New to business networking?
Are you new to networking, unsure of what to do, or nervous and apprehensive about attending? Don't worry, we are on hand to help you.
Networking goes hand in hand with running a successful business, however many of us dread walking into a room and introducing ourselves to a bunch of strangers.
Take a look at some of our tips to help get you on the road to becoming a successful networker!
Resist the urge to arrive late. It's almost counter-intuitive, but showing up early at a networking event is a much better strategy than getting there on the later side. As a first attendee, you'll notice that it's calmer and quieter, people won't have settled into groups. It's easier to find other people who don't have conversation partners yet.
Ask easy questions. Don't wait around the edges of the room, waiting for someone to approach you. Simply walk up to a person or a group, and say, "May I join you" or "What brings you to this event?" Don't forget to listen intently to their replies. Listening can be an excellent way to get to know a person.
Ask open-ended questions. Who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be 
answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
Ditch the sales pitch. Remember, networking is all about relationship building. Keep your exchange fun, light and informal – you don't need to do the hard sell within minutes of meeting a person. The idea is to get the conversation started. People are more apt to do business with – or partner with – people whose company they enjoy.
Read more...
Meet the Neighbours Safari a great success!
Safari Networking Event - a great success!
We were delighted to welcome 50 plus members and guests from fellow chambers of commerce and networking groups from around the region all together under one roof for a networking experience with a difference!
This was a first Safari experience for many who left inspired and excited with many new contacts to be followed up and potential business to be done.
This a great networking opportunity which offers businesses the chance to locate contacts, make connections, develop relationships, make recommendations and referrals, seize and create business opportunities and exchange value!
Meet the Neighbours shows that business doesn't recognise borders. Keep your eyes on www.thesacc.com for the date of the next event in 2018 to be announced in the coming weeks.
Thanks to our speakers
Our guest speaks went down a storm with an informative and well received presentation by Chris Wiggan Head of External Affairs at London Stansted Airport. Chris updated on the progression of the airport and the plans ahead including the new arrivals terminal which is to be on 3 levels.
Once the work is complete, Stansted Airport will be able to boast being the only operating UK airport with dedicated arrivals and departures terminals.
London Stansted achieved its busiest ever September as over 2.45 million passengers travelled through the airport during the month, surpassing the previous record set 10 years ago in September 2007.
Chris also touched upon the news of their commitment, alongside Harlow College, to develop and deliver a Technical and Professional Skills Centre to be located on the airport. This will provide invaluable vocational training opportunities, with a focus on addressing geographical gaps in local provision and skills. The project will train approximately 530 young people and adults per year in vocational skills, traineeships and Apprenticeships and will support the development of employment growth at London Stansted Airport. It will enable employers at the airport to recruit young people and adults with appropriate levels of skills, and will allow local residents to acquire advanced and higher level skills.
Adam Stott, successful businessman and entrepeneur delighted the audience with tips on "how to make it big in business". In just 9 years, 34 year-old entrepreneur, Adam Stott, built Big Cars from scratch into a £40million turnover business.
By focusing on being a customer service business that happens to sell cars, Big Cars has broken the mould of traditional car dealers. Its innovative use of Facebook has generated sales of £50 million and a following of more than 350,000 fans. Big Cars now employs 75 staff and sells more than 3,000 cars annually from four dealerships in Essex, Suffolk and Surrey.
In recognition of its achievements, Big Cars has twice been recognised by the London Stock Exchange as one of the Top 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain (2015 and 2016).
Adam’s flair for business and entrepreneurial spirit has propelled him forward to become an international speaker on business, a best-selling author on Amazon and coach to a growing number of business owners. He established ‘Big Business Events’ in 2016, as a forum for supporting aspiring business owners, as well as established businesses seeking growth advice.
Adam was shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2016 Amazon Growing Business Awards.
Some of the comments received this morning...
"Thanks for another great evening. I have 20 appointments to be followed up..."
Dean Walters | Business Development Manager
"Great speed networking event with other chambers, very interesting airport talk as always by Chris Wiggins from MAG....thanks Julie Budden 25 new contacts made..."
Paula Tatchell | Head of Sales and Marketing UK
"Great night, well done..."
Ross Leary | Training Consultant
Special thanks to our Sponsor Novotel London Stansted Airport and our Partners:
- Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce
- Bishop's Stortford Chambers of Commerce
- Brentwood Chambers of Commerce
- EBN
- Business Exchange Networks
- Meet the Town
Tips for Successful Business Networking
Are you new to networking, unsure of what to do, or nervous and apprehensive about attending? Don't worry, we are on hand to help you.
Networking goes hand in hand with running a successful business, however many of us dread walking into a room and introducing ourselves to a bunch of strangers. Take a look at some of our tips to help get you on the road to becoming a successful networker!
Resist the urge to arrive late. It's almost counter-intuitive, but showing up early at a networking event is a much better strategy than getting there on the later side. As a first attendee, you'll notice that it's calmer and quieter – and people won't have settled into groups yet. It's easier to find other people who don't have conversation partners yet.
