Small Business, Big Network

Leisa Pickles from Find Me the Leads helps food producers make connections to grow their businesses. During lockdown her work dried up overnight, so she used her skills and knowledge to create a local online network to help people shop local and find the things they needed.

Bjorn Bojen is the managing director of Orisel, a digital growth agency that helps businesses get more customers and clients through marketing online. Bjorn was shown how to network by one of my previous guests, Austen Hempstead, and he said that it took a mindset shift to make networking work for him. He also has a wonderful networking nightmare story to share....!

It's a solo episode from me today to tell you about a free webinar I'm running on Wednesday 15th Sept 2021. If you're a creative freelancer who would like to know more about networking I would love to see you there. Sign up here: zoh1ihnodv Following on from this I'll be running a whole course on business networking for creative people. Find out more here: https://www.businessnetworkingknowhow.com

John Hinchliffe is an internationally recognised award-winning digital learning expert with over 12 years in the field. He is Head of Talent at Jam Pan, The #1 On-Demand Digital Learning Marketplace, which connects the right expert freelancers and agencies with your digital learning needs. He also is the founder of the Global Learning and Development Community and was shortlisted for Covid Champio...

Hannah Thompson is the business manager at Heritage Lincolnshire, and the founder of the Development Partnership Network. She also runs a support group for people living with conditions such as ME and fibromyalgia. Pre-Covid Hannah was running a host of business showcase events, and during the pandemic she came up with an online event which she called 'Sofa Networking'. Hannah is full of enthusias...

A short and sweet episode from me, talking about how you don't necessarily need to be at a networking meeting to grow your network. There are opportunities everywhere - including on public transport! Find me at www.lizdrury.co.uk

Andrew Martin started off running a successful chain of florists. He is now a multi-business entrepreneur who also runs Success Networking - The Helping Hand to Grow your Business. Success Networking offers both face2face (Grantham, Lincs) and virtual networking meetings in a relaxed and friendly format.  For details of our upcoming events and to book go to  www.successnetworking.co.uk

Mark Webb is the MD of the E-Factor Group Ltd, based in Grimsby. The E-Factor Group is not only the largest commercial landlord in North East Lincolnshire, but a social enterprise company dedicated to providing meaningful professional, free support to help businesses survive and grow. Mark is also the dining force behind the Business Hive, which is a physical building, but also a community of over...

Austen Hempstead is a sales trainer who has the strapline ' Selling is a Skill'. He shares his thoughts on networking with us which include the fact that it should never be about you and that networking and prospecting are two very different things.

Louise Brogan works with entrepreneurs, SME’s and professionals who want to raise their profile through LinkedIn in a genuine and valuable way.    Louise is an international speaker, writes for Social Media Examiner and hosts the LinkedIn with Louise Podcast. She lives at home with her husband, three children and an energetic spaniel called Bruce.  In 2019, Louise was...

This week's guest on the 'Small Business Big Network' podcast is Connor Docherty at Bell4Business. Bell4Business specialise in outsourced office support so have many connections working with small businesses over the years. When the first lockdown happened they took the opportunity to use those connections and set up a network of their own. Almost a year later, their ever growing networking g...

William Warren is the founder of The Sketch Effect - a company that supplies artists to capture business events. He has also set up an initiative called The Conquering Creative which is all about helping creative entrepreneurs to navigate the business world effectively. He has some thoughts about why creative people shy away from business networking events, which he shares here. Find him online at...

David O'Brien is a Business Doctor based in Lincolnshire. He helps business owners who sometimes feel they “can’t see the wood for the trees”. Running a business can make people so busy on a day-to-day basis, that it can be difficult to keep sight of the bigger picture. David helps people to regain clarity on where they are headed and how they will get there. Since the lockdown of March 2020 David...

Matthew Priest is an accountant who likes to help save client’s money through effective tax planning and increase their profits by helping them to understand their figures.   He began training at the Scunthorpe office in 2004 and achieved his AAT qualification and went on to qualify as a Chartered Certified Accountant in February 2009. He prides himself on service and is involved with a...

David Perez is a podcast producer who helps health and wellness coaches build their audiences, grow their online presence and find their voice through podcasts. He’s also the podcast host for Audience Coach, a show focused on helping coaches start and run their own podcast shows. He has accompanied podcasters through the production and release of over a thousand podcast episodes.  David has b...

Lu Camish is a video marketing specialist at Jellyfielder Studios. Jellyfielders develop bespoke content marketing strategies for clients across the UK with their unique Ice Cream Model. Lu loves sharing her skills, leading the weekly Marketing Monday 4networking event and regularly running DIY video workshops teaching businesses to film and edit their own content.

Robyn’s career in financial services began at the age of 17 when she got her first ‘grown up’ job with the Halifax. Following in her fathers footsteps she undertook a variety of roles with the business but really found her passion when she began her role as a Financial Consultant, this role focused on helping customers protect their futures.  Following redundancy in late 2014, and plenty of s...

Stephen Finn is a photographer and LinkedIn devotee who not only runs a business, but also networking groups, and an online course on how to get the best out of LinkedIn. Find him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-finn/ And check out his course here: https://www.lostonlinkedin.co.uk

Sudha Mani inspires, empowers and invigorates her clients with the combined expertise of business, computer science and sheer enthusiasm to innovate solutions to become the market leaders to Thrive in any Economy. Sudha started as Tech Entrepreneur after finishing computer science degree.  She has two degrees one in Computer Science and the other in Business Administration.  Su...

Almost 100% of clients will arrive at Ben's studio feeling some level of apprehension. “You won’t get a good picture of me!” – “I always blink!” – “I hate having my picture taken!” That’s why Ben prides himself on the ability to make his clients feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. Ben has been using networking to grow his business and has even been able to keep moving forward du...

Following a successful Sales and Marketing career Dave established Koi Sports CIC, and now draws on his vast experience of building active and profitable business networks to drive commercial investment into the Grassroots Sports Sector, and as a result delivers positive social change within local communities using Sport as the vehicle for change.  Koi Sports CIC is a Community Interest...

Daryl Woodhouse is a speaker, scale up entrepreneur and executive performance coach. With 20+ awards, 7-figure business success, prior Top 10 FTSE leadership career, and first-hand experience of burnout, Daryl equips leaders and entrepreneurs with all they need to achieve more, work less and avoid burnout. Daryl loves helping kind, heart-centred people who realise there’s more to life than busines...

Sheena Whyatt is the founder of the KAPOW! Coaching Programme, which she set up in 2016, and runs as part of her training consultancy business, Lightning Training. Sheena has over 18 years experience in the L&D industry, and speaks regularly to groups of small business owners on a range of topics from networking skills to public speaking.   She has been keynote speaker for the Charte...

Making your business stand out at a networking meeting is crucial, and Julian Bright is a master at making himself memorable. In this episode you'll learn how a trumpet and the catch phrase 'WHUNGAW' leave lasting impressions on those he meets... Julian Bright is the owner of Bright Insight Ltd, whose products include Wills, Family Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Funeral Plans. Julian set his busi...

Jon Lindsey, owner of Lindsey Lettings met his business partner at a networking event. It was a happy accident that they just happened to be at the same meeting at the same time, as Jon explains in this interview.