Networking Group Profile: 6 Degrees Networking

• Stuart Russell
• Thursday 18 October 2012

What is your Networking Organisation called?

6 Degrees Networking

How long has the organisation been running events?

Since April 2009

Where do you run your events and how frequently? (eg town/city, monthly/weekly)

We are concentrating on Edinburgh presently and run breakfast meetings (second Thursday of the month), Leith Lunch (last Thursday of the month) and frequent Soirées (evening events every 2-3 months).

Briefly describe your events?

Breakfast

Centotre George Street private room (no speaker, informal) Emphasis on meeting new contacts, attendees give a short presentation 'elevator style' and we expand on this to see if there is anything we can facilitate to help. There is also often a brainstorming session for two volunteers who will leave with an A4 sheet full of ideas/solutions. Croissants/pastries, hand baked focaccia rolls with choice of filling, coffee and tea

Leith Lunch

Bond No. 9 (Speaker, informal) Conservatory for speaker followed by restaurant area. Relaxed and fun events. One Main course or two starters from a fabulous international menu with choice of wine and refreshments. Again attendees give a short presentation 'elevator style' and we expand on this to see if there is anything we can facilitate to help.

Soirées

Various quality venues in Edinburgh (speaker, informal) Often a buffet meal with wine and choice of refreshments. Similar format with elevator and introductions. Instead of a speaker we sometimes have themed evenings, such as beer tasting or seasonal events, such as Christmas parties.

What do you think makes your events different?

Guest can either subscribe to 6 Degrees Networking events or can be purchased on an ad-hoc basis. This gives us a usual audience of 60% regular attendees and 40% new people which makes the events more vibrant as theirs always a chance of new connections. All events are relaxed with no sales pitch about 6 Degrees and no formal rules. We always use distinctive venues (some of the best in Edinburgh) and offer a high standard of catering – no bland meeting rooms with flip charts and filter coffee stewing in the corner!

What kinds of businesses attend your events?

We have self-employed business owners through to larger company representatives and managing directors with no bar on numbers from each industry/sector. In other words we encourage collaboration and this has worked very well on numerous occasions.

What is your top tip for people attending your events?

Simply relax, enjoy the company, listen and try not to sell. Try to help others with introductions and referrals.

www.6degreesnetworking.co.uk

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