Work It Like A Mum
Work It Like A Mum
From Invisible to In-Demand: How to Build a Career-Changing Network
Surprise! We’re dropping a bonus episode this week — pulled from one of our recent LinkedIn Live conversations — and it’s a good one.
In this special edition, I’m joined by the ever-brilliant Rebecca Newenham, founder of Get Ahead, a business support agency that connects businesses with freelance experts on a flexible basis. With 14 years in business and zero cold calls, Rebecca has grown her company purely through the power of networking.
She also runs LinkedIn Local Guildford and is known by many (myself included) as the Queen of Networking. So if you've ever cringed at the idea of networking, or felt stuck trying to build connections in a new industry — this one's for you.
💬 What We Chat About:
- Why building a network matters — especially when pivoting careers or launching a business
- How Rebecca grew her business entirely through authentic connections
- Making networking feel less icky and more you
- Balancing online and offline networking (and why both matter)
- How to confidently approach people on LinkedIn
- Using tools like AI to find your voice when posting or reaching out
- Showing up consistently — and why that’s more important than being perfect
- Building visibility through thoughtful engagement (not just likes)
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- 80% of opportunities come through your network — not job boards
- You don’t need to be loud to be seen — just be yourself
- It’s not about pitching, it’s about connecting
- Commenting > lurking — thoughtful engagement builds your reputation
- You can grow your network before you need it — start now
- AI can help with ideas, but your voice is what matters most
- Being visible is a choice — and consistency is your friend
If you're job-hunting, career-shifting, or just trying to feel less awkward about networking — hit play on this bonus episode. It’s packed with real, practical advice and the kind of reassurance we all need.
Show Links:
Connect with our host, Elizabeth Willetts here
Visit the Get Ahead Website here
Learn more about LinkedIn Local Guildford here
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And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!
Hello and welcome to today's Facebook LinkedIn Live. I am chatting today with Rebecca Newenham, who looks lovely in green. She is the founder of Get Ahead, which is a business outsourcing firm which helps businesses large and small access talent on a flexible freelance basis, and Rebecca is the queen of networking. So that is why I wanted to invite her today, because today we are going to be talking about networking and Rebecca has built her business I think you've been doing business now, haven't you? For 12 years, 14 years, sorry, 14 years and you you've never done a cold call and you have built it entirely through networking. So she's the queen of networking. She's built her business through it. She runs her LinkedIn local in Guildford, so she runs a networking meeting, and I think why I thought this topic was so important is because I get a lot of candidates approach me or people starting a business.
Speaker 1:I get a lot of candidates approach me or people starting a business and they want to, if they're a candidate, change jobs, change careers, do something completely different. But I think the missing piece of a puzzle for so many people is that they don't have a network in the industry that they want to break into to, and it's really hard to stand out if you're applying for roles on the job board with people that have relevant experience, if you don't have an in in that network. So I'm getting Rebecca to talk to us today about why it's so important to have a network I know I've just alluded to that but, most importantly, how to build a network, particularly if it makes you feel a little bit ick as well, because I know not everybody likes the thought of networking either yeah, the ick and I.
Speaker 2:I remember when I first set get head up someone saying you're gonna have to go networking, I was like can't think of anything worse than than talking, because I kept thinking about those awful presentations and things I'd done in environments like school where I wasn't the best version of myself or I didn't know what I was talking about. But I, my biggest message for today is you know yourself the best and whatever you say about yourself, it, no one can contradict it. So it's actually finding those right communities where you're going to be the best version of you. And what was interesting in preparing for this is, you know, I found that stat about 80% of opportunities come through networks, not job boards and I'm not dissing Liz's job board in any stretch of the imagination but more there is huge value in communicating, linking with people that you know. And it's interesting.
