Hello All,
Most of us spend a lot of time business networking in cyberspace on forums and with social media like facebook, twitter, linked-in and various other online networking platforms, but I wondered how much ‘real life’ business networking you do?
By real life business networking I mean exhibitions, conferences, seminars, training, benchmarking visits with other companies perhaps within your own business group or outside to other businesses and that could be inside or outside your industry sector. It may also include activities as a member of a professional body or institute.
I would be interested to know where you been recently and what plans you have this year?
Regards,
Simon
I've spent a number of years in Industry, where I've worked from some very large multi site companies, both at a site level and at group level.During this time I've made many contacts. Both with people who are in technical positions, or with operational people and also with contractors / suppliers.
The joke is, where I am now, is that I always know somebody. For instance Tony C and I know a lot of people who are common to us both. Chances are, I actually might have met Tony in the past!! In fact today we have had a Moody engineer on site who I worked with 2 years ago on a project at a different company!
I have contractors such as our chemical supplier, lab consumables and pest control who have done work with me in the past. I know them and I trust the job that they do. In fact I have one supplier who refers people to me, and we are currently running a point scoring (favour) system! I'm sure i'll eventually get paid for offering advice with an IBC of Caustic!!
People that I have worked with in the past will still ring me up and ask me if I know or have something, especially relating to BRC (apparently I'm the queen of risk assessments) and if they've had an audit, we compare non-conformances! I'm not precious about my paperwork, or spending 5 minutes talking to someone who may have a problem to try and help them. and i find out what other people are up to.
I still actively network. I go to exhibitions, and seminars. in fact I was recently a guest speaker on rapid microbiological methods at CCFRA. I go to suppliers to do audits, I audit co-packers, service providers etc. I love training....my motto is "you have to look at the next job!", and i'm sure i'll be able to squeeze some training in this year.
(Luckily) in Wales, Food Industries are few and far between. WAG and UWIC often run seminars and I try to attend them where possible. It's a great way for networking with people within the Principality
I also use Facebook!! I would say that the majority of the people i have as friends i have either worked with in the past or was at Uni with.
And i also use IFSQN ;o)
Caz x
