NOTTINGHAM integrated engineering company Millward is the newest sponsor of a new lunchtime curry club organised by Networking in the City.

Full story …

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/hours/story-16021511-detail/story.html

Speaking to business networkers at Liverpool Curry Club on Thursday 3^rd May 2012

The £30million Chrysalis Fund was launched in Merseyside in March 2012 to kick-start regeneration across Merseyside.

The funding, which has been allocated from the North West’s share of the ERDF as part of the JESSICA initiative, will be invested throughout the city region, including Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Wirral.

The Fund is managed by the Igloo Consortium, which is made up of GVA, Igloo and Royal Bank of Canada.

1. The fund has £30million to invest in property projects
2. The funding is available until 2015
3. It’s not just interested in delivering financial returns but also in creating jobs and commercial space
4. Funding can be re-invested again and again; restrictions are lifted once initial re-investment takes place
5. Up to 20 projects are already in the pipeline but there is scope for more projects and applications can be made through www.chrysalisfund.co.uk
6. Funding applies to commercial and industrial projects but not to retail or housing
7. Projects have to be viable, although the fund can also access grant aid to help
8. The fund operates differently to banks in that it adapts to fund developments rather than have developments adapt to access funding
9. The fund has dispensation from the EC to lend below the market rate
10. Funding applies to new-build and refurbishment projects

After that, you have to work at holding their interest. Let’s look at some steps you can take to ensure you do just that.

1. First impressions count

When you meet someone new, they’re going to size you up before you even open your mouth. So, be sure to look the part.

Be dressed appropriately for the situation you’re going to be meeting people in, and that is in style. After all, going to a business forum in a suit twenty years out of date is not going to impress people.

But most importantly be comfortable in your choice.

2. Body language

Nothing says “I don’t want to talk to anyone” like sitting off in a corner, your shoulders hunched over, and your arms crossed. To get people interested in talking to you, you need to be out among the crowd and make your body language open to others.

3. Your face

This goes along with body language. If your eyes are cast down to the floor, if your expression is blank and without emotion, that does not signal friendliness to others.

So, paint a small smile on your face, and hold eye contact. Don’t go overboard! A huge ear to ear smile might be seen as forced and downright creepy. Also, holding eye contact too much can be seen as you trying to intimidate anyone you talk to.

4. Be friendly

Speak in a steady, even tone. Don’t whisper, and don’t raise your voice – at least not without reason.

After all, if you start telling an interesting story or promoting yourself, you’ll want to give inflection to your voice to make it a really entertaining tale..

5. Ask questions

There’s nothing in the world people like more than talking about themselves. So, ask people about them and then pay attention to what they say. If you ask good follow-up questions, it shows that you’re paying attention, people like that.

6. Be prepared to participate

Yes, people like to talk about themselves, but eventually they’re going to want to hear from you. So, do a bit of prep work. Be current and if you are speaking to someone you have been aiing to speak to have you preparations to hand.

7. Don’t monopolize the conversation

You may have a ton of jokes and funny stories to tell, but come up for air once in a while. Let other people talk.

Along those same lines, don’t talk about just one thing; that can get dull.

If the other person brings up another subject, don’t feel the need to steer the conversation back to what you were talking about before; be flexible.

Holding the interest of others can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Pay attention to your appearance, your body language, and how you converse with them. Do all these things, and you have a good chance of being a success at interacting with new people.

An important point

Neglect communication skills and you could limit your success. It’s your projection to the world. By default you give others control over your life. The only way to be the master of your communication is to take charge. Know what you really want and have the courage to stand up and be counted.

Alistair Macdonald, amtv, helping directors, partners and senior managers become better communicators.

Social Media is key for any business to keep in the know.  We like to keep everyone up to date so if you haven’t already please add yourself to the Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ that way you  too will always be in the know!

We are also looking to offer some Social Media courses in the future so look out for the seminars and workshops we will be offering in future months.

And another feature to utilise is our Free Directory which we see is regularly used on our website by lots of businesses UK wide. As a non-member you can enter contact details, members are entitled to also add details of business information.

When asked about his new membership and his involvement in the curry club Kerry said,

‘The main thing has always been for me it absolutely works. Its combination of an relaxed atmosphere and informal networking has lead me to find it extremely successful indeed. I have made several important business contacts and I have contracts already under way which to me is fantastic. I was more than happy to upgrade to gold membership I love networking in this way! As for being ambassador it is just great to know I will be involved more with the team helping to build an already growing and successful networking group.’

Kerry Bland is owner and director of Jack Russell Debt Collectors & Legal Process Servers which provide nationwide debt collection and recovery on a no win no fee basis. Details on his company are at www.debtcollect.co.uk

Julie said, ‘It was so lovely to meet everyone at Networking in the City and everyone at the birthday event. Thank you again for inviting me along to raise the profile of C.A.F.T. and for the fantastic donation of £95.00’.

Since her comments we have heard back from Julie and there are already delegates that came along that day who have volunteered to help out and also donate to their great cause.

As a company it is important to us to bring support to charities and opportunities regionally and offer the chance for delegates to do the same. As a result we are in talks with further charities around the UK to get involved with charities that will be event based to help fundraising and to raise awareness.

Information on C.A.F.T can be found at www.caft.co.uk. C.A.F.T is an Altrincham, Manchester based charity. They provide activities for terminally ill, disabled, and disadvantaged children from all over the North West. The needs of the children visiting the adventure farm range from complex and severe physical and learning disabilities through to young carers, bereaved siblings and children who have experienced abuse. For further info, details on how to donate or how to volunteer please visit the website.

If you are involved or would like to recommend a charity in your area or for your event please contact Ceri Stephens on 07976 375 366 or at ceri@networkinginthecity.co.uk

We are also pleased to announce a new edition to the Networking in the City team. Ceri Stephens joined the team mid-march in light of its ever expanding calendars and events and has already proved to be a great asset to the team. With a background in Sponsorships, Events and Marketing Ceri will be dealing with all aspects of growth within the company, marketing and support and assistance in events and activities we have to offer.

Ceri says, ‘I am so pleased to become part of the NITC movement. The whole concept and activity on the go excites me and I am looking forward to a busy year of supporting the already brilliant team and helping to grow the company. So far the people I have worked with are an amazing bunch with great drive and I can see a bright future for NITC’

Please contact Ceri if you need any assistance she is available on 07975 375 366 or at ceri@networkinginthecity.co.uk