Growing your business support network

Whether you’re thinking about setting up a business or weighing up a career/job change, having access to people with lived experience, insights, and advice on your area of interest could be the difference between taking your first big steps or staying put. Being able to turn to people with relevant knowledge, encouragement and different perspectives may also be the difference between persevering in a challenging job or start up journey and feeling overwhelmed and isolated to the point of quitting. 

The power of our personal and professional networks to generate all kinds of opportunities (learning, experience, and jobs), is significant, if you know how to grow and nurture it. The number of videos and resources on the web, which encourage networking for success, is telling.  

But if you don’t have a network or contact in an area you want to be working in, how do you start one and grow it? 

Here are 4 suggestions: 

Attend events! 

Events come in all shapes and sizes and enable us to learn about, hear from and meet new people who could one day help us; or vice versa we could help them. We’re delighted that in-person events are back after covid, but don’t underestimate the potential for a Zoom event to offer new connections and opportunities! You can use Eventbrite, Meetup, and social media to search for relevant discussions, panels, conferences, talks and workshops to see what is happening near you or in your area of interest. Go along and see who you can meet. 

Better Space has hosted several events to encourage network building and story sharing this year, including networking lunches with LIFT course participants and members, as well as the Purpose First panel discussions.  

At the time of writing, we’re due to host Islington’s monthly, Local Wellbeing Network event for the south of the borough as well as a unique talk on How to Be More Pirate! So, if these are of interest, come along and meet people. You can also keep an eye out on our Events page for other opportunities to connect and meet up.  

Here are some of our favourite newsletters and websites for free events in the social impact start up and local community space: 

Newsletters: Better Space, Centre for Charity Effectiveness, SSE (School for Social Enterprises), Pioneers Post (Better Space Members can have free access!). You can sign up here for Islington Council’s Business Bulletin & Working e-Bulletin, here for ISEP and check out Heart of the City for events too. 

Reach out and ask for help!  

Some parts of our society and culture, especially in the world of entrepreneurship, can glamorise the idea of working long hours, hustling, and focusing on just the individual’s stamina in the success story. But no one gets anywhere on their own! We want to ensure people don’t think asking for help is a sign of weakness, laziness or lacking, because it isn’t!. It is a sign of humility, curiosity and confidence in a world that is changing rapidly and where more than ever, we need to work together! 

Caroline Wilson, Director of Inclusive Economy at Islington Council was a member of the first panel of our Purpose First event and networking series this spring, where we explored decent and meaning work – what it was and how to get it (check out the recording here). She strongly encourages and endorses the proactive action of reaching out to people you think could help you. Be that via LinkedIn or by email, ensure you have a clear ask and reference point for why they might be able to help you when you ask. Caroline echoed many others in saying that ‘most people want to help!;’ so, what is there to lose? If that person can’t help you directly, they might know someone else who can; but just be sure to do a little of your own research first. 

Better Space offers a free hour of 121 business coaching for Islington residents looking to set up a business. So, if you’re looking to test an idea or need signposting/ guidance on how to move forward, book in a slot on Simon or Sophie’s Calendar’s here – be sure to detail what you’re asking for! We might not have the answers but our community of members provides an excellent hive mind... 

Join a community  

Communities come in many forms!  

Join a physical coworking space of like-minded people to maximise the number of interactions and relationships you can build! Better Space and other affordable workspaces in Islington offer great membership options with a broad range of sectors, expertise and industries covered by members.  

With frequent events and limitless ‘watercooler’ moments, there are many opportunities to meet and learn from members. For more focused communities centring around specific issues or sectors, check out groups on Meetup, Eventbrite and across Social Media. A couple of suggestions for those of you that are social enteprise minded - check out Impact Hub and Impact Central

Communities also exist online – take Zebra’s Unite for example. If you have a social impact start-up – their slack channel is buzzing with people sharing resources and making use of the hive mind of the community.  

Find a mentor! 

If you’re interested to know more about mentoring – take a look at Toni-Anne's experience of mentoring here. An upcoming blog will detail a variety of experiences from the perspectives of both mentor and mentee. 

If you have any other ideas or thoughts on these topics and want to chat – get in touch!