Speaker 2:My husband's just launching as a business coach and we've had exactly that conversation about right, who are you going to tell about this? How are you going to reconnect with people? And he's been doing some linkedin posts and having the most random people commenting that he's not been in touch with for ages. So it's lovely. So it's opening doors for him to start having conversations, because I think often we think, well, how, how can I talk about what I'm doing? People won't want to know, but you'd be amazed. People always want to help, don't they? As we always want to help. If you have someone coming to you wanting some advice, we all naturally go into advice giving mode, and the same can be said for for other people supporting us yeah, and it doesn't have to be all this offline.
Speaker 1:You know network, I know I know what. We are both fans of online and offline networking but, you can do it. You know me and Rebecca have met through LinkedIn.
Speaker 2:I know we met now like in real life, but a lot of connection, it's where you, I think you, feel comfortable making connections and then you can translate it back either online or offline as well so it's, and I've sort of done a little bit of homework for this and the biggest thing for me is being very clear on your, on your messaging. What do you want to be known for? Because if you're clear on that, other people can help you. But also, you don't have to ever lead and you shouldn't ever lead with. I need help. Can you support me? It's more engaging with other people first and never broadcasting about yourself because there's a host of a networking group. I find it icky and rather irritating when someone just immediately introduces themselves, hands you a card or says look at what I'm doing, as we are in any environment, you normally will engage, won't you, and ask people questions. So opening with generic questions can be really helpful.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so who should be building a network then?
Speaker 2:I think anyone. And I'm looking at my adult daughters. You know I've got two out of university. Now they are really active on LinkedIn. You know Izzy's doing a lot for her own personal brand and I'm loving seeing that. You know she's in her early 20s. She's not afraid to be showing up on there. I would say, like you rightly said, Liz, it's choosing the environment. So if you're looking for a corporate role or you're set wanting to set a business up, linkedin is probably the place I would say is the most important to spend time, and that in itself can make people feel icky, can't it? People are often saying it's a bit like Facebook. Now, well, it's not. If you're showing up regularly, consistently, and you're really being brave at reaching out to people rather than just waiting for people to come to you, I think actually the thing about LinkedIn, it's people go, it's like face or whatever, or I only see these, these sort of people.
Speaker 1:um, I think what the thing about LinkedIn or any social media platform, particularly LinkedIn, is you can curate your network, so you can basically you've got control over who you connect with and therefore you've got on who you follow and therefore you've got control, then on what you're seeing on your feed.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I say to my franchisees if they want to follow my approach, it's always to accept people that are asking to connect with me, but the minute I get a sales pitch or something else, I just block them or I just get rid of them.
Speaker 2:So I would say, have that sense of being open to connection and the reverse. You know, if you feel there are some people you'd like to connect with, just go on and connect with them. They can only reject you. It's having that open mind and perhaps spending some time thinking well, this is the industry I want to get into. These are some big players in that industry, or these are people I'm finding interesting. Follow them, then connect with them and then actually start engaging on their posts and that's a big thing for me as well. Not just liking a post, but actually making time to say a whatever it is 15 character, um message, hot message, comments on that person's feed, because you'll then be seen by other people rather than and I see it as a bit lazy when people just like something. You want to spend a little bit of time engaging and the way you get visibility is by actually reaching out and making a comment oh sorry, that's all right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it'd be really good to hear as well that people that are watching this um, your experiences of networking as well, and what you like or don't like about networking. Please pop that in the comments either now or on the replay, because we do check the messages on the replay as well. Um, so you are say you want to change a bit. Do you want to move from I, I don't know banking into consulting? I'm just making this up. So you are now going to be connecting with big players in the consulting sector. So you're connecting with them. You're which?
