Angela Roberts shares how important networking is in business

Hosted by Fiona Scott, today’s podcast welcomes Angela Roberts, who she met around fifteen years ago. Angela was running her own business, and they met at an ‘I am woman’ networking group. Angela talks about how valuable networking is because you ‘make those contacts that nobody can ever take away from you.’ Fifteen years later, Angela had a job in marketing for ‘Gensmile’ a dental group and just after the lockdowns, she decided to help other businesses by starting her own networking group in Malmsbury at the Old Bell Hotel who’ve been very supportive over the years. Angela explains that Cotswold Networking is now full time for her. Fiona shared how she used to buy loads of scarves and jewellery from Angela back in the day and notes how even then, a lot of product-based businesses ‘don’t and didn’t bother’ with networking, which she feels is a huge mistake. Angela says that everybody should be networking because it’s not just about getting people to buy off you, it can help you build your business by finding social media managers, solicitors if you need them and finding others that can help you in your business.  Fiona goes on to ask Angela, why, when setting up the Cirencester networking group, did she choose to have evening meetings? Angela explains that she had a day job, and she’d only ever been networking in the evening. She also explains that some businesses may be busy in the day, so it gives people the chance to be more sociable in the evening and she’s now introducing the Witney group in the day, with a morning session to see how it goes.  Fiona then asks Angela why she has steered away from other networking groups which include a single seat policy. When asked what her thinking was around that, Angela explains that she wanted variety. She thinks it’s important that when choosing people for your business, you can pick someone who’s the right fit for you etc. It could be that you need a solicitor for your business, but if you don’t like the person then you won’t work with them etc. This fits with Angela’s belief that people buy from people. She also shares how important she feels collaboration is for business owners. Next, Fiona asks Angela how she made the final leap of faith to make networking her income rather than her full-time day job. Angela shares that she started opening more and more groups and it was taking up all of her time, and she had no work life balance. She says handing in her notice to her day job was the best decision she ever made.  Fiona asks Angela about what groups are available and how people can find them. Angela says she covers Malmesbury, Cirencester, Cheltenham, Witney, Bristol, Corsham, Worcester and Bath.  She stresses that this isn’t just a social event but it’s a chance to network and get to know people. There is a process to the events whereby people swap tables and get to meet others with a minute timer each.  Fiona asks Angela why some people may choose not to volunteer to speak at events. Angela says a lot of people haven’t got the confidence and if they’re new it can be quite daunting. She does stress however, that speaking is important to grow your network and business.  Fiona asks Angela what her top three tips are for networking. Angela says turning up regularly, taking responsibility for their networking and following up with people after by connecting with them on LinkedIn and communicating afterwards.   Fiona asks Angela, ‘What is the wrong mindset to have when it comes to networking?’ Angela says the people who don’t make the effort at all and don’t come often can make it difficult. Those who aren’t able to put themselves out of their comfort zone and just sit in the corner quietly will really struggle. Angela also shares that people who leave quite early also miss great opportunities. Try to stay for the whole event if you can. Angela says a top tip for finding success is to make the continued effort and attend social events such as ‘curry club’. She shares that people are most likely to get out what they put in and that having the right mindset when it comes to networking is the most important thing.  Angela says that there is also a chance for the members of her eight groups to attend and swap to different groups in order to widen their circle further. She encourages people to make the most of these chances.  Once you become a member, you get a space on the website with your photo and bio etc. This is a valuable bit of marketing to take full advantage of.  Fiona then asks Angela what she envisions for small businesses in 2027. Angela says there are a lot of challenges facing small businesses currently and that now is the time to get out there. ‘Don’t sit in your office struggling on your own, take the chance to get out there because there are so many people who can help you.’ She finished by saying that there is a lot of support out there and new friendships to be made. Fiona then asks how much it costs to be a member. Angela says you can come twice as a visitor before being asked about becoming a member. There is a cost to being a member, unless you know a member and they can invite you for free. Once you become a member it’s £40 + VAT a month. That gives you one membership group a month and then all the other benefits mentioned above.  If you want to have more than one group it is £70 + VAT. Fiona then asks Angela what else she’d like to share. Angela says her next plan is to get others in to help run the groups for her because she’s so busy. Angela says she has found Natalie who runs Forever Living to run the Worcester group, but she is still looking for others too.  You can find Angela via her website or her email which is [info@cotswoldnetworking.co.uk](mailto:info@cotswoldnetworking.co.uk) To get in touch with Fiona and the Scott Media team, visit www.scottmedia.uk. Join our free Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe