Ren Net - A vision for the future - Stephen Friel - Friel Consulting

1. 27272727thththth February2015February2015February2015February2015

2. Business networks...Business networks...Business networks...Business networks...
What’sthe point?What’sthe point?What’sthe point?What’sthe point?

3. This is probably the most obvious benefit and the reason
most business owners decide to participate in networking
activities and join networking groups
The great news is that the referrals that you get throughThe great news is that the referrals that you get through
networking are normally high quality and most of the time
are even pre-qualified for you

4. “It’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know”
Networking provides you with a great source of connections,
and really opens the door to talk to highly influential people
that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to easily talk to or find
and really opens the door to talk to highly influential people
that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to easily talk to or find

5. With a motivated group of business owners comes an
abundance of opportunities!
Opportunities like joint ventures, client leads, partnerships,
speaking opportunities, … the list goes on
Opportunities like joint ventures, client leads, partnerships,
speaking opportunities, … the list goes on
Business networking is leveraging your business and
personal connections to bring you a regular supply of new
business

6. Peer to peer learning
Having like-minded business owners to talk to also gives you
the opportunity to get advice from them on all sorts of things
related to your business or even your personal life and
obtaining that important work-life balance
related to your business or even your personal life and
obtaining that important work-life balance

7. “The trip to Austria led to a new agency for heating pumps for our
business. We are now selling these throughout the country and
have hired 2 new people” Christy Lynch EHP
“I have got lots of jobs from other members of the network. Our“I have got lots of jobs from other members of the network. Our
services complement each other and it makes sense for us to
recommend our Ren Net members to customers’”
Michael Kavanagh, MK Flooring

8. Peer to peer shared learning
Best practice visits
Communal websiteCommunal website
Bespoke training opportunities
External facilitation
Collaborative trade shows

9. Is there an appetite amongst members for the continuance of the
network?
What model will the future group take?
Funding?
Who will participate? What do the group wish to achieve?
Funding?
Who will participate? What do the group wish to achieve?
Can one group continue to exist covering the existing territory or
will multiple clusters be formed?

10. PLATO
Self funding
Skillnets (ROI only)
Self funding
Skillnets (ROI only)
BNI
Profit Net
Other

11. Skillnets- LEO have indicated willingness to lead on this
LEO- New Profit Net group
Leader- funding available at end of 2015
Self fundingSelf funding
EU-COSME programme for Clusters
Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme-EU funds already
applied for by DCC
Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 5 - Climate Action

12. All members (and indeed anyone wishing to join a new
network) are invited to meeting to be held on WednesdayWednesdayWednesdayWednesday
March11March11March11March11thththth at 7pmat 7pmat 7pmat 7pmMarch11March11March11March11 at 7pmat 7pmat 7pmat 7pm
This meeting will act as a launch pad for a new network if it is
established that one is wanted by members