Having spent a day at BestofBristol exhibition on Tuesday it was interesting to see how many people I knew there… either as stallholders or as attendees, all business people and most I’ve met through membership of a number of networking groups.

Why do I go to networking groups?

Is it the breakfast?

No not really … I’m not a big fan of driving for an hour to have a greasy slab of soggy bacon.

It is useful to be around other people who are facing the same sort of challenges… the uncertainty of being self employed… the long hours for little reward. Sometimes it can be helpful to have kindred spirits to talk to…. and yes it is possible to get business through the networking, but it is really tedious if people try to sell to you.

I always approach networking with the aim of meeting new people and wondering how I can help them. In one networking group, 4networking I have bought a new car, changed my web hosting,