Business Representation & Support Organisations

[Ozzy]

Running a quick little snap poll to help me shape some of the decisions I need to make for UKBF this year, so please do share your thoughts.
The poll is, irrespective of whether you are actually are already a member of any of these or if you wouldn't want to be, if you had to join one which would you choose. If you can share some more information on the why please do add it to the comments.

Any thoughts on how they could be better, again please share

 

[fisicx]

None of the above. I might be in a minority here but most of my business comes from overseas clients so UK representation isn’t much use to me.

 

[estwig]

I did the BCC, a pompous self-opinionated bunch, they wanted to swap leads like those nasty business breakfast clubs do, so I'm supposed to give 'em a lead worth £80k, they might give me a lead worth £2k. I didn't stay long.

I did the FSB for a while too, great organisation, championing the small business, they seemed genuinely passionate about it, but they didn't bring any value to my business, so I left.

No idea about the other two, I don't seem able to answer your question.

 

[Paul Carmen]

None, what's the benefit here to most businesses of any of these?

We'd rather by skilled in and accredited by the companies/tools in the industry we work; e.g. Google partner, Reviews.io partner, Formstack partner, What Converts partner etc.

 

[Socio South West]

Another vote for None.

Experience similar to Estwig - On the face of it there is plenty on offer, but under the cover there's no practical or financial value bought to the business,

 

[14Steve14]

I tried the local Chamber of Commerce when I started but got nothing out of it and all they seemed to be interested in was an advert in their annual magazine that would not have suited my business in any way.

I am a member of the FSB but only because of the offers of legal and business advice, should I ever want it. When first employing someone I used their services and it wad beneficial.

Not tried the others.

I get most help and advice from online sources when I need it, although some of the answers given can be taken with a pinch of salt.

 

[Waddy]

FSB for the legal protection scheme, if they ever got rid of that it would be of little value.

 

[japancool]

I did the BCC, a pompous self-opinionated bunch, they wanted to swap leads like those nasty business breakfast clubs do, so I'm supposed to give 'em a lead worth £80k, they might give me a lead worth £2k. I didn't stay long.

That's exactly the impression I got of the IOD last time I was there.

 

[sjr4x4]

Think the BCC is most useful for startups, I found it useful initially for networking meetings and some sales training but didn't see any value moving forward.

FSB put me off as they used to (about 10 years ago) have high-pressure sales tactics and descended unannounced on my business a number of times. They do seem to champion small business and other biz owners I know value their insurance and legal advice, but it's not for me.

No real opinion on the CBI, hear their soundbites and think of them as a lobbying pressure group, but always associate them with big corporates. Can't see what value they would offer me, think it's more me supporting them with my membership fees.

IOD is the only one I'd consider, but I don't know if I could invest the time to make the most of any membership.

One option that isn't on there that changed my business and mindset completely is business coaching. If you could do a deal with someone like action coach or an independent coach that offered new businesses the opportunity to get some professional advice and pointed in the right direction, it would save a lot of wasted money and inevitable mistakes. In hindsight, I wish I'd done a lot sooner, and would have been 1000 times better than trudging round the usual networking groups and talking to the same old people getting sold to death, that most of us do in the early days.

 

[Ozzy]

One option that isn't on there that changed my business and mindset completely is business coaching.

I feel this is an interesting one. I personally think having a business coach is brilliant for any new business owner starting out, but I am very much skeptical of "business coaches" out there. Personally I would be loathed to align UKBF to any coaching franchise, but I'm a big advocate of having a coach as a business owner - rock and a hard place. I don't have any solution other than recommending people find a good coach they can work with.

 

[Gyumri]

The Institute of Directors - they do a good lunch.

 

[wayzgoose]

FSB for me. Free business banking, legal advice and covered for a tax investigation. The annual fee is actually less than my accountant wanted for tax investigation cover.

 

[Mark T Jones]

About 30 years ago I may have joined FSB. So I approached them on an exhibition stand - The person then spent 10 minutes extolling their insurance products. Since he didn't pause to ask questions, he wasn't to know that at the time I was an AR for Sun Alliance. I never bothered again.

Chambers have been extremely varied - ranging from horrible networking groups to serious business forums. Amusingly, I belonged to a small-town chamber, where discussion was 80% around Christmas lights & bike racks (clearly of value to retailers, but not to business as a whole).

TBH; I wasn't aware that CBI was actually a membership organisation.

IOD hovers on the edge of my radar, not least for 'London offices'

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I feel this is an interesting one. I personally think having a business coach is brilliant for any new business owner starting out, but I am very much skeptical of "business coaches" out there. Personally I would be loathed to align UKBF to any coaching franchise, but I'm a big advocate of having a coach as a business owner - rock and a hard place. I don't have any solution other than recommending people find a good coach they can work with.

You already done it Boss

You have the best coaches on here in the country