Updated Blog from 2021
Business Networking continues to thrive across Milton Keynes & Bedford. Here at it’seeze Websites Milton Keynes & Bedford, we know how challenging it can be for businesses to find new clients and keep the work flowing in and this is why we actively engage with the business community through networking.
Networking with other local business owners, who either directly can use your services or indirectly introduce you to their contacts can be a rich resource for your business.
In addition, regular networking will help you find trusted suppliers for services you need to outsource or recommend to your clients, it can help development of your business skills and of course, making friends who can provide phenomenal emotional support and encouragement.
For business owners in Milton Keynes, Bedford and the surrounding areas, there’s an amazing choice of business networking groups to suit anyone. Finding the best one for you and your business takes a little work and all allow guests to visitor before they sign up. If you are new to networking we recommend trying as many as possible to see which will suit your aims and aspirations and where you feel comfortable.
To help you get started, we've listed some of the networking options available in our local area and how they work. We at it'seeze Milton Keynes & Bedford are either members of these groups or have had some experience or recommendation regarding them.
There’s no substitute for personal experience though, so check them out for yourself and see which ones will suit you best. Where available I have included a link to help you find out more but feel free to contact me if you would like advice or an introduction.
IMPORTANT: The aim of business networking is to help you grow your business and ideally help others grow theirs, remember this when visiting and choose wisely.
1. TFI Networking
Every Friday morning, TFI gathers at The Cock Hotel in Stony Stratford for The Friday Inspirational Networking Group. It’s a relaxed atmosphere where they chat, eat, and, most importantly, support one another. Their aim? To inspire and create successful businesses, all while having a bit of a laugh!
If you’re based in Milton Keynes or nearby areas, they would love you to visit! TFI is run by the members for the members and all proceeds are used to cover the costs of the weekly meeting expenses and social events for the members.
They operate on a model of only one member from each industry, ensuring there’s no conflict of interest. If you’re interested in popping along to see what they're all about, just reach out!
Click here to find out more about TFI Networking or contact us for a personal invite.
2. Busy Networking & Busy Women Networking
Busy Networking groups offer a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to come together in a friendly and collaborative environment. With monthly face-to-face meetings held in Bedford, Milton Keynes, Northampton, and Towcester, they provide a platform for entrepreneurs to share ideas, forge partnerships, and generate new leads.
There is also Busy Women Networking meeting in 12 venues across across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and surrounding counties for those Businesswomen who would like to network with like-minded female entrepreneurs.
Busy Networking meetings are held in outstanding venues with delicious brunches, creating the perfect atmosphere for making meaningful connections.
Find out more about Busy Networking here or Busy Women Networking here or contact us for an introduction.
3. Ask Go To
From the Ask GoTo directory, which is a twice a year publication promoting local businesses across Milton Keynes and a thriving online community Ask GoTo Networking events were born. Starting in Milton Keynes and later opening in Bedford and Northampton this once a month in each location event brings together local businesses to share experiences and support each other by sharing referrals or using each others services.
Business owners/managers can visit on a adhoc pay as you go basis or can pay a monthly membership to lock out their sector seat and become the expert in the room on their business type.
To find out when the next event is in your area and to book a ticket click here or for an introduction contact us.
4. The Business Room (Your Business Matters)
The Business Room meets monthly, currently in 9 locations from Milton Keynes & Bedford in the South up as far as Leicester in the North. Under the business name Your Business Matters they have an objective to help small businesses to grow.
This group also meets on a lock out basis with only one business from each sector in each group, although if your business is not locked out in another group you are able and encouraged to visit other groups to further widen your network.
Members are encouraged to complete a pre-meeting form with who they could be looking to connect with or what they need help with, this helps others to identify opportunities in advance of the meeting.
To find out more about The Business Room and book a visit click here or for an introduction contact us.
5. Collaborate MK
Collaborate MK launched in 2020 during Covid and has quickly gained a large membership. As the name suggests the purpose is to introduce local businesses and encourage business collaborations to help stimulate growth for businesses in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas.
Currently meeting 9 times a month 7 live events and 2 virtual events. The live events are in different locations in and around Milton Keynes and at different times of the day, Brunch, Lunch and Evening meetings. The highlight being the monthly meet up at a different location each month which regularly draws around 100 business leaders.
The meetings are fairly laid back, you can attend when you can and if that important call comes through mid-meeting then you are not obliged to stay to the end. There are 4 membership options with annual or monthly subscriptions making membership flexible and affordable.
If you are in or around the Milton Keynes area and want to connect with a large number of other local businesses then check out their website here or contact us for a personal introduction.
6. BNI (Business Networking International)
BNI is a global networking and referral organisation with local 'chapters' throughout the UK.
The BNI format is focused on referring business between members you get to know, like, and trust and its core principle is that of Givers Gain, if you give business to fellow members in BNI they will want to give business to you.
Many people we speak to have pre-conceived feelings about BNI, often from talking to past members that it didn't suit or worst those who have never visited before.
There is no getting away from the fact that BNI has a formal structure as well as obligations on weekly attendance and contributions. If you think of it as a regularly scheduled business meeting though this makes perfect sense.
Members often credit their BNI membership with bringing in a significant percentage of their business either through referrals or from the training or confidence they have gained as members.
BNI has a business type 'lock out' policy as well which ensures you will never compete for work within your chapter. You are a member of your own chapter and generally you work as a team to generate business but where a business type is not represented then referrals between chapters often occur. You can also network across chapters assuming you don't clash business wise with other members in those chapters.
Click here to find out more about your local Milton Keynes BNI Chapter or contact us for a personal introduction.
7. Business Buzz
Business Buzz Networking started in 2012 with the idea of bringing local business people together over coffee and informal gatherings. Their events are drop-in, fun and easy-going style that has proved hugely popular!
They are now in 15 regions with over 50 groups across the UK, Business Buzz gives you the opportunity to network locally or further afield on various days of the week. Each location holds a monthly 2 hour meeting with only a 5 or 10min break to hear from the team running the group so straightforward getting to know each other and building your contacts and potential business opportunities.
Find out more about Business Buzz here or an introduction to a a Buzz ambassador in your area contact us.
8. Local Chambers of Commerce
Like all Chambers across Great Britain, the Milton Keynes organisation exists to support and promote the interests of local businesses and help generate cooperation and business growth across Milton Keynes and surrounding area.
As a Chamber member you not only get the opportunity to network with other businesses across Milton Keynes, you get other benefits including business training and advice, mentoring events, promotional opportunities to their extensive database of members and local businesses along with a listing on their business directory.
Find out more about Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce here.
Highlight your networking group
The above is just a small selection of business networking groups in and around Milton Keynes that we at it'seeze Milton Keynes have experienced or have had recommendations too. If you would like us to add your group to this blog then please send details in the form below with a short description of the group and where visitors can find more information and I will update and re-share as soon as possible.
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