Young Business Owners/Entrepreneurs - Networking

[LukeF]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if anyone knew any national organisations that offer networking or regular meet ups for business owners or entrepreneurs under 30.

I work from home and as much as i love working for myself, I find that I don't get out much which therefore means I don't get the opportunity to meet like-minded people or interact with others regularly.

I've searched Google and I haven't found anywhere that caters to younger people (I've found a few, but they haven't had any meetups for a couple of years which tells me they aren't running anymore).

If anyone has any advice for getting out and meeting like minded people it would be greatly appreciated.

Luke.

 

[ryedale]

Can't under 40 be young.. I've still got a few months left before that milestone

 

[ethical PR]

I'm surprised they haven't come up on Google, but most of the national business networking organisations such as Rotary and the British Chamber of Commerce have sector groups for younger members. If you google Meet Up they have entrepreneur groups and might have one for younger entrepreneurs in your are.

 

[HazelC]

Just to throw a spanner in the works.... or a cat amongst the pigeons - why are you looking to network with under 30s? I set up my business at 28, I'm now 30 and due to the fact my target audience is all ages I network with all ages.

I have seen networking groups for new businesses but never for under 30s... but there are lots of incubation units or workspaces for under 30s (due to government funding) that may do networking so maybe have a google search for those in your geographical area?

 

[LukeF]

Just to throw a spanner in the works.... or a cat amongst the pigeons - why are you looking to network with under 30s? I set up my business at 28, I'm now 30 and due to the fact my target audience is all ages I network with all ages.

I have seen networking groups for new businesses but never for under 30s... but there are lots of incubation units or workspaces for under 30s (due to government funding) that may do networking so maybe have a google search for those in your geographical area?

Hi Hazel.

Thanks for your reply! I suppose I just wanted to meet people of similar age, but I'm of course open to the idea of networking with people of all ages. To be honest, I haven't found many places to do that either (where I'm based anyway in Staffordshire). I've looked into shared workspaces but they're only available mainly in Manchester, Leeds and London.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Have a look at YENA

 

[Scott@KarmaContent]

Whereabouts are you based Luke? I know someone who runs one in the Manchester area.

 

[Martin Gallagher]

Scott, please could you ping me the Manchester one?

 

[Chris Ashdown]

By putting such a stupid age requirement you are blocking out the far more experienced people who could give you so much more

What do you do when you go to see a client who is over 30 walk away or talk to them

Confidence comes with practice and normally experience grows with age, whilst technology may come with either

 

[TODonnell]

Meetup.com

 

[ethical PR]

Scott, please could you ping me the Manchester one?

Martin - Manchester is one of the best places for business networking groups....

For example a quick search on Google brought up

http://www.jcimanchester.org.uk/

http://www.gmchamber.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterYPN

 

[LukeF]

ethical PR:

I've had a look on meetup, in my area there isn't really much happening unfortunately. When i do come across an "entrepreneur" or business related meetup there's like 3 people who attend.

consultant:

Thanks!

Scott@KarmaContent:

I'm based in the Staffordshire region. Manchester is a little far but please send them over if that's okay with you!

Chris Ashdown:

Wow, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. The "stupid" age group is because I'm more interested in making friends, not clients. Please don't insult my business acumen by insinuating I can't talk or make deals with people over the age of 30. Perhaps the word "networking" wasn't the best to use. I want to meet like minded people, similar aged people for the sake of my social life, not business reasons. I'm in my early twenties and I don't think it's an unreasonable thing that I want to meet people similar to my age.

adamchy:

Thanks, but I've already had a look and in my area there's very little going on.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

'there's like 3 people who attend.'

Luke, these could be the best 3 people you could ever meet - do not make assumptions.

BTW, if 3 became 4, it would quickly become 5,6,10,20....

 

[LukeF]

'there's like 3 people who attend.'

Luke, these could be the best 3 people you could ever meet - do not make assumptions.

BTW, if 3 became 4, it would quickly become 5,6,10,20....

Very good point, thank you for putting it that way. I'll make sure i attend!

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Sorry i thought it was a business forum not lonely hearts and therefore assumed wrongly that you were looking to meet and discuss business

I still think it's silly to define a age group as normally anyone 30+ i.e. 31 and over would not try and join

 

[LukeF]

Sorry i thought it was a business forum not lonely hearts and therefore assumed wrongly that you were looking to meet and discuss business

I still think it's silly to define a age group as normally anyone 30+ i.e. 31 and over would not try and join

So because you have no good rebuttal to my comment, you result to a childish remark in order to try and make me look bad. In case you didn't know, the lonely hearts section is for people looking for love or a partner (yes, this is meant to be condescending). I on the other hand, am looking for like-minded business owners to engage and socialise with, perhaps even talk about business... crazy right?! Would it be unreasonable for (for example) a quantity surveyor to want to make friends with similar quantity surveyors in the office?

If you actually read the whole thread, you might notice that my second post states that I am open to networking with people of all ages.

Have a fantastic day champ!

 

[ethical PR]

ethical PR:

I've had a look on meetup, in my area there isn't really much happening unfortunately. When i do come across an "entrepreneur" or business related meetup there's like 3 people who attend.

consultant:

Thanks!

Scott@KarmaContent:

I'm based in the Staffordshire region. Manchester is a little far but please send them over if that's okay with you!

