Business Networking in Norwich: What makes it special?

OneFamily has Norwich placed number one as the best UK city to live and work in.

At Work in Norwich we think this is in no small part is due to the amazing business networks and communities in Norwich. Business networking in Norwich is thriving: No matter what sector you work in, whether you are a business owner or employee, there’s something for everyone with the wide array of Norwich networking events.

We reached out to members of four well-loved Norwich networks to let us know what makes business networking in Norwich so special.

What’s your favourite thing about networking in Norwich?

What exactly is great about networking in Norwich? We asked Norfolk Women’s Marketing Network (NWMN), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Norfolk Network, and Hot Source, who have all shared why they think Norwich has a great business networking community, and what makes it so special.

Lucy Marks, Managing Director of the Norfolk Network, loves the “diverse and lively networking scene in Norwich”, where “there is something interesting happening every day and like-minded people to meet”.

Candy Richards, Development Manager for East Anglia at the Federation of Small Businesses, likes that “Norwich has a really close-knit business community, and everyone goes out of their way to support each other”.

Grace Appleby, the founder of Norfolk Women’s Marketing Network, likes the variety of all the events being run: “there’s genuinely something for everyone. While it’s often said that everyone in Norfolk knows one another, I love that you can go to 3 different networking events and meet 3 completely different groups of people – there’s always 1 or 2 familiar faces”.

Tom Haczewski – who runs Hot Source – says he’s “never been good at networking”, and found he “used to struggle to introduce myself to new people”. However, in Norwich “you’ll find that there’s always a little bit of overlap – you don’t need to be on the scene for long before you start seeing a few of the same faces. It makes Norwich feel comfortable and welcoming, and I love that.”

Being familiar enough to make you at ease, but at the same time being exciting and varied, Norwich provides the opportunity to meet a wide array of people and connect with other professionals.

What advice would you give to someone new to the Norwich networking scene?

 

Networking and meeting new people at events can be an intimidating task, which is why we asked our Norwich networkers to share their advice on what to do when you’re new on the scene of the Norwich business networking community.

Grace (NWMN), suggests you “try loads of different events.

“If you’re looking for something casual, there’s an event for that. Something formal and professional? There’s an event for that. Looking to learn? Looking to socialise? Looking to try something new? Norfolk really does have it all.”

Tom (Hot Source) recommends you take a look at finding a group that you enjoy, but also to try a few new things out: “There are so many different groups, and they all cater for different people, networking styles, and objectives”.

For Tom, Norwich is a place “to build good long-term friendships and relationships, rather than for work specifically”.

Lucy (Norfolk Network) suggests “exploring different networks to find an environment you enjoy and best suits your interests and goals”.

Lucy also recommends keeping an eye out on Eventbrite and MeetUp, and finds that “LinkedIn is particularly good for finding out what’s happening.”

Candy (FSB), understands that “Networking can sometimes seem daunting”, but reminds us to “take comfort in the fact that everyone else in the room is there to connect with others”.

Candy’s tip: “go with the mindset of building relationships and finding out about other people rather than thinking you have to spend the whole time pitching your business. This way, networking will feel more natural and you’ll find the conversations and connections more valuable.”

Networking is a valuable tool in any business, getting out and meeting people face to face is a great way to discover new opportunities that you may have missed otherwise! We hope the advice from our Norwich networkers has given you the confidence to get out there and start talking, but what upcoming events should you go to?

What exciting upcoming events do you think people thinking of moving to Norwich should go to?

 

With networking, half the battle is knowing what events to go to! We’ve asked our Norwich networkers to highlight some exciting upcoming events that are happening in Norwich:

Candy suggests:

“At the Federation of Small Businesses, we run networking events every couple of months in partnership with BIPC Norfolk. We have some great guest speakers too, so that everyone who attends walks away with new knowledge they can use in their business.

“There are also some brilliant events run by other organisations – for example The MacInnes Business Leaders Community put on a good range of events. There are also many sector specific events too, like The Marketing Meetup which runs regular events with some brilliant expert speakers.”

Grace (NWMN):

“I’d highly recommend Norfolk Network to anyone. Lucy has a unique way of introducing you to exactly the right person. Plus her events are always so welcoming and educational.

“Another personal favourite is anything from Norfolk Chambers of Commerce. They’re really plugged into the Norfolk business scene, literally know everyone, and run fun events like Paddle Boarding.”

Hot Source (Tom)

“I’m always a fan of Norfolk Network, as the talks are really interesting and zeitgeisty, and the people that attend are super friendly. It’s also not a huge community so you’ll get to meet people a few times over the year and build up a relationship with them naturally. I’d also obviously recommend Roll Up, the board game networking group for entrepreneurs and creatives, and not just because it’s the one that I run! I also run Hot Source, one of the largest creative communities in Norfolk, which is really diverse, inclusive, and inspirational when it comes to the content you’ll hear. We’ve had artists, engineers, activists and creators take the stage many times and I always go home absolutely buzzing.”

Lucy (Norfolk Network):

“There are some great annual events in Norwich. Sync The City is one of my favourites as it brings such a mix of people together.

Of course, I recommend Norfolk Network events for engaging and thought-provoking content on a range of business topics that are impacting current and future working. My favourite Meetups are Hot Source (for creatives), Sync Norwich (for tech startups) and Brandland (brand strategists, designers, and brand owners)”.

Still not sure? We’ve got a curated list of networks right here on the Work in Norwich website:

Professional Networks

 

Special thanks to Lucy, Tom, Candy and Grace for sharing with us their thoughts on business networking in Norwich.

Find out more info on their networking groups:

Norfolk Women’s Marketing Network

“Norfolk Women’s Marketing Network is a Community Interest Company that aims to facilitate a consistent space for Norfolk’s marketers to connect, learn, and empower each other.

We are a network typically reserved for Norfolk-based women and non-binary marketers, but with regular Plus Allies events for the wider community. When you attend an NWMN event, you can feel confident that you have at least 3 things in common with everyone in our community: you have an interest in marketing, you live or work in Norfolk, and you can relate to or learn from challenges others have faced due to their gender identity.” – Grace

The Federation of Small Businesses

The Federation of Small Businesses is a UK leading membership network for small businesses. FSB is a membership organisation and offers its members various benefits. Click here to check out their website.

Hot Source

Hot Source is a group that connects Norwich’s creative professionals, offering talks and workshops where you can meet others to share with a support in the creative industry.

Norfolk Network

“Norfolk Network is a contemporary business membership community that brings together experienced, curious professionals from diverse sectors and backgrounds. We foster collaboration and relationship building, providing a trusted space for business introductions, high calibre speaker events and audience engagement. With over two decades of championing businesses in Norfolk, Norfolk Network has cultivated numerous rewarding business relationships that often begin with a simple conversation at our events.” – Lucy

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