Speaker 1:I think is a really good tip is commenting on the post, which definitely boosts your visibility. Would you be messaging them as well?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would, but I would be wary as to what you've got to be very clear about what you're wanting to ask them. So just be selective. Don't do hundreds of messages and I know LinkedIn doesn't like that either, does it. But I think if you've got something genuine that you want to ask them, then absolutely message them. But you want to perhaps be a little bit of a warm connection for them. So have spent some time looking and do a bit of research on them, because it's very easy, isn't it, to go on to somebody's post, see what what they've been talking about. And I love that little bell on people's um profile, because then you'll be alerted when they make um, when they issue a post or something. So that's quite good. And often people will write newsletters as well. So start gaining industry knowledge by reading the newsletters that people are putting out and sort of just just broadening things a little bit. But also, you can be very genuine in your approach and people like to know that you've enjoyed reading something that they've done. But don't just say that.
Speaker 1:Actually be specific about what it is you've enjoyed seeing on their profile so you, in connecting with people, you're engaging on their posts, um, hopefully you're getting something back eventually and maybe you could suggest a coffee or absolutely make it very easy for them to do that.
Speaker 2:So perhaps have a calendly link or your diary link so they can book in.
Speaker 2:But I would say it's also about being very clear as to your own personal brand and what posts and things you're going to be putting out, because you want to be showcasing that you know things, that you're relevant.
Speaker 2:So actually by doing some posts about that and doing them regularly, that will start gaining some traction, and I often look at the different posts. I do so. Photographs and a bit about me personally gets good traction and I know I've mentioned my husband earlier, but he did a post last week with with our dog in it and was sort of making reference to that. It's sort of showing the human side, but also quotes and testimonials and perhaps look back and if there's work that you've done and you haven't got a testimonial or recommendation about it, you know, feel, have a confidence to reach out and I would go on linkedin, ask the person to do the recommendation for you and then you've got it contained within your profile. But then you can actually go on canva and make it look pretty and start promoting that out as well in other places um, there'll be some people watching this.
Speaker 1:I think I could not think of anything worse than writing a post on LinkedIn.
Speaker 2:That's actually very handy, dare I mention it? Yeah, it would be just even going on there and not getting it to write your post, but just saying this is what I'm doing, this is what I'm looking for. Can you give me some suggestions of posts I might like to talk about? And I know you know ai's. You know everyone's got their opinion about it, but it's about how you use it to your advantage and never, ever go in and do a straight copy and paste. Everyone's talking about those long hyphens within ai um documents, aren't they now as well?
Speaker 2:So you, but if you are particularly stuck, I would say either talk to some you know a business friend of yours and say, know what kind of things do you think might be interested? Or even go on to chat GPT and say what kind of topics would my target market be interested in, and then you can start testing them. That's what I mean about you know photos versus long form posts, where you've just got written content versus a quote. But also do things that are relevant, things that come up in the news. You can often twist them to be of relevance to what you're wanting to talk about.
Speaker 1:It's all bogged down. Yeah, my best posts actually have been about news and actually that is it feels much less personal. Obviously you want to. It's not just a copy and all this is in the news. Obviously it's better if there is an opinion attached to it, but then you don't even have to have a photo of you.
Speaker 2:I just take a screenshot of the headline no, exactly, and I've seen a number of yours where you've got, you know, the flexible working piece and everyone's got something they can talk about within that. But my other bugbear, liz, is if someone spends the time commenting on a post of yours, always respond to that comment, because I think it's rude if you don't, because actually you put something out there, you're encouraging connection, and if someone doesn't get a response back, it's as if they're just talking out. You know, out in the open you want to be polite and say, well, that's really kind of you. And often you can take that offline as well and send them a little direct message and say you know it's really kind of you to comment line as well and perhaps send them a little direct message and say you know it's really kind of you to comment, fancy a coffee and just sort of extend it there.
Speaker 2:But I think it's been clear as to what your why is. What are you wanting to do? What? What connections are you wanting to make? Do you want to set up a business? Therefore, are you keen to? You know people want to help, so ask about what networking you could go to. Or if you've got a business idea and you want, you could do a poll around the business name and things. So it's being a little bit imaginative, isn't it?