Chris Ashdown:

Wow, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. The "stupid" age group is because I'm more interested in making friends, not clients. Please don't insult my business acumen by insinuating I can't talk or make deals with people over the age of 30. Perhaps the word "networking" wasn't the best to use. I want to meet like minded people, similar aged people for the sake of my social life, not business reasons. I'm in my early twenties and I don't think it's an unreasonable thing that I want to meet people similar to my age.

adamchy:

Thanks, but I've already had a look and in my area there's very little going on.

Hey Luke

What about the Junior Chamber and Young Rotary which I recommended at the start of the thread - do they not have any branches near you?

And I agree about growing the Meet Up group - why not get involved and help grow it into something you'd like to be a member of.

 

[LukeF]

Hey Luke

What about the Junior Chamber and Young Rotary which I recommended at the start of the thread - do they not have any branches near you?

And I agree about growing the Meet Up group - why not get involved and help grow it into something you'd like to be a member of.

Yes, I'm going to have a look at it later tonight! Hopefully they have a branch near me, thank you very much for the suggestion!

 

[LukeF]

@LukeF go along to the Chamber of Commerce events they have a mix of all ages. Plus they can be good for business and not just making friends. There are events held in Tamworth and Lichfield. You will find these events on the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce website.

You may want to check out Tag Network Midlands also.

Thanks a lot for this Kelly, I'll be sure to check it out!

 

[RPower]

Young Entrepreneurs Networking Association! (YENA) - they're Bristol and Bath and are a lovely bunch of people if you're ever in this neck of the woods: http://yena.co.uk/

Try your local meetup.com groups too as there are often young entrepreneurs meetups on there.

 

[altwebdesign]

Im currently looking for the same in the Birmingham/Wolverhampton area.... If anyone can recommend any groups please do let me know!

* Sorry to hijack the thread a little *

 

[RPower]

What if... and only a very general idea for now.. UKBF started its own networking/meetups?

 

[tony84]

@Chris Ashdown - I think the idea of networking with people the same age group is to make contacts with similar aged people who have similar interests.

I do not do networking for a few reasons, but one of them is that I go to a room full of middle aged men. (Generalising) They tend to either moan about one thing or another, talk down to younger people and just generally have different interests.

If I can discuss business with people my own age, with similar interests it makes it a lot more interesting. Working on your own can be hard going at times, there is no office banter (hate that word!) so its nice to be able to find a place to build up those relationships.

Im 30, I would not want to network with 18-21 year old as they will be talking about facetime and and things I dont have a clue about and permanently glued to their phone. 50 year olds have been there, done it and had the enthusiasm sucked from them or still think you can do things like you could in the 70s.

You MAY lose that experience but having worked in my own businesses and family run busineses, large corporations and small local companies - I would like to think I have a pretty decent amount of experience as I first started working for myself at 16, that gives me 14 years worth and I still fall in to the OPs definitioon of young...just. Although I have to admit I moan and talk about the past more now than I have ever done. It wont be long before the "back in my day" starts.

A lot of being self employed is all in the enthusiasm. Being around like minded people also full of enthusiasm can help that. You could have 50 years experience but if you cba (young folk speak for cant be ****d) whats the point?

 

[Mingleflow]

Hello,
In our area we have events organised by LinkForCoffee - we have visited the previous one first time and found it really interesting. You can meet local business owners and share knowledge and talk about local topics too
Check if they have someone in your area organising the same (they are mostly volunteers)

 

[LukeF]

@Chris Ashdown - I think the idea of networking with people the same age group is to make contacts with similar aged people who have similar interests.

I do not do networking for a few reasons, but one of them is that I go to a room full of middle aged men. (Generalising) They tend to either moan about one thing or another, talk down to younger people and just generally have different interests.

If I can discuss business with people my own age, with similar interests it makes it a lot more interesting. Working on your own can be hard going at times, there is no office banter (hate that word!) so its nice to be able to find a place to build up those relationships.

Im 30, I would not want to network with 18-21 year old as they will be talking about facetime and and things I dont have a clue about and permanently glued to their phone. 50 year olds have been there, done it and had the enthusiasm sucked from them or still think you can do things like you could in the 70s.

You MAY lose that experience but having worked in my own businesses and family run busineses, large corporations and small local companies - I would like to think I have a pretty decent amount of experience as I first started working for myself at 16, that gives me 14 years worth and I still fall in to the OPs definitioon of young...just. Although I have to admit I moan and talk about the past more now than I have ever done. It wont be long before the "back in my day" starts.

A lot of being self employed is all in the enthusiasm. Being around like minded people also full of enthusiasm can help that. You could have 50 years experience but if you cba (young folk speak for cant be ****d) whats the point?

Thanks for this Tony, you explained it better than i did!

 

[MidlandFoodService]

Let me know if you manage to find something in staffs. Im from Burton, business in Birmingham. I will attend to bump up numbers and see what its all about!

 

[AshPhillips]

Hi all, going to bump this thread and thank both @consultant and @RPower for suggesting YENA (yena[dot]co[dot]uk). @LukeF I started YENA because of the exact reasons you've outlined. it can be lonely starting a business and you need someone to simply bounce your crazy ideas off of who understands them and isn't a 'weirdo' like I thought I was! We have regular experienced speakers and Q&A sessions too. Now we're building a new website & other services to improve that offering and grow!

We're now running events in Bristol, Bath, Birmingham and Manchester (currently complete free) and would love to have you along. I hope the latter two are close enough for you? Sign up via the website and I'll see you then. Any further Qs feel free to email me at ash[at]yena[dot]co[dot]uk and the same to @altwebdesign @MidlandFoodService – would love to see you there!