Working with communities to develop enterprise

Networking


You may find that you will be the only Business Adviser within your community organisation. You may well have limited day-to-day contact with other Business Advisers, particularly those working in mainstream business advice organisations. Networking, connecting and working in partnership with others will help you to build your capacity and impact. It will widen your sphere of influence, open up development opportunities and bring added value to your community organisation. By investing time and resources in networking, you can open the doors to a breadth of resources that will contribute to your professional development. You will also gain increased knowledge and expertise and gather more tools for business advice, such as information on free legal and financial resources.

You can develop effective networking in many ways, such as joining an organisation like the Association of Community Based Business Advisers or the Institute of Business Consulting (www.Ibconsulting.org.uk). Business Link (www.businesslink.gov.uk) maintains a list of networking events some of which are free or low cost. You can subscribe to e-bulletins and e-newsletters to keep up to date with current issues, events and networking links. The following may be useful:

  • www.everywoman.co.uk is a website tailored to women starting up and sustaining business, offering an e-bulletin with events, training, special offers and news.
  • www.can-online.org.uk is a website for social enterprise and entrepreneurs, offering an e-bulletin on events and news.
  • www.enterprisequest.com is a website providing a weekly e-bulletin and a bookshop aimed at all aspects of developing a small business.
  • www.capitalenterprise.org, your local enterprise organisation, may also keep a list of networking events.
  • Chambers of Commerce encourage local businesses and entrepreneurs to share information and pool resources. They organise networking events and offer training and professional development. For their national and London websites see www.chamberonline.co.uk and www.londonchamber.co.uk.
  • Your local Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) can be found at www.navca.org.uk or call 0114 278 6636.
  • www.lvsc.org.uk, The London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC), will be able to give you details of your local CVS and information on London-wide issues affecting all aspects of the voluntary and community sector. Tel 020 7700 8107.



One invaluable organisation will be your Local Strategic Partnership (LSP). The LSP is a non-statutory, multi-agency partnership within each local authority area. It exists to deliver sustainable economic, social and physical regeneration and improved public services to meet the needs of local communities. Your local authority or CVS can give you details or your LSP.