4N – Business Networking
Founded in 2006, 4Networking ran more than 200 business networking groups across the UK until March 2020 when we were forced to do things differently. We'd already tested a few online meets, which made it super-easy to switch everything online when we could no longer continue meeting in person, and we have continued to support and connect hundreds of businesses online since then.
Real life meetings are now coming back, but 4N will continue to offer a choice of face2face and Online networking for its members. 4N is a membership organisation, but visitors are welcome at all meets.
Here's a few of benefits of 4N membership
- You can network as much or as little as you like, 8am to 8pm, 5 days a week, face-to-face or online
- You can share your expertise & build your credibility by speaking at our meetings (4Sight)
- You can use our membership directory to start conversations with your fellow members
- You can join on a monthly, 6 monthly or annual membership – what ever works for you
There's no joining fee, no compulsory attendance, no lockouts and no compulsory referrals:
Just dynamic networking that works, for you and your business.
4N 4mat
Most meetings follow the same format, so you'll know exactly what to expect wherever you go…
- Open Networking – a chance to chat informally
- 40 seconds to introduce yourelf and your business
- 4Sight Presentation – an insight not a sales pitch
- Three 121 conversations with another attendee
Want to know more?
Find out more about my 4N journey below,
get in touch with any questions,
or book a 121 virtual coffee with me!
Visit the website at 4Nonline.biz
Join us in our Facebook Group:
4N – Smile, Meet, Chat… Join in
Schedule a 1-2-1 Chat
121, Team Catch-up, paid help
– the choice is yours…
I'm always happy to chat with members or guests: feel free to schedule a 121 chat.
4N Team Members – you're my priority in the network, so there's a special option for you with more availability. Book a chat, grab me on WhatsApp or even pick up the phone!
One thing we've found is that the boundaries can get blurred between ‘just a chat' and a work conversation or consultation. Having been told off by the Mad Dutchess for giving too much of my time away, you can book a paid session with me if you feel that's the right thing to do – at a preferential rate and with a choice of meeting length (and price).
If it is just a follow-up get to know you 121 chat that you want, then you absolutely can, and there's zero costs or expectations there.
Networking doesn't end after 90 minutes: follow-up is vital to networking success. However, I've had to reduce my availability slightly so that I can continue to pay the bills and see my family: we all need to do that! 😎
My 4N Journey
Joined 4Networking
To say I was nervous when I first went to 4Networking would be an understatement, and Breakfast meetings weren’t the easiest for me to get to.
I joined 4Networking at my first meeting – Basildon Lunch, 22 May 2013 – after listening to the Founder, Brad Burtond rant about caterpillar cake and a duck pond. I've had a rubber duck on my desk ever since that day.
Brad and I are the only people from the meeting that day that are still in the network.
A few weeks later, before I had chance to attend again, that group closed.
Second Meeting... closed...
I didn't manage to get to any meetings again for a while, but remained a member and got involved in the online community before attending my second meeting in February 2016.
Despite being a ‘business meeting' there was a relaxed and friendly atmosphere… and a Mortgage Broker who seemed to be the butt of everyone's jokes and insults that morning. That suggested to me that he was liked and trusted, and later that year he arraged my first mortgage. I share this becuase it's important you know if I insult you it usually means I like and trust you too.
I've since worked with and bought from many of the other members that were in the room that day.
A few weeks later, that group closed.
Lakeside Lunch launched
My third meeting was yet another year later – 22 February 2017 – the launch of Lakeside Lunch… the only 4N on a boat!
I made a commitment to be there every two weeks, and to make the most of the opportunity. The best way to force myself to do that was as part of the Team – no hiding in the corner!
I got involved promoting Billericay as well as organising Lakeside meets, and the consistent effort brought improvements to me and my business.
Area Leader, South Essex
When the Area Leader for South Essex stepped down in August 2018, after a few beers in a French campsite, I took over the role of managing three great teams – Lakeside, Billericay and Ongar – and helping to ensure members and visitors got the most out of networking with us. We launched a new group in Basildon too, and I supported other groups in Essex as and when I could.
4N Online launched
And then Covid came along, the world shutdown, and we moved it online. We'd already trialled online meetings a couple of times, and I was part of the Team doing so, but now we were all-in. A new company was formed, and new connections began to be made across the country.
Lots of members weren't sure about the change and stopped networking, thinking it would all be over in a few weeks. Sadly, lots of them no longer have a business. For many others though online networking became something of a life-line as we adjusted to everything that was going on.
Host & Ambassador, 4N Online
The best of the best across the network were invited to become a Host or Ambassador in the brave new world of 4N Online.
Having worked from home myself for fifteen years – representing local, national and international organisations – and enabling other organisations to adopt remote working practices, this was great for me. Zoom was already second nature, and supporting organisations through digital change was where I thrived.
The 50% social, 50% business tagline of 4N become all the more important as we created groups not just for geographic locations, but for themes and interests too.
Network Leader, 4N Online
August 2022 saw the network change hands, and heralded a new management team with a National Leader for each of the three brands and styles of 4N – Online, Speed, and Face2Face.
It's an honour to take on the role of National Network Leader for 4N Online, to oversee all our online meetings, support all our online teams, and continue to develop our online offering.
Face2Face meetings have been returning and growing throughout 2022, and we'll continue to bring more back as the demand increases again. We may even return to the boat.
Operations Director
Having passed on the mantle of 4N Online‘s Best Host to a worthy winner, and whipped some of the tech and operational processes behind the running of the network into shape, I became Operations Manager in January 2023, and then Operations Director as a formal Director and shareholder of the Company in March – just shy of 10 years from that first ever meeting.
The Company and the Network have both seen many changes over the past 17 years, most notably in the last three. It's technically a different Company but fundamentally the same Network, responding to a changing world.
4N continues to be a major source of new business for me personally, as well as a source of support and friendship.
Another seventeen years and I'll be 65 – scary thought, but bring it on…!