A successful business networking group, which first met a decade ago, is relaunching with a new name, a prestigious new venue and backing from one of Staffordshire’s most prominent business figures.
Totally Staffordshire Networking began meetings at the Potters’ Club, Stoke-on-Trent this month (July). The group, formerly the Tollgate Business Club was a successful enterprise pre-lockdown, generating £1 million in business in 2019.
It’s an exciting new start for the networking group which lost its home following the closure of the Tollgate Hotel and has only hosted a handful of face to face meetings since because of coronavirus lockdowns. Current members have continued meeting via Zoom, but the group is now keen to get back to face to face networking and is inviting local companies to join.
“We’re raring to go and there’s lots of pent up demand for the return of face to face networking,” said longstanding member Janet Lewis. “We have continued to generate business during lockdown and members have rallied around to support each other through the pandemic, but there’s nothing like networking to get the business ideas and collaborations flowing.”
“We’re delighted that we’ve been invited to use the Potters’ Club. It was incredibly sad to lose the Tollgate venue, but we’re now ready to return and we’re in a very good place. In future, we will be known as Totally Staffordshire Networking at the Potters Club ”
In addition to business generated, the group has raised more than £18,000 for good causes during the past decade and will continue to support children and families needing specialist health care support and local charities in future years.
Totally Staffordshire Networking has maintained a core group of around 14 members throughout the coronavirus lockdowns and now wants to add to this. Meetings are held at breakfast time every Thursday and the group operates a system of sector exclusivity so there’s no clashes in the room.
Janet explained: “Sector exclusivity allows our members to get to know the company which supplies each service and grow trust in them as a preferred supplier. Once trust is in place, they can confidently recommend them to other companies and become referral partners.
“Members passed £1m in business during 2018 and as all the companies are local, it means that the money benefits the economy in North Staffordshire, it is spent locally and funds the development of local businesses. Strong bonds and friendships have been formed and the support and advice that members give to each other is invaluable.”
Totally Staffordshire Networking will have an annual membership fee of £200 which we see as excellent value given that, in 2019, each seat had a return of over £50,000.
To visit Totally Staffordshire, please contact Janet Lewis, on 07966 929372, or Andy Foster, on 07957 982525.
