I have attended a few larger, more established groups in recent months and found that co-working is great way to network while still getting on with your tasks. Working from home can be quite isolating and sometimes you need to bounce ideas off others and gauge reactions. Yesterday has been all about that and more. Everyone has commented how positive they feel, how much they have got done, how they have could stay on task without wondering whether they should empty the washing machine or feed the cat! We have shared ideas and knowledge, learnt about each other’s’ business ideas for the near future and listened to the reasons we chose to do what we are doing now.

As everyone’s business is different, people have could come and go as they please, pop out for lunch or to make ‘phone calls, work from their laptops or even just a notepad if that is what suits them best. Listening to the conversations between attendees, it seems a common issue people have with more traditional networking meeting sis that there is often a pressure to refer to others and many simply don’t like having the attention focussed solely on them while they have to stand and tell the group “my name is … and I do…” I am certain that as and when the time arises, referrals will be made between those who have come along yesterday, this is because the relationships that have been made have been relaxed and a genuine interest has been taken in what services or products people can offer.

Holding this event at CI Accountancy’s office also meant that when technical questions arose about financial matters associated with running a business we could get the answers from one of their experts on hand in their main office. Hopefully the co-working event will also have raised the profile of CI Accountancy too, as despite them being based in the centre of Hexham, people quite often don’t know where to find them.

I must also mention, by way of a side note, that we have consumed some of the best macaroons known to man thanks to our Patisserie Chef – always an added bonus, however I cannot guarantee that these will be available at all of our events!

Thanks to the positive feedback received I will be looking to host another of the Hexham co-working days early in 2017, those of us who have attended today would love to see some new faces come along and join the group, if you think this could be the kind of thing you would be interested in finding out more about, please get in touch – rachael@puzzlepaservices.co.uk