Being part of a community is great for business owners. Having people that you can share ideas with, seek advice from and collaborate with can bring so many benefits.
It goes without saying that community is central to UKBF’s mission. The forum is a place where business owners of all descriptions come together and work towards a common goal – success. By sharing knowledge, experience and opinions as part of a community, we can help one another to grow.
UKBF founder @Ozzy shared his thoughts about the importance of community in a recent Business Nuggets episode.
In short, we love community – and we wanted to share why.
As a business owner, it’s important to surround yourself with people who understand your situation. Having a community that listens when you want to vent frustrations or share achievements can make a massive difference to your wellbeing. Plus, sometimes it’s great just to chat with somebody who understands what you’re going through.
In the article How I started my business as an independent insurance broker, member @Frank the Insurance guy said how important the UKBF community was when he launched Meadow Broking in 2020.
“Primarily I see UKBF as a forum where members can share their experiences, both good and bad, with other business owners. It’s where business owners can get the best possible advice from others who have likely been in the same situation as them,” he said.
Member @Mark T Jones added: “I use and enjoy the community of UKBF and LinkedIn. The reasons and outcomes are different. I also have a small group of business associates who I mix with, which helps with knowledge and keeping up to speed. So those things definitely add some value.”
In the early days, swapping trades with people in your community can help to keep costs down. Further into your journey, it’s often contacts within your community that you hire for ad hoc, contractual or permanent work.
On the Is community important for you and your business? thread, @Ozzy said that all of his friendships have been formed through business – and these friends are the first people he asks in times of need.
“When I need a job doing, I ask my friends who they know. Or I ask someone I have met if that’s what they do. They are my friends and they are also my business contacts, there is no difference.
“I've known them through my different business cycles. I've kept in contact and we socialise. For me, it is all one… It’s my social life, support network, business relationships and more,” he said.
“As a new business, we needed to get known and build trust,” said @Frank the Insurance guy. “Face-to-face networking opportunities were non-existent due to the pandemic and lockdown. I went in on UKBF 100%, making sure I contributed wherever I thought I could provide advice and support for other members.”
Over a year on, it has proved a great fit for the business and Frank has assisted a number of UKBF members in understanding and dealing with Covid-related insurance claims.
“We should also be considering how the people in the community can benefit from our business. After all, our business could be impacting them. Our delivery lorries blocking their road, our waste adding to their problems, our alarms going off in the middle of the night,” Trevor said.
“We hope that even [non-customers] appreciate we are socially responsible and respect us for it. We have a few collection boxes in the shop. We have a community area with information from local organisations and we sponsor or give prizes for local events.”
@Trevor Andrews finished his post by quoting John F. Kennedy’s historic words: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
Want to be part of an active community of small business owners? You can find our more about joining UKBF here.
It goes without saying that community is central to UKBF’s mission. The forum is a place where business owners of all descriptions come together and work towards a common goal – success. By sharing knowledge, experience and opinions as part of a community, we can help one another to grow.
UKBF founder @Ozzy shared his thoughts about the importance of community in a recent Business Nuggets episode.
In short, we love community – and we wanted to share why.
1. Get support and advice
A business community can be an invaluable source of support and advice. Whether you’re looking for help overcoming a challenge, asking for feedback, seeking mentors or doing research, a trusted community is there to help.As a business owner, it’s important to surround yourself with people who understand your situation. Having a community that listens when you want to vent frustrations or share achievements can make a massive difference to your wellbeing. Plus, sometimes it’s great just to chat with somebody who understands what you’re going through.
In the article How I started my business as an independent insurance broker, member @Frank the Insurance guy said how important the UKBF community was when he launched Meadow Broking in 2020.
“Primarily I see UKBF as a forum where members can share their experiences, both good and bad, with other business owners. It’s where business owners can get the best possible advice from others who have likely been in the same situation as them,” he said.
Member @Mark T Jones added: “I use and enjoy the community of UKBF and LinkedIn. The reasons and outcomes are different. I also have a small group of business associates who I mix with, which helps with knowledge and keeping up to speed. So those things definitely add some value.”
2. Identify opportunities to collaborate
Being part of a strong business community, with people in your own and other industries, is a great way to collaborate and get fresh perspectives.In the early days, swapping trades with people in your community can help to keep costs down. Further into your journey, it’s often contacts within your community that you hire for ad hoc, contractual or permanent work.
On the Is community important for you and your business? thread, @Ozzy said that all of his friendships have been formed through business – and these friends are the first people he asks in times of need.
“When I need a job doing, I ask my friends who they know. Or I ask someone I have met if that’s what they do. They are my friends and they are also my business contacts, there is no difference.
“I've known them through my different business cycles. I've kept in contact and we socialise. For me, it is all one… It’s my social life, support network, business relationships and more,” he said.
3. Raise brand awareness
Being part of a community is a great way to raise brand awareness and build a good reputation. By participating in discussions, sharing knowledge and supporting others, it’s possible to demonstrate your expertise, which can help to land new work.“As a new business, we needed to get known and build trust,” said @Frank the Insurance guy. “Face-to-face networking opportunities were non-existent due to the pandemic and lockdown. I went in on UKBF 100%, making sure I contributed wherever I thought I could provide advice and support for other members.”
Over a year on, it has proved a great fit for the business and Frank has assisted a number of UKBF members in understanding and dealing with Covid-related insurance claims.
4. Being a good neighbour
On the Is community important for you and your business? thread, UKBF member @Trevor Andrews was keen to point out that being part of a community is a two-way concept.“We should also be considering how the people in the community can benefit from our business. After all, our business could be impacting them. Our delivery lorries blocking their road, our waste adding to their problems, our alarms going off in the middle of the night,” Trevor said.
“We hope that even [non-customers] appreciate we are socially responsible and respect us for it. We have a few collection boxes in the shop. We have a community area with information from local organisations and we sponsor or give prizes for local events.”
@Trevor Andrews finished his post by quoting John F. Kennedy’s historic words: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
Want to be part of an active community of small business owners? You can find our more about joining UKBF here.
