We feature exceptional Yorkshire businesses every day in our Business section. But in today’s post, we’re taking a look at some of the fantastic networking groups that bring them together. It’s fair to say that this isn’t an exhaustive list and we’ll be adding to it over time.
Having said that, the groups we’re featuring today are working tirelessly to help create a better connected Yorkshire, and they’ve achieved great things so far. With parts of Yorkshire under different restrictions during the pandemic, local networking is now playing an even greater role in business development.
Here are some of the superb networking groups in Yorkshire which we feel are of great benefit to businesses in our region, that are looking to connect, collaborate and grow…
The Yorkshire Mafia
With their quirky logo and unique name, The Yorkshire Mafia is a business networking group with an edge. They’ve been at it since 2008, and have since grown into one of the biggest networks in the region. With a packed calendar of events, they bring together in excess of 15,000 businesses yearly, and we can’t knock the rave reviews we hear from members.
Often cited as one of the friendliest and most inclusive networking groups in the region, they comment “The Yorkshire Mafia brings together executives and stakeholders from the Yorkshire Business Community to meet, network, share experience, learn, build relationships and ultimately trade (where appropriate). This is all done in a relaxed and sales-free environment.
The Yorkshire Mafia combines the best of business membership with the scale and speed advantages that social networking technologies offer. We have successfully transcended online and offline boundaries by creating a unique online forum and a calendar of targeted events to spark interaction with diverse industry executives who share a homogenous interest in the advancement of the Yorkshire region.”
If you’d like to know more about The Yorkshire Mafia, or want to find an upcoming event, head over to their website: https://theyorkshiremafia.com/.
Brand Yorkshire
We first learnt about Brand Yorkshire through their social media accounts. They’re very active and always deliver their messages with passion! When we set about learning more about them, it was clear that they’re a universally popular group, and thus deserving a place on our roundup.
The group is run by husband and wife team Richard and Mona Norman. If you’re looking for a group that’s got your back, Brand Yorkshire certainly fits the bill.
Pre-COVID, they ran a range of events and are now in the process of returning to normal with safety measurements in place. They said “We also run three monthly Networking Clubs, where we deliver hybrid networking and coaching sessions in North Leeds and Harrogate.
We run two Open to All Sectors Networking Clubs in North Leeds and Harrogate a month. The North Leeds Club is every 2nd Friday and takes place at The Village Hotel, North Leeds 7:30am-9:30am. The Harrogate Club takes place every 3rd Thursday at Rudding Park, Harrogate 7:30am-9:30am.
We also hold a Property and Construction Networking Club every 4th Friday at The Village Hotel, North Leeds 7:30am-9:30am. This is open to people who work within these sectors.
The Northern Affinity
If you’re active on LinkedIn, it’s likely that you’ll have seen the Northern Affinity’s videos. They’re an exceptionally friendly group, with the success of their members at the centre of all they do.
As well as having a clean and inviting brand, they produce a variety of useful content online, which includes interviews and discussions on a vast range of topics that’re helpful to not only their members, but the wider business community, too.
We admire the ethos that they project, and it’s clear that they differentiate themselves from most networking groups. They describe “Business isn’t just business; it’s a huge part of your life. You’ve got dreams, so to get there, you’re going to need three things; to surround yourself with the right people, to grow and develop your skills and knowledge, and to reach the right audience.
When you become part of The Northern Affinity, you’re becoming part of a community that’s there to help you get the business, and the life, you’re dreaming of.”
It’s all too easy for groups to make claims like this, however, when you take into account everything they publish, it’s very easy to believe.
So there you have it, our top picks for anyone looking to start networking in Yorkshire. The groups in this roundup all offer something a little different, and each hold a specific appeal for various types of businesses. If you’re new to networking, we recommend you reach out to any of the afore mentioned, and we’re confident they’ll be more than happy to help you where they can.