Speaker 1:um amy said she previously hated the idea of networking. Putting herself out there felt desperate and scary. But she recently went to your local event in guildford and it was. It was more about meeting interesting people she would never have met without being there. She also found it very open and engaging, so it took away the concern about walking up to a group of people you don't know and she'll be doing more of them now. Oh, thank you amy.
Speaker 2:But no, and I get quite a lot of that actually in my linkedin locals people saying, oh, I'm not quite sure. So I, as a host, will always try and introduce people, but I think, like amy said, it's just having conversations, it just has to. I think the best conversations and the best connections come out of you talking about a non-work related topic. Yeah, whether it's yeah.
Speaker 1:So that's an interesting bit so the most successful strategy, I think, is to do an online and offline strategy combined. You know it's like linkedin alongside something like um linkedin local. So how do you identify which maybe groups are going to be good for you to attend and any advice on attending some of your first ones.
Speaker 2:Yes. So if we're talking face to face, I would perhaps look at people that are that you admire and see what kind of meetings they're going to. And often I've found networking groups can be quite well identified through something like Instagram as well. They perhaps are a little bit more low-key and it's more sort of yeah, people are perhaps sharing those a little bit more. But just a simple Google search. So when I'm launching a new franchisee, I'll often say, right, go on to Google type in business networking in your local area. And we're, between us, often really surprised at the vast number.
Speaker 2:So, as you said, I'm based in Guildford. I think there are sort of over 200 meetings that happen in'm based in Guildford. I think there are sort of over 200 meetings that happen in a month in Guildford. You could network breakfast, lunch and every evening meal if you wanted to. So just a basic Google search will identify some of the bigger players and then possibly some of the more informal ones. And even searching on LinkedIn about networking in your, in your area, in your county, will produce some.
Speaker 2:And I always say try different ones. You will have to pay for some and you'll get a different sort of cohort that go there, versus perhaps a LinkedIn local like mine, where you get everyone, from someone that's just started out to somebody that is in corporate, doesn't really want to network for their work, but just wants to build a local community. I think that's the big thing. When it's face-to-face, it's generally local business community people coming together and I love that. So I'll walk down Guildford High Street and bump into people I've met through the various networking, because you know we're doing it locally, which is yeah, there is as well.
Speaker 1:Actually, if you were in corporate and want to stay in corporate, like you know, there's often like associations. Like you know, if you're an accountant, there'll be like an aca association that will hold meetings. There's things you know for compliance, professional, whatever profession you are in, um there is often a membership associated with that that will host an event.
Speaker 2:Bright is my go-to. That's where I, as a host, promote linkedin local. We get really good seo on there. So I would say the same as well as Google Go on Eventbrite, just see what's happening and be great. And you can always message the host, like some people do with me, and say look, I'm new, I've never been before. What's the protocol, what's to be expected? Could you introduce me to somebody? And when you turn up at the meeting and we're all human, so just say to the host actually I've never been before, I'm a little bit anxious. So that's when I would say, right, go get a drink and come back and meet me and I'll introduce you to people. But you've got to own it. So you've got to be authentic and be very honest. If you're feeling a little bit awkward and I totally get that I remember that that first meeting where I had to stand up and do a 60 second pitch sort of like dreaded it, but. But like anything when you've done it one or two times and if you're really anxious, take a friend with you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've done that. So what's the format? Are they all different then?
Speaker 2:Yeah, lots of different ones. So you'll have more structured meetings where you have the opportunity to do what they call an innovative pitch, so 30-second, one-minute pitch. But something like mine is just literally buy a drink, come and chat. So you need to sort of gain attraction there and with that I often think, well, just go in with that mindset, I'm going to make a new friend at this meeting. I'm going to have perhaps task yourself and that was one of my sort of habits perhaps task yourself with I'm going to have two conversations with people I've never met before and anything else is a bonus. So be sort of quite low level in your expectation and that works really nice.
