Using photographs of a real proNet Bradford meeting in progress to illustrate, the founders of proNet Business Networking Jaimie Dobson and Vicky Endogan talk about how and why proNet was founded, what members get out of the meetings and what visitors may expect to see if they attend a meeting.

The article finishes off with forthcoming meeting dates in Bradford.

Jaimie Dobson, proNet co-founder explains further;

Taking out an advitorial in the Here and Now Magazine was a ‘no brainer’ really. The magazine is genuinely readable and one that is likely to be picked up more than once given it offers great content and layout. This coupled with a wide circulation of the publication across the city including selected Morrisons and Sainsbury stores across town, ensures that proNet will get great coverage and improved awareness.

You can order your own regular copy of the Here and Now Magazine or enquire about advertising opportunities for your own business in the publication by contacting Angela Riches of MAD Publications on 01274 420091

If you don’t have a copy of the current issue you can read proNet’s article plus others in the online version embedded in the page below.

Roger explains,

May I invite you to visit my photographic exhibition at Shipley Focus’d, in Shipley, which looks to the future of Shipley taking its inspiration from the past. In times gone by shopkeepers often had their portrait taken as they stood proudly outside their shop. I hope this exhibition will replicate this tradition and capture a moment in time from 2010.”

The exhibition “Step Inside Shipley” opens 20th August till October 1st and is aimed at encouraging customers to visit the shops and meet the people who run them. Through my images, I capture the personality of the people who are the lifeblood of the shops and businesses of Shipley Town Centre.

Some of the shops featured are small independent ventures, which have the benefit of offering an individual and personal service, which can sometimes be missed in much larger corporate chains. These smaller businesses create the variety needed to sustain a unique local shopping experience and this exhibition demonstrates the importance of this.

The exhibition complements the previous Shipley Focus`d photographic gallery which features pictures from the 1930s to the 1960s taken from the archives of C H Wood. Shipley Focus’d was created from an empty shop to regenerate interest in Shipley Town Centre, so it was fitting that this second exhibition should be a celebration of the vibrancy and thriving community spirit within the Shipley retail sector.

Refreshments and entertainment will be on offer at the opening Friday 20th August between 10.30 – 12.30 and don’t forget to experience some of the local shops for yourself.

Find out more about Roger’s business through his own website at www.rogermoody.co.uk

Read what the Yorkshire Post says about this exhibition.

If you’re a Halifax based business business and are familiar with the concept of networking as a business support and lead generation technique, but have been put off other breakfast networking groups by their stuffy culture or unfocused format; then you’ll find proNet’s meetings a refreshing change.

Conversely, if you’re looking to explore breakfast networking meetings in Halifax for the first time as a new way to market your business, then proNet’s Halifax meeting offers you an ideal platform to begin.

With proNet there’s:

• No pressure to attend every meeting
• No targets to bring referrals or visitors
• No expensive membership fees
• No weekly commitment

Instead proNet offers;

• Affordable membership with no long term commitment
• Exclusivity of your business type in the group
• Fortnightly meetings
• Useful and informative speakers at every meeting (no sales pitches)
• The chance to raise your business profile and make new contacts
• The chance to visit other proNet networking meetings across West Yorkshire as often as you wish
• A unique Business Clinic at every meeting

If the launch of our Bradford and Spen Valley meetings was anything to go by, we’re expecting the opening meeting of our Halifax group to be very popular with upwards of 40-50 business people in attendance.

A great networking opportunity!

If you’d like to learn how proNet meetings can work for your business, then we invite you to book a place at our launch meeting on the 15th September.

• Date: Wednesday 15th September 2010
• Time: 7.30am – 9.30am
• Location: Mereside Visitor Centre, Shibden Hall Estate, Halifax
• Cost: £10 cash, payable on the door which includes breakfast

Our keynote speaker for the Knowledge Transfer slot is Philip Gwynne* from The Naked Marketing Company who will be giving us a 20 minute presentation entitled:

3 Things You Can Do in 3 Days to Improve Your Bottom Line

To book your place, email us on halifax@joinpronet.com More information including directions to the venue may be found on our Halifax Group page on this website.

*Philip Gwynne is a multi award-winning marketing and communications specialist specialising in designing and delivering business growth. He runs The NAKED Marketing Company, which specialises in helping businesses acquire more customers, make more sales and enjoy more profit. His clients are mainly small and medium sized businesses, but he’s also worked with some of the UK’s leading high street names and brands.

