Networking Groups

Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce

Hove Business Association

The Sussex Hub @ Tradewaves

The Hub is getting some good numbers of people along, and lots of people are giving it great feedback. It's pretty informal, you register to attend, turn up and buy a drink, and meet lots of lovely people. Not to be confused with the Hub 100, which is a different kettle of fish altogether.

First Friday Lewes

First Friday networking in Lewes is an open group that meets on the first Friday of the month (funny coincidence there) at The Volunteer in Lewes. It's free to come along, and there's getting to be a good crowd of people. It's run by a good friend of mine Robin Houghton (who knows everything you need to know about online marketing.)

Third Friday - Brighton

Just to be different, and so that you don't have to run around Sussex to go to all the First Friday events, this one is every third Friday of the month.

Sussex Speed Networking

Personally I don't like speed networking, and think that it goes against the networking ethos of developing long term, indepth relationships with people. And it's really hard work - 90 minutes of telling 30 people the same thing about yourself.

However, other people love it, because they get to meet lots of people, so I've included this event here. It's run by the folk at Sussex Business Bureau in Peacehaven (nice offices) These are the speed networking dates.

Women's Business Clubs

The Womens Business Clubs, run by my lovely friend Kelly Stevens (the busiest, brightest woman in Sussex) run two types of networking. They do an online version where you can hook up with all sorts of women from across the UK, and they do local events. They have a Brighton lunch club, and are setting up another Sussex event for elevenses

Glug

Glug is described as notworking rather than networking, so it's really popular. Glug is aimed at creatives, but you don't have to be good at drawing and colouring in to go along.

Juice breakfast

Great breakfast at MyHotel in Jubilee Square in Brighton. There's quite an overlap between the people you meet here and the Brighton and Hove Chamber folk, but that's fine as they're all lovely.

South Coast Design Forum

Lovely group of people involved in all sorts of design activities, including the obvious ones like web and graphic design, but also people working on products, architects, and all sorts of stuff. I can't draw, so I can't go, but if this fits for you, I'd get along there.

Brighton BNI

BNI works really well for some people and not so well for others. If you can easily describe the nature of your business to others, are happy to generate lots of referrals for other people in the group, and like getting up early, the BNI could be for you. If you want to sell to consumers, or to other small businesses, then BNI is a good bet.

However, if you need to network with larger companies, or sell something a little bit strange or technical, then BNI may not be such a good investment.

I'd advise going along to a meeting - BNI is a bit of a Marmite organisation, you either love it or you hate it!

Many people in Brighton have recommended the Pavilion BNI chapter as being particularly welcoming and and dynamic.

BANG

BANG is Brighton Animators Group. Good links with the rest of the animation industry and run by the lovely Sarah Bird

Brighton Breakfast Club

The Brighton Breakfast Club is similar to BNI. It's a closed group (ie, they only allow one member per type of business) and the group is very focussed on generating referrals for each other.

As with BNI, check it out, and see what you think...

Geek Wine Thing

Two niches meet up - as you might guess, this is a wine tasting attended by lots of geeks. I haven't been, but I might just...

CADIA

CADIA is for businesses based in the Gatwick Diamond and has a good mixture of businesses, including some bigger and more established businesses. Some people think that it's a bit more serious than some of the other groups and want to network across Sussex. This one is based in Crawley

Federation of Small Businesss

FSB has a lot of members and offers some good benefits when you join, including some money saving offers on banking and insurance.

They don' t have a lot of actual networking events in Brighton and Hove, as they're more focussed on lobbying on behalf of businesses nationally. Do check them out for the money they could save you though...

Brighton Farm

For freelancers, an informal meet up in a pub. Good reports of this weekly event, which has a very helpful and friendly vibe.

Institute of Directors

The IoD have networking events all over Sussex, although not so many in Brighton. It's not for everyone, as some people find it a bit too male dominated and (possibly) right wing. Some people have said that they expected the IoD to have a lot more bigger businesses, and were therefore disappointed when they found that most people who go are from small and medium sized businesses. As with all these networking groups, what's important is that you find an arena where you feel comfortable and that you can forge good relationships with people that you respect.

Wired Sussex

Wired Sussex provides services, and networking events, for new media businesses, primarily in Brighton. They have some interesting events, and some good speakers.

If you're a new media business, Wired Sussex also have some great resources to help you out, and I regularly advise clients that their website is a good way to recruit staff.

Sussex Big Fish

Another helpful informal group. I like their help wall where you can ask for help and Jo and Ashley are happy to introduce you to new people.

Brighton Twitter Social Meetup

A new networking group held on the last Friday of the month at Geisha Arts on East Street in Brighton. Lovely welcomes from Wendy, but 4pm on a Friday is a bit of a weird time for me - I'm usually finishing off my week at that time. But you might have a different schedule and be able to finish early.

Women in Media

Women in Media is an offshoot of Wired Sussex with women only events and training. Great breakfast events.

Mumpreneurs

I could give you lots of arguments about the name of this group (why can't women just be entrepreneurs, are you defined by being a mother) but I won't. I'll just tell you about Mumpreneurs, which is a friendly, informal group, meeting in cafes in different locations in Sussex. Peer support at its best.

Write Club

Networking for writers of all kinds - hosted by Leif Kendall and Ellen de Vries I like that they have a morning session at 8.30 and an evening session, seems to fit well with different types of writers.

Like Mind

Early meeting at RedRoaster, so you get some good coffee, usually with a particular topic for discussion. Interesting stuff...

BeScene

You have to say the name of this out loud to get the little pun, but BeScene are offering some interesting courses and events for creative and social entrepreneurs. I haven't been along to any of these, but I get the impression that this is more for lifestyle/small scale businesses - let me know what it's like so I tell people about it

Networking calendar

The lovely Jo Munro, has put together a google calendar of networking events in and around Sussex which is a really useful resource. Bookmark it.

Defunct groups you may have heard of

Note that the Brighton and Hove Enterprise Agency has now merged with the Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce, who are continuing their series of networking events for small businesses.

I used to run Bagel Networking, and I know that some people still look for this. It was fun while it lasted, but is no more.

Vine Brighton has withered away

Our Ethical Network is now just a LinkedIn group, and has started running some events again.