet, networking and reaching a wider range of customers.