What to Expect

The meeting experience

We have two networking formats – the Business Room and the Connections Club. Some elements are the same across both groups, while others are unique to each format. Here’s what you can expect.

You’ll be welcomed from the moment you arrive

Every Your Business Matters meeting starts with a warm welcome. From the moment you arrive, our team will be there to greet you, introduce you to other members and make sure you feel comfortable before the meeting gets underway. You won’t be left to fend for yourself. Our seating plans are carefully thought through so you’ll always be sitting next to people where there’s potential for collaboration and great conversation.

We send you everything you need in advance

Before every meeting, members receive a lead sheet that lists attendees and what they’re looking for in their business. That means every member arrives already thinking about who in their network could be a useful introduction or where there’s an opportunity for collaboration. That level of preparation is one of the things that makes Your Business Matters events so different.

Time to connect over a meal

Every Your Business Matters meeting includes time to sit down and enjoy a meal together, which could be breakfast or lunch depending on your group. It’s a chance to have unplanned conversations and get to know the people around you. Great connections are often made over a meal and it’s part of the meeting our members really look forward to.

What you can expect at a Business Room meeting

60 second introductions

Every Business Room meeting includes 60 second introductions. Every member and visitor tells the rest of the group about their business and shares what they’re looking for. It’s a focused, structured format that means everyone is heard and members know exactly how they can help each other. For visitors, it’s a great opportunity to introduce yourself to the whole group at once.

The Adding Value section

The Adding Value section is one of the highlights of every Business Room meeting. A member takes the floor and shares something useful, whether it’s a skill, operational process, market update or facilitating a group discussion about a common business challenge. It’s knowledge you’d normally only access by paying for it, shared generously by people who want to see everyone in the group succeed. You’ll always leave with something you can take away and implement.

The member presentation

Business Room meetings include a member presentation slot, where one member goes into more detail about their business journey and what they’ve learned along the way. It’s a great opportunity for members to build their profile in the group and help the rest of the group get to know them on a deeper level.

Let’s Talk Business

Every Business Room meeting closes with Let’s Talk Business which is dedicated time for members to share how they can help a fellow member, thank others for referrals received, share a testimonial for someone in the group or request a 121. It keeps the momentum of the group moving forward and ends every meeting with purpose and next steps.

Find out more about The Business Room

What you can expect at a Connections Club meeting

Table introductions

Every Connections Club meeting has table introductions where members share what they’re working towards and how someone in the group could complement what they do or be a collaborative partner. It’s a format that’s both warm and intentional so members have a clear idea of who they want to follow up with.

Relationship-focused meetings

In relationship-focused Connections Club meetings, the main session is built around structured group conversations. Members spend time with a small group of fellow members to really get to know each other. They explore shared ambitions, potential partnerships and the kinds of opportunities they’d be less likely to access alone. It’s a format that goes much deeper than standard networking introductions and leads to commercially valuable conversations that members tell us are hard to find elsewhere.

Learning-focused meetings

In learning-focused Connections Club meetings, the main session centres on a speaker or facilitated discussion on a topic directly relevant to growing into more complex opportunities. Topics could cover areas like bids and tenders, hiring for growth, systems, processes or how to approach larger or more complex clients. Every topic is handpicked to reflect the commercial ambitions of the people in the group. Sessions include time for discussion and questions, so members leave with fresh knowledge and something they can act on.

Find out more about The Connections Club

Productive, professional and profitable networking

I’ve been a member of one of Barbara’s groups since I set up my business over 6 years ago. As a new business the support I received in the room was amazing and gave me huge confidence as I felt I wasn’t alone with my daunting new project. As my business has thrived, I know that’s in no small part due to Your Business Matters; visiting groups I always meet positive, supportive and successful people who are interested in each other and whoever comes into the room - networking groups don’t always feel like this but Barbara’s groups do.

Natalie Trembecki - Writer for You