Author: Rebecca Newenham

The Power of Networking in Business

When people talk about networking, the image that often comes to mind is a busy room full of people exchanging business cards and delivering rehearsed elevator pitches.

But in my experience, real networking is something quite different.

It’s not about selling. It’s about connecting.

And over the years, networking has been one of the most powerful forces behind the growth of Get Ahead.

Networking is about relationships, not transactions

When I started Get Ahead, I quickly realised that building a business isn’t something you do alone. Every entrepreneur needs a network of people around them; people who offer advice, share opportunities, introduce contacts, and provide support when challenges arise.

Some of the most valuable relationships I’ve built started with a simple conversation at a networking event.

Not a pitch. Not a sales conversation. Just two people talking about their businesses and how they might help each other.

Those relationships have often turned into collaborations, referrals, partnerships and friendships that last for years.

The hidden value of being visible

One of the biggest benefits of networking is simply being present.

People work with people they know, like and trust. That trust rarely comes from a single interaction. It builds gradually as people see you showing up, contributing and supporting others in the business community.

Networking helps create that visibility.

Whether it’s attending events, hosting roundtables, supporting local business groups or introducing others within your network. Every interaction strengthens your reputation.

The power of community

Something I’ve always loved about the SME community is how collaborative it can be. Business owners understand the ups and downs of running a company, and there’s a real willingness to support each other.

At Get Ahead we see this every day. Many of our client relationships and regional partnerships have grown through local business networks and community events.

When businesses support each other, everyone benefits.

A collage of a recent LinkedIn Local meeting in Guildford

Networking is about giving first

The most effective networkers are rarely the ones trying to sell the hardest. Instead, they are the people who focus on helping others.

Making introductions. Sharing ideas. Offering advice. Connecting people who might benefit from meeting.

Over time, that generosity has a way of coming back around.

Building stronger businesses together

For me, networking has never been a “marketing tactic”. It’s simply part of how business should work.

Businesses grow faster when people collaborate.
Communities are stronger when businesses support each other.
And opportunities appear when we take the time to build genuine relationships.

At Get Ahead, that philosophy runs right through our organisation. Our Regional Directors are deeply connected within their local business communities across the UK, building relationships that help businesses access the support they need to grow.

Because when strong networks come together, great things happen.

Why not experience it for yourself?

Get Connected - Get Ahead in association with Metro Bank

Across our regions, we host and support a range of networking events, including Get Connected, which we frequently host in partnership with Metro Bank, as well as a growing number of LinkedIn Local gatherings. These events create opportunities for business owners and professionals to share ideas, build relationships and support each other’s growth.

If you’re curious, or even a little sceptical, about the impact networking can have, the best way to understand it is simply to experience what that community feels like in practice.

Take a look at our event calendar to find a meeting near you. You’ll always find a warm welcome and a room full of people who understand the highs and lows of running a business.

Because in the end, businesses – and all of us personally – grow through relationships.

Our telephone answering service is UK-based support for your business. One of our most popular services, we provide call answering for a wide range of clients. Some only use us once a year to cover the telephone answering while they’re abroad. Others use Get Ahead for other services and bolt on telephone answering when they need it.

In this blog, we look at how an outsourced telephone answering service can help your business and how it works in practice.

How does a telephone answering service help your business?

The invention of smart phones means that fewer people need an answering service than in days gone by. But telephone answering is still an essential business tool, particularly if you’re a solopreneur or work alone. Yes, you can answer your phone while you’re on holiday, but what if you’re swimming in the sea, meditating on a retreat or screaming on a roller coaster with your amazing family?! A proper holiday is one where you don’t take work calls. You need to recharge your batteries and reconnect with both yourself and the people you care about. Ultimately, it helps your business too. When you go back to work refreshed, you’ll be able to give your business and customers the attention they deserve. This will often translate into business growth. Trust us, breaks are important!

So, what you do you do instead of answering a work call? You don’t want to just leave your customers a recorded message. Quite frankly, it’s not good customer service. It’s impersonal and one message might not fit all callers. If your customers need reassurance, there’s no one to give it. And if disaster strikes, you won’t hear about it until you get back.

But a UK-based telephone answering service offers a better solution. The call will be answered by a real person, working as an extension of your business. They can take messages and provide reassurance that you will deal with the query on your return. They can defuse difficult calls and – if necessary – contact you to report emergencies. How does a telephone answering service work? Our telephone answering service works like this. If you’re new to Get Ahead, contact your local regional director here to get started. And if you’re an existing Get Ahead client, just get in touch with whoever your usually deal with! The regional director will take details about the duration of your holiday, what you would like the call handler to say and any other action they need to take.

Then you simply divert your work phone number to our call centre (don’t worry – it’s very easy and you’ll receive full instructions!). Our call handlers will answer the phone with the name of your business and whatever professional greeting you like to use. They will take messages, and when you return to your desk, the messages will be there, waiting for you.

PS – going on holiday tomorrow? Don’t worry – we can get you set up with our phone answering team in as little as 24 hours!

It’s a good idea to set fresh goals every quarter, but it’s also important to be smart, strategic and focused in your approach. Done well, goal setting will keep your business on track and heading in the right direction. You’ll also be able to measure your success and see how far you’ve come, which may motivate you to go further in the next quarter.

We love goals at Get Ahead. As we begin the last quarter of the year, we thought we’d share our views on why goal-setting is important, and how to set achievable goals that will move your business forward.

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