After the massive success of our last Speed-Networking event in July 2009, we invited you to join us for some more fun and to find out why we are regularly asked to repeat these popular evenings.

We started running Speed Networking events in 2007 and have had a great reaction to each one. Not only have we had huge responses (previously up to 80 bookings!) but also superb feedback, with lots of you asking for it again on a regular basis – your wish is once again our command!!

Some of the feedback from the Speed-Networking event included....

A really well organised and facilitated event - Thank-you!

This was my first Antidote meet - will be back...

The event helped spread our company name - can we have more such events?

It's great! I also gained a referral...

I met a new client!

I met a potential customer + collaborator!

From an IFA - I met a contact who wanted a pension review,,,

Gather some great ideas while chatting tonight...

A very good way of getting to know lots of people...

Met someone who can help me save insurance costs and another who will possibly might rent from me!

It's brilliant!

Speed-Networking is a great way to meet and connect with lots of people, tell them about what you do, what you are looking for and have some real fun. It is fast-paced, a great way to connect with lots of people and brilliant way of tuning up your networking skills. Remember to bring lots of business cards! An easily-read badge will help to ‘break the ice’ too.

“I came to the Antidote for the speed-networking evening and made more contacts in an hour than I would normally make in a month or more - brilliant!!” – Richard Dicks, Mortgage Advice & Protection Solutions, Norwich.

If you’ve not tried Speed Networking before, this is how it works:-

Come armed with your ‘elevator pitch’ – a simple and brief (max. 1 minute) introduction of who you are, what your business service/product is all about and (most importantly) what you are looking for (e.g. more customers, recommendations, affinity partners, new suppliers, funding, support, etc.).

You spend just 4 minutes with each person you meet to exchange your/their information. Not surprisingly you won’t be able to speak with everyone in the room but you will certainly make lots of new contacts. From past experience you will meet twelve people during only 60 minutes of Speed Networking, probably plus others in the more relaxed networking before and after.

After your first four minute meeting you swap contact details with each other then it’s time to move on to the next person. This type of networking is a great way to briefly ‘connect’ with more people and find out what’s happening on the local business scene. Speed-Networking will also help you build your confidence and practice the best way to deliver what you are all about. You will pick up tips from the more seasoned networkers as well by experiencing how they do it when talking to you.

It’s also great for another reason… you are limited to four minutes with each contact, so no getting stuck with someone for hours while trying to think of a polite way to move on! Straight after the Speed Networking session is the buffet which offers the chance to expand your conversation with anyone who particularly interested you.

Most of all Speed-Networking is great FUN! It is a fast paced session and a much needed antidote (pun intended!) to a boring networking event where people only seem to talk to others they know, and often about their holiday!