WELCOME ON BOARD: (Front right) Jane Swift, Business Development Manager at the Marsham Court and Sarah Veakins, Marketing Advisor for the Outset programme (front left) at the latest New2Business networking meeting.
Bournemouth’s only networking club for start-ups, run by the Marsham Court Hotel, has gained its first sponsor – Outset East Dorset.
The Marsham Court founded New2Business networking in January 2015 to provide support for new business owners and trainees of larger businesses.
In the past three years the free to attend meetings have welcomed around 300 new businesses and have increased from quarterly to monthly.
Jane Swift, Business Development Manager at the hotel in Russell-Cotes Road, said: “We are very pleased to gain our first sponsor and we are especially pleased that it is Outset – a hugely respected support programme for new enterprises and therefore a great fit for New2Business.”
Jane continued: “Networking is an essential part of any growing business and a valuable business tool when used effectively, but many people find the prospect just too daunting when they are first starting out.
“New2Business has been a success because it not only provides an informal and friendly environment in which new businesses can interact, it also provides them with the opportunity to meet and learn from people who have already faced the challenges of starting their own business.
“At each event we welcome a local business person who can provide words of wisdom on a given subject and new business owners tell us they find this immensely helpful.”
Martyn Brown said he has found New2Businness invaluable in developing his digital marketing business, Marketing Bugle.
He said: “I’ve been attending New2Business networking event ever since it started and can actually credit it with helping me to save my business at a time when I’d taken on too much and couldn’t handle things.”
He explained: “After meeting a particular speaker through the group we had a few meetings and I was back on track and able to handle all that was set before me.
“I’ve also made lots of friends and, indeed, found new clients to help.
“From life coaches, financial advisors, bookkeepers, photographers and estate agents, right through to restaurant managers, chefs, web designers, publishers, sculptors and sports therapists, I’ve met them and done business with them.
“But it’s not all about swapping business. It’s also about giving valuable free advice to others and taking on board what they say to me. Every month I learn something from somebody, often from the most unlikely of business niches.”
Sarah Veakins, Marketing Advisor for the Outset programme, said: “Outset is part of The Dorset Business Growth Partnership and offers people who are starting new businesses access to invaluable support in the first two years.
“While our associated GetSet for Growth programme is aimed at businesses and social enterprises which are moving on to the next stage and might need help with their business strategy, or with funding for new people and technology or even to develop new products and to enter new markets.
“We were very impressed with what New2Business has achieved and look forward to supporting it and its members in 2018.”
Picture caption: WELCOME ON BOARD: (Front right) Jane Swift, Business Development Manager at the Marsham Court and Sarah Veakins, Marketing Advisor for the Outset programme (front left) at the latest New2Business networking meeting.
Media information: Debbie Granville at Deep South Media on 07884 657782 email: Debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Outset and GetSet are funded by the European Regional Growth Fund.
