The Chichester Group will meet for breakfast every Friday morning at the Chichester Golf Club in Hunston, where we will enjoy a delicious cooked breakfast and as much tea and coffee as you can drink.
There will be some structure to the meetings but it will not be regimented and enforced!
We want you to have as much time as possible to network!
The format will be:
7.30; meet, chat and drink coffee
7.50; sit down and a short introduction by each attendee (if you want to - no obligation)
8.10; breakfast served
8.30; 10 minute presentation* / more networking, chat, coffee and referral passing**
9.00; finish
*This last half an hour can contain a 10 minute presentation by a member - if they want to give one - again this will not be enforced.
**The passing of referrals will not be a regimented affair - if you wish to ask someone to do something for you or to refer them to an associate then you can do this during this time without feeling any pressure. We would rather you passed one lead a year that was ‘live’ than 20 a week just to keep up the numbers! There will be pads on the tables for notes and referrals.
On the last Friday of the month we will hold the “First Friday Open” - an open network breakfast that will be followed by golf for those who wish to take part (from April to September). This will follow the same basic format as the other days but with the introductions running through breakfast because of the time it will take. There will also be a 15 minute presentation/training session after breakfast.
When the meeting is ended the ‘golfers’ will be able to play a round of golf on either the Tower or Cathedral course, or take advantage of an hours golf coaching with Tony Westwood, the Club’s resident golf coach. There will be prizes for the winning teams and an opportunity for further networking on the course!
The costs:
Annual membership £120 (this also gives you Premier Membership on the website)
Monthly breakfast fee £40 (to be paid by monthly standing order)
First Friday Open:
Breakfast only £10 visitor
Golf: Tower Course £35 visitor / £30 for Premier Member
Cathedral Course £40 visitor / £35 for Premier Member
Coaching £18 visitor / £15 for Premier Member : 1 hour (max 6 people)
We will be starting the meetings on Friday 2nd March 2012. If you are interested in attending this event please contact Steve by email - steve@firstfriday-network.co.uk - to register.
The first OPEN with GOLF will be Friday 27th April.
Why not join us? The benefits to your business – and the profits – are very real!
The atmosphere is relaxed, informal, fun and highly condusive to good business.
It’s that Friday feeling!
All costs are subject to VAT.
]]>They want to hear from you whether you run a business from home, shop, office, or industrial premises. You may be a sole owner or other partners/directors may be involved. All businesses may participate but they particularly want to hear from you if you have been trading for less than 4 years.
If you are willing to take part in this important study, please click here to go to the survey www.survey.bris.ac.uk/chichester/enterprise. Participants will be advised when and where the results of the research project may be viewed.
]]>Business networking is not an opportunity to hard sell though; if you approach networking with the intent to do nothing more than sell to the people in the room, you will almost certainly go away disappointed. Networking is about building longterm contacts and friendships. It is said that up to 70 per cent of business is done by word of mouth referral these days – so attend as many network events as you can!
There are many ways to network, from annual membership and lock-outs to free to attend and drop-ins. Many of the groups are run on a franchise basis and if you are the local organiser it can provide you with great opportunities to market your company to a wide network of local businesses.
You will find that most attendees at these events come from SMEs, however, you should never think that you are only promoting yourself to the person in the room. You never know to whom they are connected – it is very often this third party referral that is the most valuable contact.
To get the most out of your networking try to find events where you feel comfortable; you will be more relaxed and more likely to create positive contacts. If you find yourself standing alone, look for a friendly face or a group of people you can join. Everyone is open to be approached at these events so don’t feel shy.
Find a group to suit your personality and your needs try: www.firstfriday-network.co.uk, www.4networking.co.uk, www.bni-festival.co.uk, www.business-scene.com. There are also several networks targeted at women only such as www.scene4women.co.uk, www.mumpreneuruk.com, www.agoodgossip.co.uk, www.theathenanetwork.com.
This article appeared in the Chichester Chamber newsletter.
]]>We hope that we can help you achieve your goals in some small way. The First Friday Network has thirteen groups to help you make contacts locally and over 1200 companies registered on the website for you to promote to across the south coast.
Make the most of what is on offer and kick start your networking from this Friday - 6th Jan 2012 - check the website for full details of the meeting closest to you!
]]>We have new venues for Chichester and Arundel in January and Lewes in February (Check the group page for locations).
The format of our meetings always gets positive praise and hopefully we can expand the network even more next year.
Don't forget that the website now allows you to promote your company and events through the Members blog and gives you the opportunity to enhance your directory page. the site has loads of traffic and does very well in the search engines as it has been established for over 8 years now.
Have a fab Festive Season and look forward to seeing many of you at a networking event in the New Year.
]]>Whether you are a new or established business the exposure of being the organiser of a busy network event like First Friday is priceless. Your company details appear on all marketing material and it is your name that will be mentioned when people refer new guests to visit. The cost of gaining this level of exposure would normally be prohibitive, especially if you had to buy advertising space, but the network acts as your word-of-mouth sales force! Becoming an organiser boosts your image as a trustworthy individual to do business with.