Speaker 2:In the same, with linkedin, perhaps say, right, every week I'm going to connect with 10 people I have never met before and sort of start building up your sort of connection base that way.
Speaker 2:But this is the underlying thread for any of this is consistency. So you're only going to build traction if you're consistently showing up and people are seeing you, whether it's at those live events, and they're saying you might go to one face to face event and think I really like this. Well then, be organised, ask when the next three month meetings are, put them in the diary and really try and commit to those who you see and I've seen that a lot, actually with newbies at LinkedIn local that haven't been before and then now suddenly they seem to be popping up everywhere. They're laughing, they're having a really nice time in there and work is being done as well. Yeah, I think that's the thing. It's being very clear what you're wanting to achieve from each different environment and there'll be women's groups. So if you're wanting and there's one in in guildford I've noticed it's really gaining traction it's an all women one and people feel safe in different kind of communities yeah, I go to a networking again.
Speaker 1:Um, it isn't meant to be just for all women, but it's sometimes an honorary man that comes um, but actually it's a small one. But you know, it's nice actually it feels safe and everyone's really supportive and and that's that was going to be. My other thing is just because it's only a few people, it's never, never a numbers no, because it's like there's only about six or seven of us, but we even get heard then yeah, you feel like you actually get to really know each other yes, and I think because, like that, I find that a bit irritating, how many people we've got coming today.
Speaker 2:It's like we're never going to speak to 85 people yeah you know it's quite daunting, it's quite noisy.
Speaker 2:So actually, yeah, try and relax over the numbers bit and the same with building connections on on linkedin. You want valuable connections rather than thousands where you don't really know who they are. So have a confidence as well. Perhaps if you're changing career you can. I often think don't wipe out previous community and connections on there because actually that they connected with you for a reason and they've been part of your journey up until now. It doesn't mean that you you'll get mixed, mixed messages, because I've sometimes had that from people saying oh, do I get rid of all my corporate connections now I'm setting up on my own? And I said absolutely not, because everyone, you never know where referrals are going to come from don't get rid of people.
Speaker 1:um, someone said they just joined, they got my book, so thank you. And they really struggle with LinkedIn. These days it feels like everyone is trying to get visibility and rave about all the things they're doing Conversations, they're speaking at, ios, speaking at, et cetera and it can feel very overwhelming and this person feels reluctant to add to that Any help to reframe this or how to make it more genuine. And also, second question how to approach it when your current company doesn't know you are thinking of leaving?
Speaker 2:Yes, so the reframing bit I think that's just that is that boils down to you. You've got to sort of calm down about all the noise. So perhaps it's about being very clear in the types of people you want to connect with and then you can unfollow, or just if you're finding some people are irritating, again I unfollow, or just sort of if you're finding some people are irritating, again I unfollow, or just sort of mute them, and then that calms down what I'm seeing in my feed and I think the piece around if, yeah, I don't know what your advice for that. You're closer to the corporate bit, liz, than I am, but I mean I think you can start posting, doesn't you know?
Speaker 1:you don't need to basically put the green open to work banner on or anything like that. You can start posting and start building a personal brand. And it doesn't? You know? There is a thing isn't there the best time to build a network? Because yesterday the best time, the next best time is today. You.
Speaker 1:It's much harder, I think, to start building a network when you're out of work and it's suddenly like you're feeling quite desperate um, actually the best time to do it is when you're currently in a role, um, and I think in terms of the posts, um, sometimes you could just be helpful as well. You could feel like you. You know, lending your expertise in posts feels maybe like you're less boastful and people really like those posts as well, where they're just helpful posts. I've even done ones where like books I've read and these are, these are books I would recommend to other people, etc.
