Finding the best networking business networking events Sussex offers is be an interesting job. There are many options, with some free and some paid for, and a wide range of formal through to less formal to check out. What will suit you best will depend on your objectives, personality, commitment level, and willingness to invest both time and money.
Through many years of testing different events themselves, our coaches have put together their recommendations of where your time is likely to be best rewarded. They have also summarised a few top tips for wherever you are networking to help you get the best results.
Networking events Sussex
The business networking events Sussex has to offer is quite varied, and covers a broad range of approaches and feels.
Below is a list of the most common formats, and a brief precis of what each offers:
1. BNI
Details of this networking group are at https://bnisussex.co.uk/en-GB/index
BNI is the world’s largest business networking organisation and has a multitude of chapters (groups) that meet weekly across the globe. Most towns will have a local group, and many meet early in the morning to avoid the rush of the business day.
The set-up for this type of networking is pretty formal and there is a distinct agenda for each session that can feel rather repetetive after a few meetings. There is a clear focus on delivering qualified business opportunities between members, and a high level of commitment is required (i.e. attendance or substitution are needed each week).
Most attendees are from the smaller end of the business spectrum, and most attendees are owner operators, although there are a few exceptions to this.
BNI is a franchise that charges fees for annual membership, and most have a venue fee each week also. The fees are quite high for SMEs, as membership also provides a range of training benefits that many see as a fair return on their investment.
If you are looking for business networking events Sussex, BNI covers the whole region.
2. Chamber of Commerce
Sussex Chamber of Commerce has details of it’s forthcoming events here https://www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk/events
There are several Chambers of Commerce across Sussex, with almost every major town having its own chamber. Examples include Eastbourne, Hailsham, and Brighton.
The level of membership and activity associated with each can vary, but there is a fairly standard approach to formal networking available. Costs are very reasonable, as membership comes with a range of benefits including support for lobbying both local councils and government.
The membership requires less regular commitment than BNI, but there are always plenty of ways to get involved, raise your profile, and benefit from new introductions.
Relationships tended to be positive between members, with some stronger than others as many attendees at events were more sporadic than regular goers. The plus side was that members were a mix of SMEs as well as some medium and even larger businesses were represented in the group also. Business was being passed between members, but this was largely a result of follow up activities and 121s rather than during the meeting itself.
3. First Friday Networking
First Friday Group membership details are available here: https://www.firstfriday-network.co.uk/account/register
First Friday is a group that in some ways is similar to BNI. It has broad coverage across the UK with many groups in place and meeting on (as you might imagine) Fridays each month.
Membership is currently very cheap at just £10 per month, although in-person networking is still marked as infrequent on their website.
Our experience with this group has been that most businesses in attendance were on the start-up, micro or small SME scale. The format is relatively informal. It was obvious that members were friends, and would refer to one another positively, but there was no formalised process for insisting upon that happening.
4. Independent Larger Scale Networking Groups
- Network My Club events are listed at https://www.networkmyclub.co.uk/upcoming-business-networking-events/
- Gatwick Diamond Business Association events can be found at https://www.gatwickdiamondbusiness.com/11-events.html
- Haywards Heath Business Association events are listed at https://hhba.co.uk/event-directory/
Across Sussex there are a multitude of networking meetings and groups. Three are particularly notable, and these are Network My Club, Gatwick Diamond Business Association, and Haywards Heath Business Association. All three of these groups have strong membership levels, and are very pro-active and well-run.
A business networking events Sussex groups, they are all about building relationships, networking contacts, and support.
Gatwick Diamond Business Association is based in Crawley, but has members along the M23 corridor and surrounding areas. They offer a mix of regular networking events and training opportunities, with particularly strong connections to the airport infrastructure and Manor Royal Business Park.
Network My Club is a fast-growing organisation offering dynamic and professional business networking events Sussex and other counties are benefitting from.
Haywards Heath Business Association is a lively group of local business owners aiming to do business with one another as well as to raise local issues with a unified voice. Regular events, socials, and lobbying activities are all included for a modest annual rate and fair per-event fee.
5. Independent Smaller Scale Networking Groups
1066 Business Networking Events are shown at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1066businessnetworking/
Many smaller-scale networking groups have sprung up in local towns in recent times. They are usually run by local business owners who want to increase awareness of their premises or to have a slightly less formulaic approach to networking.
The 1066 Business Networking group is one such example.
It is run at the Crowhurst Park Holiday Park on a monthly basis and has a nice, relaxed feel. Membership is free, with drinks offered and paid for on the day.
A member provides a 10-minute presentation on a topic of their choice, and each attendee also gets a minute to provide a pitch about their business.
This could be another good option if you are looking for business networking events Sussex to join.
6. Business Park Associations
Burgess Hill Business Parks Association events are listed at: https://www.bhbpa.co.uk/bhbpa-events/
The Burgess Hill Business Parks Association is a good example of how companies based on local industrial estates choose to network. This is open to both residents and companies serving the nearby area; within a 5-mile radius.
A formal structure for meetings exists with monthly events and business tours and presentations included. Membership is monthly and fair value, being based upon the member’s organisation scale (based on employees).
Getting your business networking to deliver
We hope that you’ve found this quick guide to networking, and the best networking events Sussex helpful.
If you’d like to learn more about how UK Growth Coach business coaches help their clients to accelerate progress and achieve better results, do get in touch. You can learn more about our work as coaches at https://tr.growthcoach.co.uk/business-growth-services/