For more information contact Steve Wilson 01243 787100 or email steve@firstfriday-network.co.uk
]]>The meetings have become very popular and well attended and due to this we are finding it gets a bit crowded around the bar and makes it difficult to move about and network easily.
So, we are moving to the Nags Head Hotel in St. Pancras (www.thenagshotel.co.uk) where we will be given a warm welcome - and a bit more room to move about! The beer is good as well - a big incentive for some!
I look forward to seeing many of you this week at The Ship where we will remind you of the move, and on 6th January at the Nags Head!
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"Those of you present at Monday's Chamber meeting will have heard from Trevor James how the imposition of Sunday parking charges was pushed through in a most undemocratic manner and without the approval of CDC's own Parking Forum.
Whilst we obviously recognise the district council's need to generate revenue, the Chichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry has long campaigned against the introduction of Sunday parking charges due to the damage it would cause to local business, besides other societal reasons. We are appalled that our repeated requests for an economic impact study before any charges are introduced has been ignore which, in all normal business environment, would be absolutely fundamental before reaching a decision: ie. on balance, does it make economic sense?
We therefore encourage you to sign the e-petition at this website: http://petitions.chichester.gov.uk/petitions.ti/keepingchichesterspecial . If 1000 signatures are acquired, by both the e-Petition and its hardcopy counterpart, then the full District Council has to debate the petition request. Hopefully, the increased awareness and closer scrutiny of the debate and any subsequent vote may persuade the Council to revise its decision.
The greater the number of signatures, the greater the weight the Council says that it gives to any petition that is within its remit to grant.
Please sign the petition if you support the Chamber's stance on this issue, and encourage others to do so too.
Thank you."
Farid Ahmed
President
Chichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry
We are interested in all types of business – whether you run a business from home, a shop, office, studio or a larger concern. You may be the sole owner or there may be other partners and directors (male or female) involved.
The outcome will be a map of women’s business in the region, a profile of the type and size of those businesses, and an understanding of ways in which we might encourage and support you and other business owners.
We know you are busy but we would be grateful if you would take 25 minutes to complete our online survey. Please click on the link http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/chichester/womeninenterprise to go the survey.
We are keen to capture as much information as possible about female enterprise activity in West Sussex. If you know a female owner, director or partner of a West Sussex business, please forward this link to them to ensure we reach as many women as we can.
]]>Local Business Accelerators is a groundbreaking national initiative that harnesses the power of local newspapers to give a much needed boost to local economies. We are asking new businesses between 1 and 3 years old to enter a competition to try and qualify for 3 months free advertising plus a program of dedicated business mentoring. All the business needs to do is to apply, which can be done via the website below, It only takes a few minutes.
http://www.newspapersoc.org.uk/accelerate-me
We are trying to get as many local businesses as we can to apply and really appreciate any help that you can give us in relaying this opportunity as far throughout the County as possible.
]]>The Portsmouth Marriott Hotel, Southampton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 4SH
Join us at this event and network with businesses from Hampshire and Sussex.
This business-to-business event is a positive forum in which to make new connections, start to build new business relationships, generate sales and strengthen existing relationships.
Exhibitor Benefits: The number of stands has been limited to ensure maximum exposure for each exhibitor. We will have a broad range of business disciplines and, where possible, single business representation. The event will be marketed rigorously by both The News and AQ Networking to attract visitors from Hampshire, West Sussex and Dorset.
Visitor Benefits: This event offers a significant opportunity to meet key business decision makers from every possible company size in Hampshire. This business-to-business event is a positive forum in which to make new connections, start to build new business relationships, generate sales and strengthen existing relationships.
For full details and to register visit the website
]]>The First Friday event will be held on 4th November in the evening. There will be the usual lunchtime networking from 1-2.30pm and then the evening event will start at 7pm. A limit of approx 40 people will apply for this event so book early!
If you would like to organise your own event as a company or team of 12 people or more, evenings can be organised as required throughout November until the 22nd.
The evening would cost £10 per person and include a 2 course meal. Everyone would be taught how to play and then have a chance to do some fun hands and spins on the roulette table where you will be provided with a stack of fun chips to bet with. The idea is then to win the most chips back, both individually, and as a team if multiple teams are playing! During the night there will be vouchers for free drinks and fun prizes awarded.
Fun Casino Night Menu
Starters
Soup of the Day
Prawn and Crayfish Cocktail
Wild Mushroom Bruschetta
Melon with Seasonal Berries
Main
Barbecue Chicken & Bacon Melt - With chips and salad
Linguini - Tossed in garlic, tomato, rocket and a hint of chilli
Rump Steak - Served with grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and fresh watercress (choice of sauce at +£1)
Chefs Dish of the Day
If you are interested in attending the 4th November event or organising your own evening contact Stewart Griffiths at Grosvenor Casino Osborne Road, 18 Osborne Road, Portsmouth. Tel: 02392 821512, Mob: 07850 941241 or Email: SM_GC-Portsmouth@rank.com
]]>The group has been around for several years now and has a strong core membership, it would be a shame to see it disappear.
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