This week, (Tuesday 2 September) Inverness Chamber’s latest Speed Networking event brought together businesses of all sizes and sectors for a lively morning of conversation, connections, and collaboration at the newly refurbished Bught Park Sports Pavilion. With the sun shining in through the glass, the energy in the room was matched only by the enthusiasm of the participants who embraced the fast-paced format.
The session gave every attendee the chance to meet each person in the room, perfect their one-minute pitch, and exchange ideas before rounding off with coffee and pastries. For many, it was a first-time experience of speed networking – and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Roddy Mackay of Roddy Mackay Photography said, “Attending the Speed Networking was a great way to make new connections and meet new people. Although I initially thought it’d be a little out of the comfort zone, I found it a great way to start the working day, and to be reminded of the breadth of businesses working throughout the Highlands.
“The minute introductions fly past, but give a great opportunity to make connections, with a chance to connect over coffee and pastries before and after. As a first-time speed networker, I’ll hopefully be back and I’d recommend it to all Chamber members.”
The format gave a fresh way to connect with potential partners from across different industries.
Jodie McCluskey, Communications Manager at Mikeysline, reflected, “It was lovely to engage in focused conversation with so many faces from the local business community and to learn more about their services in a warm and welcoming setting. I’ve made several new connections which will hopefully develop into potential partnerships and maybe even bring future fundraising opportunities too.
“It’s a great way to gain cross-industry exposure and develop new relationships with those from industries who you might not necessarily cross paths with. It’s also useful for sharpening your communication skills as the time limit means discussions must be clear and concise. I would recommend to other Chamber members, especially if traditional networking isn’t your thing. It’s a unique way of exposing your service to potential contacts in a setting that guarantees face time with everyone in the room.”
Mark Ridgers of Ross County Football Club also praised the event, saying, “I really enjoyed the speed networking event, it was my first time attending an event like this and found the format very easy and got a lot from it. I met some new people who I have since connected with and in return are now helping each other’s businesses out with the different services we can provide. Exactly what this kind of event is designed for.
“I would definitely recommend anyone who has not done speed networking before to give it a go. You just never know – you could bump into that one person who needs your business to help it keep improving.”
With so many positive connections made in just one morning, Speed Networking continues to prove itself as a valuable opportunity for Chamber members to grow their network in a welcoming, structured and time-efficient way.
Our thanks go to all who joined us at Bught Park Sports Pavilion, and to everyone who embraced the challenge of condensing their pitch into one minute while keeping the conversation flowing.