Top Networking Groups in Yorkshire

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Starting a business from scratch is extremely challenging, but even though you’re starting out on your own, this doesn’t mean you can’t get help and support from others.

Your friends and family may be able to give you the support you need, but sometimes it’s useful to also hear from other people in the same situation as you. This is where regional networking groups can be beneficial.

Regional networking groups can boost local businesses by offering helpful advice and opportunities to connect with other business owners in the area. Keep on reading to discover the top business networking groups in Yorkshire and learn how networking can help you grow your business.

Benefits of Joining a Networking Group

It’s widely believed that one of the best things you can do as a new business owner is connect with other entrepreneurs, but how exactly will networking benefit you? Here are the main advantages:

● Learning about your industry. At regional networking events, you’ll hear about the latest developments in your industry and, in particular, the state of the industry within your region. This will help you devise strategies for how your business will adjust to current events.
● Access to resources. By joining a networking group, you’ll have access to resources such as document templates, how-to articles and presentations on a variety of business topics. You could access these resources at networking events or on the group’s website.
● Generating new ideas. When you’re surrounded by other business owners in a creative and focused space such as a networking event, you’ll find it easier to generate new and innovative ideas for your business.
● Advice from more experienced business owners. Networking events are the perfect place to meet experienced business owners who can offer invaluable advice. They can instruct you on writing a business plan, finding the right suppliers or even selecting the best accounting software, such as Sage or Quickbooks.
● Improving your communication skills. In addition to helping your business, networking groups will aid your personal development by pushing you to improve your communication, networking and public speaking skills.
● Getting your business noticed. By engaging with local networking groups, you can connect with other business owners and, in turn, get your own business noticed by others. This will boost your presence in your region and therefore help you grow your business.

Top 5 Networking Groups in Yorkshire

Joining a local networking group is an absolute must for new business owners, but what groups are out there? In no particular order, here’s a list of five of the best business networking groups in Yorkshire.

Top Networking Groups in Yorkshire

1) The Northern Affinity

The Northern Affinity prides itself on being a ‘collaboration of dynamic Northern businesses, powering growth and development’. With an annual or monthly subscription, you can join this friendly community and have access to monthly meetings (online or in-person), workshops, informative articles and podcasts, social events, and co-working days across the North.

In addition to helping you connect with other business owners, The Northern Affinity also promises to promote its partners on its website, social media and in its email campaigns. As a partner, you’ll get your own page on The Northern Affinity website and be invited to write articles, host training sessions and speak at events.

2) The Yorkshire Mafia

As the North of England’s biggest B2B membership group, The Yorkshire Mafia is one of the best networking communities for those just starting out in business and hoping to make connections.

Since being founded in 2008, The Yorkshire Mafia has expanded rapidly and now boasts over 22,000 approved LinkedIn members, 26,000 followers on Twitter and 37,000 subscribers to their email database. With this huge network, The Yorkshire Mafia has generated over £75,000,000 for the regional economy.

This networking group runs an online forum and in-person events throughout the year, including round table discussions, networking events and thought leadership events. The Yorkshire Mafia also hosts a huge annual conference called Buy Yorkshire, where you can network, listen to inspiring speakers and visit hundreds of exhibition stands.

3) Yorkshire Startups

Although large networking groups are fantastic for connecting with a wide range of people, smaller and more niche communities can also be incredibly beneficial for new business owners.

Yorkshire Startups is a small networking group on Facebook specifically for tech startups in Yorkshire. In this community, members can share useful information about the digital technology industry and post about upcoming events that could be of interest to other members.

4) Brand Yorkshire

Brand Yorkshire, which has almost 40,000 followers on Twitter and 50,000 email contacts, is another large business networking group based in Yorkshire. To get involved, you can attend Brand Yorkshire’s monthly networking clubs or their annual business conference, held each October. If you want to raise the profile of your business, you can book a stand at this conference and network with other local business owners.

Brand Yorkshire also hosts an annual Business Awards ceremony, where finalists will have the opportunity to promote their products and services in Brand Yorkshire’s e-newsletters.

5) Yorkshire Powerhouse

Money can be tight when you’ve just started a business, so if you want access to free advice and resources, Yorkshire Powerhouse has exactly what you need.

On the Yorkshire Powerhouse website, you can download free business plan templates and marketing plans. In addition, you can access many helpful articles on topics such as planning, finance, marketing, growing a business and coaching.

Yorkshire Powerhouse also hosts online networking events on Zoom. In these meetings, you’ll present a 60-second pitch to the other attendees. Afterwards, you’ll have access to an attendee list with everyone’s LinkedIn profiles, so you can start connecting with other entrepreneurs.

Start Networking Today

Networking is an essential activity for every business owner. Start joining business networking groups in your region to see benefits such as new connections, greater knowledge of your industry and more exposure for your business.

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