Using your network to create business development opportunities

Anna Stubbs • July 25, 2024

People buy from people. It’s an obvious observation beloved of salespeople, but it’s also why networking is such a powerful tool for creating business development opportunities.

 

Networking helps build relationships with other professionals, share ideas and learn from each other. By connecting and partnering with the right people, you can create meaningful business relationships – relationships that may lead to new and innovative business opportunities.

Networking as your blueprint for success

 

Building a successful business network is essential. But how do you start developing these relationships with customers, suppliers and other business owners? And how does connecting with your peers help you broaden the scope of your opportunities?

 

Building up your network and connecting with people helps you:

 

  • Find potential customers and expand the reach of your brand – attending trade conferences and industry workshops gets you in front of your target audience. It’s a chance to chat, find out customer pain points and understand your audience.
  • Meet new business partners – networking at the right trade events also helps you meet other business owners in your sector, and in other complimentary industries. It’s an opportunity to forge new partnerships and create co-branded opportunities
  • Get referrals from trusted members of your network – when you have trusted relationships in your network, these people are far more likely to recommend your business to their own network. Word-of-mouth promotion is the best kind, after all.
  • Locate the perfect mentor – we all have something to learn from more experienced members of our network. This is a golden opportunity to seek out a mentor who can give you advice, share their experience and improve your management skills.



By taking the time to nurture your network and build relationships with the right people, you can open up a world of possibilities for your business. As a business adviser working across multiple sectors, we can introduce you to new people, connections and opportunities.

 

If you’re looking for an introduction to a new network, come and talk to us.

Start Up Loan Scheme: getting your business off the ground

By Anna Stubbs • January 29, 2026
Having adequate access to adequate funding is fundamental for any startup. In the early stages of getting your enterprise off the ground, you need working capital to reach the all-important minimum viable product (MVP) stage, rent premises and hire staff. But where does this initial funding come from? Let’s look at the UK Government's Start Up Loan scheme and the funding options it offers.

Cost-saving measures and how they drive profits

By Anna Stubbs • January 29, 2026
Question: “Can cost-saving measures in the business truly be a key driver of profits?” Running a profitable business is one of your key goals as an owner. Without profits, there’s no capital to reinvest in the business, no funds to grow the company and no money for your own dividend payment at the end of the financial year. So, is cost-saving the answer in these challenging economic times? Answer: “Careful management of costs is a fundamental way to improve your profit margins and profitability as an enterprise” Cost-saving measures will have a direct and measurable impact on your profits. This is usually achieved via two main mechanisms. Firstly, reducing your variable costs (like raw materials or direct labour) increases your gross profit margin. This retains more revenue from each sale you make as a business. Secondly, lowering fixed overheads (such as rent or software licenses) directly reduces the total expenses on your profit and loss statement, leading to a higher net profit. This immediate bottom-line improvement makes you a more financially healthy prospect to investors and lenders – which, in turn, can often make it easier to access funding and grow the business. Want to know more about cost-saving measures?  Talk to the team about your profit goals and we’ll advise you on the key ways you can reduce your overheads and expenses to drive improved profits.

Protecting you and your business: taking out insurance

By Anna Stubbs • January 29, 2026
We all hope that our pathway along the business journey will be smooth and uncomplicated. But the reality is that accidents can happen, along with unplanned injuries, damaging weather events and legal suits from disgruntled clients. So, what can you do to protect your business from these potential negative consequences? The answer is to take out the relevant business insurance for your company.