Quoting from Danny’s Kirklees Business Conference website;

Now in our second year, Kirklees Business Conference consists of a FREE full day programme of business specific seminars, an exhibition involving close to 60 businesses, a clinic where you can cure your business ailments along with unlimited networking for all involved.

The whole ethos of KBC is to offer a greater support mechanism to Kirklees businesses.

proNet will be taking an exhibition stand at this year’s conference and invites everyone to stop by, say hello and be entered into a free prize draw to win 6 months free membership of proNet.

The whole day including the exhibition, speaking events and business clinic is free at Danny’s event (how does he do it?) so why not book your attendance place now.

Take a look at pics from last year’s event (of which the one above is an example) on Danny’s Flickr Stream.

This is a great opportunity to see Gary’spresentation style in action and also to network with some useful business folk (oh and there’s a great curry to enjoy into the bargain).

More information including details of how to book your place may be found on the Bradford Grid* website at http://goo.gl/0GFw

Tell Us Your News

If you’re an existing member of proNet, send through your company news, events and articles, to us on membership@joinpronet.com and we’ll consider it for publication on this blog.

proNet is proud to belong to this supportive and important membership scheme.

To help celebrate this milestone, Kathy and her team at the hospice are holding a celebratory networking event for all it’s corporate members at The Viaduct Cafe, Dean Clough in Halifax on Thursday 12th August 2010 starting at 5pm until 7pm.

If you wish to attend either as an existing corporate member of the hospice, as a member of proNet or want to learn more about becoming a corporate member of the hospice, please contact Kathyrn on 01422 387 147 (email: kathryn.rogan@overgatehospice.nhs.uk

Download the official invitation by clicking on this link [PDF document, opens in a new window]

• Jon Huby from lettings and property management company Let’s Go Professional
• Julian Thornhill of Thornhill Financial Services
• John Davies, Painter and Decorator

And at our Spen Valley Group;

• Danny Matharu from events marketing company Hillrich Ltd
• Beverley Shutak from Siddalls Colour Printers in Cleckheaton
• Paul Ferris from Mirfield based Yorkshire Telecom
• Robert Cannon, a wills and probate professional from Allguard Legal Services

Welcome to you all and we hope you find your membership with proNet to be enjoyable, productive and above all else, profitable.

Attend a Meeting

If you would like to meet these people or any other member of proNet, you are welcome to attend as a guest at one of our forthcoming business networking breakfasts.

If you’re interested in attending our Bradford Group, more details about the group and how you can book your place may be found by clicking on this link.

Similarly, if it’s the Spen Valley Group that interests you, more details and booking information may be found by clicking here.

You are of course, welcome to attend both groups if you like to network with the new members above as well as other meeting visitors and established members.

A £10 cash meeting fee, payable on the door, is asked of all visitors to proNet’s meetings.

One of the many projects she manages is the Future Jobs Fund (FJF) in Bradford which is an initiative introduced by the former Labour government as part of the Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG) to reduce youth unemployment in Bradford. A key element of the programme is to enable young people (18-24)
and those in areas of high unemployment approaching 12 months on benefit, to access the labour market.

In this post Joanne explains what the FJF is and how businesses of all sizes in and around the Bradford district can bring a new funded employee on board for any community based projects they may be looking at.

The FJF was announced in the May 2009 budget with an aim to create 150k jobs, 100k aimed at 18-24 year olds 50k targeted in unemployment hotspots.

In Bradford New starters under the initiative will run until 31 March 2011 (finishing Sept 2011) and will offer over 650 local residents the opportunity to access the labour market.

The FJF will provide a wage payment to support the creation of additional jobs that last six months (all jobs created must be new, they must not replace existing jobs or vacancies and must not lead to an individual losing their job or a reduction in their contract).

All new jobs created must have a community benefit which is clearly outlined in the required job description and specification (see below for examples).

So what does it mean to you as an employer?

• This is an opportunity for employers to create a new job and train selected individuals in skills that will be relevant to their organisation and give something back to their local community.
• It offers you a unique opportunity as an employer to ensure that young people are gaining the skills relevant to your business.
• It offers the smaller business who is looking to expand, but not sure how to go about training and recruiting people, the prefect opportunity to take on a trainee (subject to community benefit).

