Expanding North East homegrown business networking company Network B2B has doubled its membership in the last twelve months despite the rise in social media as the ‘go to’ tool for networking and engagement for business.
Network B2B is championing direct human connection in the age of social media with its series of informal networking meetings for businesses across the North East and beyond. The organisation believes in supporting the local economy and provides a more relaxed but still professional environment for networking and has a proven track record in helping its members extend their business contacts and grow their businesses.
Founded in the North East, fast growing Network B2B was launched in 2008 and now has over 400 members with groups in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Sunderland, Team Valley, Sunderland and Northumberland and further afield Edinburgh, Yorkshire and more recently Derbyshire and Leicester. Members include organisations as diverse as York University, St. James’s Place Wealth Management and Newcastle charity the Percy Hedley Foundation.
To mark this milestone Network B2B is holding a Summer Solstice celebration event to raise money for children’s charity the Percy Hedley Foundation. The event will take place between 1pm and 7pm on Friday 23 June at the Jolly Fisherman on the Newcastle Quayside.
Founder and managing director, entrepreneur Alex Gordon originally from Houghton-le-Spring now lives in Chester le Street, said: “We’ve seen a tremendous rise in our membership with growth exceeding 50% in the last 12 months taking us from 264 members to 425. I like to think that this comes from many years of cultivating effective business relationships and growing a networking organisation that steers clear of overly rigid rules and regulations.
“We have a big following on twitter of 15,000 people and are very aware of the role technology and social media have to play in business networking, but we are pro-conversation. Something is lost in business due to indirect communication alone. It’s through face to face conversation that empathy develops. Whilst studies show that conversation is good for the bottom line.”
Meanwhile the Percy Hedley Foundation offer services to children, young people and adults with cerebral palsy, complex learning, social care and therapeutic needs. Their education services include Hedleys Percy Hedley School, Hedleys Northern Counties School, Hedleys College and residential and respite care for all ages.
Danny Mitchell, Splash Appeal Manager at the Percy Hedley Foundation, said: “I have been a member of Network B2B for several years now and cannot believe how much support and fundraising income has been generated via being a member. Business is all about relationships and Network B2B certainly facilitates this extremely well.”
He added: “We are delighted that to have been named us as the headline charity for this event. The work we do provides invaluable support to many disabled children, young people and adults across the region and we will be taking the opportunity on the day to speak to all the businesses in attendance.”
Alex added: “We wanted to raise money for a great cause and the Percy Hedley Foundation does fantastic work to support children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. We also wanted to provide our members with a great opportunity to celebrate the success of our organisation.
“We are great believers in supporting the local economy, The Jolly Fisherman has proved a fantastic venue with amazing food for our meetings and is providing a barbeque on the day, with Lake Distillery, Fentimens and Durham Brewery providing the drinks all for the price of a ticket.”
Anyone looking for more information or how to buy a ticket can call Katie White on 07901288079 or visit:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/network-b2b-summer-solstice-2017-tickets-34364384800