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As I'm sure you know I go to a lot of networking events. Yours had a brilliant selection of very interesting and 'in the know' professionals - it was also a great structure with perfect timings.

I've been a member of the Business Network in Manchester for over 4 years now and I know of no other network that works so hard for its members. There's no gimmicks and no "you must create 'x' number of leads", there's just a genuine interest in who you are, what you do and how the network might be able to help you. In return, members are eager to help each other, providing support, services, advice and more and so much of it without any hint of a transaction. In pre-Covid days we would meet for lunch in one of Manchester's premier hotels, attend an optional pre-lunch seminar on a specialist topic (often worth the joining fee alone), and then, after a period of general networking, be supported by a table host as you share your business, passion or anything else that is on your heart. In our socially distant setting, we still meet monthly, now via Zoom, and follow a similar format, albeit without the 2-course lunch and coffee! Membership tends to be a mixture of business owners to senior leaders in the small to medium enterprise sector but there are some bigger organisations represented and the decision makers are generally in the room. I've found the Business Network - and the work of Helen and Russell Bennett in particular - to be very supportive and the gateway to some excellent opportunities for both business and support.