FJF will provide funding to pay an individual for 6 months at £6 per hour. Funding may also cover additional costs such as Employer NI, CRB checks, payroll etc

At the end of the 6 months if the individual has developed the skills your business needs you are free to employ them. If you are not able to offer the individual a permanent position, and you are under no obligation to do so, you will have given them the opportunity to develop new skills, the confidence to have a go, support with their on-going job search and a recent reference to help them secure alternative employment.

Examples of Community Benefit

The following sets out three ways that community benefit could be demonstrated. It is not an exhaustive list, but a job with clear community benefit could include:

Social benefits – for example projects that:

• Engage with and/or support vulnerable groups
• Support crime prevention or reducing anti-social behaviour
• Improve the physical, emotional or mental well being of the community
• Improve access to public services for vulnerable groups.

Environmental benefits – for example projects that:

• Regenerate, renovate or restore public areas, buildings, houses and amenities
• Promote or support recycling, re-use, or energy efficiency and conservation
• Promote or support nature conservation
• Promote an awareness of and respect for the natural environment.

Cultural benefits – for example projects that:

• Extend or improve access to cultural, sporting, or educational opportunities for vulnerable or marginalised groups
• Encourage or promote understanding between different communities and/or generations.

(If you are a charity, voluntary organisation, public sector organisation Social Enterprise you are already offering a community benefit).

Get Involved

If you want to know more about this scheme for your own business, contact Joanne directly using her details below;

Joanne Hainsworth
Skills and Employment Project Manager
Bradford Metropolitan District Council – 4th floor,
Jacob’s Well,
Manchester Road,
Bradford BD1 5RW

T: 01274 432014
E: joannehainsworth@bradford.gov.uk
W: www.bradford.gov.uk/regeneration

Many professionals have a difficult time meeting people and building relationships because they don’t know the basics of networking. These are:

1) Set Goals

Who do I want to meet? Why do I want to meet these people? Where will I meet these people?

2) Carry Business Cards at All Times

Your cards should always be to hand everywhere.

3) Take Good Notes on Business Cards

When you meet people, it’s important to remember what has been said. Take notes on the back of their business cards to remember your conversation when you follow up.

4) Be Genuine

Always listen , giving eye contact, asking questions and not interrupting. Build trust and a good relationship, and don’t actively sell.

5) Offer to Help Others

Offering to help others before you ask for help is a networking must. Offer to share resources, make introductions, gather data and perform consulting. By extending yourself to others, you will build a reputation as a giver rather than a taker.

6) Follow Up

Without follow up, you won’t be able to build relationships and your network. Follow up with people the next day so you’re still fresh in their minds.

If you offer to help someone – no matter how big or small – you need to follow up. Otherwise you won’t be taken seriously and your networking efforts won’t be very effective.

7) Build Relationships

You need to continue to build your relationship with people, otherwise your network won’t be very valuable and attentive to your needs. By reaching out to them, you will come across as genuine and someone who values your relationships.

Final Thought

By incorporating some or all of the above networking principles, you will be more prepared for events and a truly effective networker! Enjoy yourself and don’t forget that networking is a continual process with each person you meet.

Put Them Into Practice

Having read Gary’s priciples, if you’d like to share your own, please contribute with a comment below and if you’d like to put these priciples into practice at one of Gary’s meetings, give him a call on 07837 970745 or drop him an email on bradford@joinpronet.com

More details about proNet’s Bradford meetings including forthcoming meeting dates and directions to the venue, may be found on the Group’s profile page.

The launch meeting this morning got off to a great start with plenty of new faces including Sarah Godfrey from Jet Cleaning Services and Julian Thornhill from  Thornhill Financial Services. Also attending was Steve Donnison, a full-time MBA student from Bradford Business School, who sent us the following Tweet after the meeting which summed up the consesus of opinion from all those that attended;

…this morning was refreshing and worthwhile. Thank-you for the warm welcome.

Hypnotherapist, renowned motivational speaker and chair of the Bradford meetings, Gary Blonder; gave an excellent presentation in our Knowledge Transfer section on the psychology of networking.

Everyone came away armed with some great tips for their next networking experience.

Meeting Pics

Visiting photographer Roger V Moody from proNet’s Spen Valley Group took great some shots of the meeting which may be seen on proNet’s Flickr Stream

Were you there, can you spot yourself?

If you’re interested in attending the next Bradford meeting please visit the Group’s page on this site for future dates and instructions on how to book your place.