A Beginner's Guide to Networking

As a new business owner, I (Ella) have come to quickly understand the importance of networking. Networking is an integral part of a small business’s marketing strategy, as well as a way to stay social and inspired! Don’t get me wrong, networking can be intimidating, especially as a young female business owner, however, the experience I have had thus far with the Milton Keynes networking community has been overwhelmingly positive. Because of this, I wanted to put together my top tips for networking, as well as all of the groups (that I am aware of) in the local area!

My Networking Tips

1. Don’t be scared! Even though you are entering a room full of people you don’t know, it’s important to remember that everyone is there with a common goal - to promote their own business and educate themselves with the other businesses out there.

2. Have a ‘pitch’ ready. Although not all networking events follow the same structure, many do present the opportunity to introduce yourself to the group and explain what you do. By having this prepared, you are more likely to feel confident and relaxed on the day.

3. Have a ‘goal’ in mind - whether this is to speak to one new person, or hand out five business cards, having a goal in mind will keep you focused and make the event productive for you, leaving you with a sense of achievement afterwards.

Local Networking Groups

Milton Keynes is a networking and business hub. As a result, the business and networking community has grown and diversified to cater for different business types with different goals.

Here are some of the groups in and around Milton Keynes:

1. The Business Community (#BusComm): This group offers a unique blend of business, education, and social interaction. Their monthly meetings, held on the fourth Thursday, focus on building lasting business relationships and sharing knowledge. The group is particularly supportive, offering workshops and a robust referral network to help businesses grow. In addition, they several meetings online which can be more accessible and less intimidating for those new to networking! If you’re interested in joining you can either message Paul Green or visit their website here: https://www.buscomm.co.uk/mk/

2. City Breakfast Club MK: As the longest-running networking group in Milton Keynes, the City Breakfast Club offers a premier experience for business leaders. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month, starting early in the morning. The club features guest speakers and provides a relaxed environment for networking over breakfast. If you’re interested in joining, visit their website here: https://www.citybreakfastclub.co.uk

3. Meet of MK: Organised by MKFM, this networking event is held on the last Thursday of each month. It offers a relaxed atmosphere for local businesses and charities to connect. The venues rotate around the city, making it a versatile option for those who like variety in their networking experiences. This networking group tends to attract slightly larger businesses, making it different from others that mainly consist of sole traders or very small businesses. If you’re interested in joining, visit their website here: https://www.mkfm.com/events/mkfms-meet-of-mk/

4. Collaborate Networking: Based slightly further afield at Luton Hoo bi-weekly on Thursdays, Collaborate Networking is a not-for-profit networking group with a difference. They consider themselves more of a member referral group as they focus on growing both their networking group as well as their communities. If you’re interested in joining you can either message Ron Overton MBA or visit their website here: https://collaboratenetworking.co.uk

5. TFI Networking Group: The Friday Inspirational Networking Group meet every Friday to network, support & inspire its members whilst helping create successful business. This extremely friendly and fun group meet at the Cock Hotel in Stony Stratford bright and early every Friday morning. TFI really focus on member engagement and getting to know one another, and mutual business support is born out of the connections made. If you’re interested in joining you can either message Iain Row or visit their website here: https://tfinetworking.co.uk

6. MK Green Business: Organised by Joe Gilbert (MSc) from Red Giraffe® , MK Green Business has recently launched to unite businesses in and around Milton Keynes with the common interest in sustainability. This not-for-profit networking group takes place once a month in varying locations and is free to join. If you’re interested in joining you can either message Joe Gilbert (MSc) or visit their website here: https://mkgreenbusiness.org

7. Ask GoTo: The Ask GoTo Network is an expansion of the fantastic Mum to Mum facebook group created by @Sam Poole which has now grown to over 24,000 members. This group meets once a month at Frosts Garden Centre to inspire each other, share stories and help support business growth in the local community. To support the network, Ask GoTo now also has a business directory which advertises members and local businesses both in print and online! If you’re interested in joining you can either message Samantha Poole or visit their website here: https://askgoto.com/event/coffee-connect-mk-22/

8. Business Growth Club: This group meet over breakfast on a bi-weekly basis, following a ’10-Minute Tip’ structure where one member will present for 10 minutes each session and this will spark discussion and collaboration. There is also plenty of time for casual networking before and after over tea and coffee. If you’re interested in joining you can either message Mark Orr or visit their website here: https://businessgrowthclub.co.uk

9. Collaborate MK: This group is arguably the biggest and most well-known in Milton Keynes. They hold various in-person events each month, including partnerships with local businesses in Olney and Buckingham. Events range from casual meet-ups at a range of venues to more structured networking sessions. Collaborate MK is a good choice if you're looking to build strong connections and get involved in an established business community. If you’re interested in joining you can either message Tim Lee or visit their website here: https://collaboratemk.co.uk/

10. Meeting Keynes: Soon to be launching in September, the new group Meeting Keynes is a person-centric network group where they focus on learning about their businesses in depth and about the person so referring is much easier and effective. Additionally, they have a training segment where external speakers talk about key issues they are facing. This will be held at x+why, Unity Place on the first and third Wednesday of the month. If you're interested in joining you can message Martin Leib.

As I hope you can see, each of these networking groups offer something slightly different, however, they all bring together a range of people and businesses looking for the same thing: support and community.