Throughout my working life networks have always been hugely important to me.
What I really mean by that is connecting with people, getting to know them and finding out what makes them tick.
This has obvious value in the world of politics but I found it to be crucial to my life in business before I entered politics.
I was reminded of this principle when attending a recent meeting of the Northallerton branch of BNI – Business Networking International.
While it is a global organisation, established in the United States in the 1980s, it works locally through branches made up of members who meet weekly.
Its aim to help members generate new business through contacts and referrals. It works through the relationships and the trust created through the regular meetings.
Since the Northallerton branch was established, members have done over £500,000 worth of business with each other.
At the meeting I enjoyed meeting the 25 members who are all small businesses. They were wide-ranging – from a cleaning company to a personal trainer and a vehicle body shop – and all seeking to growing their enterprises.
Small businesses are, of course, what make this area tick. We don’t have big firms employing many thousands. Instead, we have hundreds of small enterprises collectively employing thousands.
Good contacts and referrals – personal recommendations – are so important to these types of businesses. In fact, most small business get the majority of their new business leads though such referrals.
In my brief remarks to the branch, I thanked them for their collective contribution to our local economy and their commitment to growing their businesses and employing more people as they do so.
One bit of business news was not so good this week – the proposed redundancies at the BT depot in Northallerton. I am in contact with both BT and GXO – the logistics company running the affected part of the business – to ensure the affected staff are offered alternative roles should the changes go-ahead as proposed.
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It’s now peak show season and I was pleased to get along to Osmotherley Show at Thimbleby last week.
It was privilege to present the Ridden Hunter Trophy to Joanne Watson and the prizes and trophy to the young sheep handlers.
The livestock on show looked great, as did the all the exhibits in the tent. There were some particularly good-looking cakes!
I spent some time with members of the Hurworth Hunt. My daughters have been training and competing with the Pony Club. It’s a great club run entirely by volunteers.
That’s true of the show and all the agricultural shows filling the calendar at the moment. They make such a contribution to local life and they wouldn’t happen without all the time and effort show committees across North Yorkshire devote to providing a great day out for the rest of us.