Ask easy questions. Don't wait around the edges of the room, waiting for someone to approach you. Simply walk up to a person or a group, and say, "May I join you" or "What brings you to this event?" Don't forget to listen intently to their replies. Listening can be an excellent way to get to know a person.
Ask open-ended questions. Who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
Ditch the sales pitch. Remember, networking is all about relationship building. Keep your exchange fun, light and informal – you don't need to do the hard sell within minutes of meeting a person. The idea is to get the conversation started. People are more apt to do business with – or partner with – people whose company they enjoy.
If asked about your product or service, be ready with an easy description. Before the event, create a mental list of recent accomplishments, such as a new client you've landed or project you've completed. That way, you can easily pull an item off that list and into the conversation.
Share your passion. Win people over with your enthusiasm for your product or service. Leave a lasting impression by telling a story about why you were inspired to create your company. Talking about what you enjoy is often contagious, too. When you get other people to share their passion, it creates a memorable two-way conversation.
Smile. It's a simple – but often overlooked. By smiling, you'll put your nervous self at ease, and you'll also come across as warm and inviting to others. Remember to smile before you enter the room, or before you start your next conversation. And if you're really dreading the event? Leave the negative attitude at the door.
Don't hijack conversations. Some people who dislike networking may overcompensate by commandeering the discussion. Don't forget: The most successful networkers (think of those you've met) are good at making other people feel special. Look people in the eye, repeat their name, listen to what they have to say, and suggest topics that are easy to discuss. Be a conversationalist, not a talker.
Remember to follow up. It's often said that networking is where the conversation begins, not ends. If you've had a great exchange, ask for the best way to stay in touch. Some people like email or phone; others prefer social networks. Get in touch within 48 hours of the event to show you're interested and available, and reference something you discussed, so your contact remembers you.
Become known as a powerful resource for others. When you are known as a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.
Always have plenty of business cards with you at all times. Have you ever heard or even told a story about a successful, serendipitous business encounter that ended with the phrase, “Thank God I had one of my business cards with me that day!”? If so, great! You’re practicing approachability by being “easy to reach.”
If not, you’ve no doubt missed out on valuable relationships and opportunities. And it happens – people forget their business cards. But the bottom line is; there is a time and place for networking: ANY time and ANY place. Because you just never know whom you might meet.
Here at the SACC, we welcome non-members to come along to see if our events are what they are looking for. So, If you are interested in joining us, please visit the Events page and see what we have coming up. We look forward to welcoming you!
If you are interested in becoming a Member, you can find out more here...
Primera Air to launch London Stansted - USA flights in 2018
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Airline to open new London Stansted base
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New direct flights to New York and Boston start from April 2018
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More choice and competition for the five million passengers a year flying on these routes from other London airports
Danish airline, Primera Air is to open a new base at London Stansted and start direct flights to New York and Boston Logan next year.
From April 2018, the airline will offer daily services to New York’s Newark Airport and four a week to Boston Logan Airport from May.
Primera Air will announce another trans-Atlantic route from Stansted by the end of summer 2017.
Flights will be operated by new Airbus A321NEO aircraft and include a choice of two cabins, full-service premium and low-fare economy, free Wi-Fi and onboard charging points.
Primera Air will be the first airline for nine years to fly scheduled services to the USA from Stansted.
Andri M. Ingolfsson, Primera Air President and Chairman of Primera Air, said:
“We are very proud to announce our new base at London Stansted and routes to the USA. With our brand new Airbus A321NEO aircraft, we are opening routes previously traditionally served only by wide-body aircraft. With unmatched efficiency of these new-generation aircraft, we will be able to offer unprecedented prices to our passengers from London Stansted to the USA. At the same time, we are very proud to be offering a low-fare/high quality product and service concept, that will be perfect both for leisure and business travelers.”
Andrew Cowan, London Stansted’s Chief Executive, said:
“We’re thrilled Primera Air has chosen London Stansted as its UK base for these exciting and innovative new long-haul services to the USA. We know from our customers that there is enormous demand for flights to New York and Boston from London and the east of England, so the arrival of Primera Air is fantastic news for both business and leisure passengers wanting great value, excellent service and the convenience of flying transatlantic from their local airport.
“The welcome arrival of Primera Air to Stansted offers passengers even more choice and provides great new transatlantic connections to New York and Boston – both of which are important destinations for businesses in our catchment. I’m sure these new services will prove to be really popular and we look forward to working with Primera Air to add more routes in the future.”
Flights to both destinations go on sale on July 20 with prices starting from £149 one-way inclusive of all taxes, fees and charges. Visit www.primeraair.com for more information.
It was proof that ‘Business has now Boundaries’ at the annual Check-in @ Stansted Business Expo!
“What a place to exhibit” was amongst the comments heard on Thursday 22nd June 2017 at the 4th annual Check-in @ Stansted Business Exhibition.
