Porsche UK host Federation of Small Businesses networking
The Federation of Small Businesses held a successful networking event at Porsche UK in Calcot on yesterday evening with over 40 local professionals meeting amid the luxury cars, with a significant number coming along after spotting chatter on Twitter.
The assembled business people could be forgiven for being distracted from swapping business cards and building relationships; the array of beautiful cars was certainly a draw and especially the £330,000 Carrera GT.
Chair of the local branch, Nicky Larkin, of accountants Goringe & Co Ltd had welcomed everyone to the event and how useful they were to members and encouraged non members in the room to find out more about the many benefits of joining the FSB, the UK’s leading business organisation.
Corporate Relationship Manager for Porsche, Claus Anderson gave a brief insight into the history of the luxury brand’s presence in the town with a dealership in Reading since 1966, with Porsche opening in Pincents Lane in 1987. Although the headquarters of Porsche in the UK, it is also a dealership and service centre, selling 800 cars a year and servicing over 3,000.
Networking with contacts old and new it was significant how often people were saying they had come after spotting the event being talked about on Twitter. While still the minority of those actually coming along, it was remarkable and further illustration that the micro-blogging site can drive attendance.
Our thanks go to Mike Samuels (@MikeSamuels68 on Twitter!) who provided these photographs. Mike has just been appointed a Membership Advisor for the FSB in West Berkshire and is the go to guy if you want to learn about the benefits of FSB membership (free legal helpline anyone? Free banking?).
A regular feature of the FSB networking events is a prize draw where everyone is encouraged to submit business tips with a winner being drawn at random and all the tips sent around those attending. The prestigious nature of the venue saw four bottles of fizz, donated by committee member Michelle Lucas of Greenfields Consultancy, given as prizes and a Porsche goodie bag. Despite my best efforts the raffle did not extend to a Porsche car!
Together with making great contacts, I always think networking should be inspirational. Simply the act of meeting another expert practitioner, or someone with a passion for their particular business, can spur you into action. Throw in the aspirational surrounds of Porsche UK’s headquarters... it was always going to be a good night!
The event was free for FSB members and only £5 for non members and is one of over 20 different networking and training events offered by the Reading and West Berkshire branch during 2010. The next is an IT seminar on March 8 at Symantec in Reading with a choice of four different experts. More information is available on the FSB website.