“Starting my own enterprise at an early age (19!), I realised that getting ‘out there’ and meeting people was going to be a very important part of growing my business. Over a number of years I came to value the opportunity of meeting people though business events.

Having spent quite a bit of time ‘networking’ I felt it didn’t really answer my needs. Like a lot of people, I suppose, I found most networking events rather uninspiring and, if I’m being totally honest, often quite dull! I also felt there were certain elements about lots of networking events that I just didn’t like and very few events really seemed to cater for new business people who found networking unfamiliar territory and sometimes quite daunting.

The idea of creating my own event seemed like an ideal solution and for several years I thought about what I’d like to see from a new form of networking event.

In 2005 the idea of the Antidote was born and quickly became an idea that local people engaged with – a networking event that was truly different and, most of all, fun!

There were some very simple elements that I wanted to build the Antidote on:

It should a pay-and–play opportunity, where people would attend because they wanted to, not because they felt obliged or tied in by a financial obligation (large membership fees).

I wanted the Antidote to attract all types of people and not be restrictive in any way. The idea of only allowing various types of people to attend just didn’t seem equitable to me.

A mix of good, useful networking combined with business education would give the event an added dimension. Sometimes, networking alone can be hard work, so the idea of having a guest speaker meant our members would be educated as well as stimulated and motivated.

Most of all though, I wanted the Antidote to be FUN! So many people are put off networking (and so turn up with very negative attitudes) because they expect it to be hard work and perhaps even quite dull. I believe business should be fun!

With the support of everyone along the way, people like Alistair Kerridge, and now a great team, the Antidote has firmly established itself in Norwich as good place to learn about business and connect with people who can help you get where you want to go.”


Nial Adams Founder – the Antidote Network