A NEW networking group aims to offer a way for businesses to support each other through the coming months.

The organisers of 4Network Online’s group for the M3 corridor hope members will stay in touch between its meetings to share expertise and advice.

The group is being launched by asset finance expert Mike Boss, Tony Edwards of Bitsmart Technology in Winchester and Joanna Michael, who is PA and business development manager for Brad Burton, the founder of 4Networking, which runs more than 5,000 events a year.

Mike Boss said: “I think there’s a really good opportunity for local businesses to work together and support each other in the coming months.

“It’s needed for everyone to work together and get through this.

“My idea was for it to be a regular networking meeting but also that there would be an awful lot more.

“What we want to do is create a local community that stays in touch throughout the weeks within a LinkedIn group.”

The first meeting is on Wednesday, January 13, 12noon. The speaker will be the award-winning, Portsmouth-based speaker and coach Ian Dickson, founder of Unlock Success Limited. His theme will be why New Year’s resolutions do not work and what business people should do instead to get the most from 2021.

Meetings will then take place fortnightly and the aim is to have a different theme each month.

4Networking meetings begin with everyone introducing themselves in 40 seconds, after which there is a 20-minute talk and three 10-minute, one-to-one chats in breakout rooms. Guests can attend one meeting for £5 plus VAT before signing up to 4Networking membership at £19.99 a month, which gives members the chance to attend unlimited meetings anywhere for the same ticket price.

Mr Boss said: “I still think that there are so many neighbouring businesses that say hello to each other via waves across the car park but probably have no interaction at all and probably don’t even know exactly what their neighbour’s business is.

“I really think at the moment there’s a really good opportunity to help the business community all work together.”

Details are at https://bit.ly/395CkUD