Over 70 exhibitors covering the public sector, legal, banking, creative, vehicle fleet, security, travel, print, furniture, floristry, cargo, catering, police, fire & rescue, utilities, commercial office space – to name a few, set up shop between 10 am and 4 pm to promote their range of businesses and services to visitors on the day.
Steve Cox a previous exhibitor from Premier Travel who was accompanied by the Jet2 Holiday team said “Premier Travel and Jet2 Holidays has a fantastic time exhibiting at Check-in @ Stansted 2017. We received plenty of holiday enquiries and look forward to following these up.”
Roots POD Ltd, a visitor on the day said on Twitter “Great afternoon at Check-in @ Stansted. Made connections, attended speed networking followed by a great seminar on marketing tips with Richard Woods.”
Julie Budden, SACC added “Check-in @ Stansted is the only business expo to take place at London Stansted Airport. A key gateway within a region that is growing year on year in terms of business offerings. People often comment on the quality of visitors and you can tell that by the return of many exhibitors since the very first exhibition that this is a true statement.”
She continued “Each year we try to add more to the exhibition to offer exhibitors, sponsors and visitors more business opportunities and free advice for both business and personal use. This year we welcomed Big Business Events who ran various FREE seminars throughout the day with key speakers Adam Stott, leading entrepreneur and owner of Big Cars, Rebecca Jackson Championship winning Racing Driver, TV presenter and business woman and BBC Apprentice star Richard Woods. In addition we introduced a health & wellbeing zone attended by companies such as NX Professionals, The Sports Therapy Clinic, Oils by Jo, Wellbeing in Business and others, FREE speed networking sessions run by Mick Hull from Big Business Events, a VIP lunch reception provided by D’Lights Catering and catering and beverages provided by British Event Catering all formed an important part of the day!”
2017 sponsors included London Stansted Airport (MAG), Uttlesford District Council, Herts & Essex Observer, Radio Essex, the Diamond Hangar Aviation Hub and Medigold Health.
Sam Berry from Medigold Health said “Medigold Health was delighted to be involved in this year’s Check-in @ 
Stansted. This was our first year at the exhibition and I would highly recommend any company thinking of working with Stansted Airport to get involved. Not only did the Check-in @ Stansted Expo provide us with valuable networking opportunities and brand awareness on the Airport, but it was the additional benefits Medigold Health received in terms of local press and social media coverage both in the lead up and after the exhibition which has been invaluable in raising our profile given we are opening an on site Occupational Health clinic at Stansted Airport this July.
Medigold Health would just like to take this opportunity to thank Julie and her team for all their help and support in the run up and on the day of the exhibition.”
Chris Wiggan, Stansted Airport’s Head of External Affairs, followed with “London Stansted was delighted to support the Check-in @ Stansted event which provides an excellent opportunity for local companies to further grow and develop. The airport is a key catalyst for growth and jobs in the East of England and the UK, employing around 12,000 people across 200 on-airport companies contributing over £1billion to the local economy. With a growing international airport on the doorstep, this region has a lot to offer and is at the heart of driving forward growth and opportunities and this is where organisations such as the Stansted Chamber of Commerce and events like Check-in @ Stansted really can help.”
Visitors were greeted by students from Harlow College who worked the floor on the day to help ensure visitors were pointed in the right direction, from the main hangar entrance through to reception. In addition, they helped hand out goodie bags and show guides on entry and also enjoyed walking around to witness what it was like in the business world for their own personal experience.
The day also presented fun with plenty of entertainment to enjoy including an FI simulator, fun casino, scalextric and magic mirror. 2 bottles of wine were provided to Adam Flight for the fastest lap on the FI simulator. Thank you to both Diamond Fun Casinos and F1 Dream Racing for keeping us all entertained.
The 2017 Charity of Choice was the Essex Retired Police Dogs Fund and King, Cooper and Scout were a big hit with everyone on the day.
Check-in @ Stansted continues to raise vital funds for this amazing charity and will shortly announce the final figure made to go towards these special K9’s, however can say that the figure will be in excess of £1,500, so thank you to everyone who showed their support on the day!
Some of the raffle winners include Marie Gorman from Mantle Business Centre, James Ashman from Carriages of Eden, Leanna Dileva from Regus and Linda Howells UDC. Thanks to those who donated prizes and those who purchased tickets".
Bookings are already being taken for the 2018 business exhibition which will take place on Thursday 21st June 2018 - so get the date in your diary!
2017 package costs are held and there is £50 off stand bookings for 2018. This applies to Platinum packages only and bookings must be made by the end of July 2017.
Winner of Best Stand Competition
The WINNER of the 2017 best stand competition is Corporate Travel.
They will receive a FREE Platinum stand at the 2018 exhibition - congratulations!
Corporate Travel Services is more than just a business travel agent; they pride themselves in providing a seamless service to business travellers and help you to concentrate on your business while they manage every aspect of your business trips in the UK and worldwide.
You can rest assured that every detail of your trip is planned in accordance with your travel policy.
Could your business be a WINNER next year?
