Barclays help small businesses grow at networking events

With more than 60 per cent of small business owners finding networking events an important way to build up useful contacts for their business, Barclays today announces 18 new dates for networking workshops from 11 September, 2007 to help business owners increase their profits and improve their marketing.

Barclays has partnered with business expert Robert Craven to run the workshops from September as the need for SME’s to network is the back-bone to any business. The workshops will look at how they can improve their bottom line performance and introduce them to various profit-making strategies which will enable SME’s to develop individual action plans to help them put their tactics into action.

John Davis, marketing director for local business at Barclays said: "At Barclays, we believe that it’s vital that businesses are given this kind of advice and forum to encourage them to get together. This allows them to spend their time in the most productive way as our research tells us that traditional breeding grounds for doing deals, like the pub or golf club, are no longer relevant for the majority of SMEs.

“Our research shows that most small business owners prefer organized events allowing them to meet others and discuss issues face to face as opposed to networking on the internet. Our latest free workshops will give business owners the opportunity to learn the essential skills to grow their business and ensure their venture continues to be successful and profitable.”

The Barclays Local business research showed that SMEs still favour face to face communications for their networking. The survey of over 500 entrepreneurs listed the following as the favourite means to network:

* Organised / networking events: 61 per cent
* Pub: 7 per cent
* Golf Club: 7 per cent
* Internet: 8 per cent
* Other: 17 per cent

Robert Craven, who will be delivering the workshops, said: “The Let’s Talk Bright Marketing and Let’s Talk More Profit workshops are a brilliant opportunity to step back, think about what you are trying to do and start to make decisions that will fundamentally improve the profitability of your business.” A list of seminars is below. Small businesses interested in attending should call 0800 515 462 or visit www.barclays.co.uk/seminars.

* North West, 11-Sep, Stoke-on-Trent
* Central,12-Sep, Nottingham
* Central, 09-Oct, Walsall
* North West, 10-Oct, Llandudno
* North East, 17-Oct, Wakefield
* North West, 18-Oct, Preston
* North East, 01-Nov, Scotch Corner
* South West, 06-Nov, Reading
* Southern, 08-Nov, Ashford, Kent
* Wales & West, 09-Nov, Oxford
* Outer London, 13-Nov, Croydon
* Eastern, 14-Nov, Norwich
* Eastern, 15-Nov, Basildon/East Essex
* Outer London, 20-Nov, Wembley
* South West, 22-Nov, Bath
* Scotland, 26-Nov, Aberdeen
* Southern, 28-Nov, Guildford
* South West, 30 Nov, Poole