Speaker 1:And things like that are helpful um yeah, but also sorry, I was just going to add one thing about the promotion thing. I know it can be irritating, but there is a thing that nobody else is going to promote. You see, there really has to be some element of self-promotion. Sorry, no, no, I was just going to say that see, there really has to be some element as well as self-promotion sorry, no, no, I was just going to say that the personal brand is is the way to reframe it.
Speaker 2:It's not hello everyone, I'm looking for a new job and then getting paranoid that whatever you're putting out there, people are seeing it as that people aren't. Aren't as bothered about us as we as we perhaps imagine. Yeah, well so I would say I totally get that view and it's it's not saying hello everyone, I'm on to new job. It's exactly your point is about. I found this useful. And then people will start saying, oh, I wonder what so-and-so is posting about today, so it starts building that following yeah, and that trust isn't it.
Speaker 1:Um, someone said do you ever start talking about your services? In dms, they're struggling with moving a conversation to actually talking about the value that they can add to their business yeah.
Speaker 2:So I think I am a huge believer in the one-to-one scenario. So actually saying, look, I'm really loving what you're talking about. How about we get to have a 15 minute online one-to-one so we can both know more about each other's business, and then that builds the trust that then leads to the referral. So that's quite a bit and it doesn't have to be for very long. So I personally would have like a 20-minute canonly link and say, if you fancy learning more about each other, why don't we have a coffee? And then you're limiting it, you're not giving, you know, an hour of your time away, but you're having that, those regular connections.
Speaker 2:And I look at my franchisees and and that is where they're getting a lot of their sort of pipeline opportunities is by having had a deeper conversation with some, because everyone likes to chat about what they're doing and you're giving them an opportunity then, but as long as it's in a way doing it online, you can say, well, you go first and then I'll tell you about myself, and then perhaps think of of little testimonials or things you might say in a follow-up to that as well, that you can just send them some links to, but also being very, very clear on what it is you're looking for, what help you're wanting them to give you yeah, I also don't like cold message people about my services.
Speaker 1:I I've basically optimized my LinkedIn profile, so so my linkedin profile actually is more sales a the actual profile itself and then it's just talking about your services and what you do in posts and I find that that's enough for me, and then people message me about services so you've said you've almost set your stall out, haven't you?
Speaker 1:yeah, your profile, and then the posts drive a bit of traffic and then you get the messages about the services because I don't like. So I think if you're already engaging with people in your dms about your services, I would then be consciously doing posts about the value that you bring to another organization yeah, and the value, and then it, and then you can use stories and you can give examples, can't you that?
Speaker 2:then people can hook on to yeah, bringing them alive that way yeah, that's what I would do yeah, no good, and I always use your profile is when I'm talking about LinkedIn, because you've got the branding and the theme. But but don't get hung up on that either if you're new to what you're doing yeah, just get started don't go fiddling around getting everything perfect, because nothing's ever perfect. It's just sort of getting going, isn't it?
Speaker 1:but canvas good for you. New banners so after a network. So you've gone into a networking event. Try to be helpful, um. Try to just have genuine conversations, not maybe. Try to be helpful, um. Try to just have genuine conversations, not maybe try to be overly salesy. What would you do then at the end of the event?
Speaker 2:so I would always say goodbye to the host, be very you know if you're, if we're talking a face-to-face one, always make sure you say goodbye, look people in the eye, thank you very much. But then also do your follow-up. So, as a host of a meeting, I I always do a post afterwards. I tag people in it and that's where I get quite a lot of engagement. So I would encourage you as an attendee to always look out for the host posts, always perhaps do your own one.
Speaker 2:So I hosted an event at the University in Guildford this week and I had probably four or five people that came to it had posted within the first hour of getting back to wherever they were going to say I had probably four or five people that came to it had posted within the first hour of getting back to wherever they were going to say I had a great meeting and they took a photograph and they made a comment which I was then tagged in.
Speaker 2:So I then commented. So you start building momentum. But it's just about being polite, yeah, and also it's a wonderful opportunity to do a post it's very easy where you can tag a few people that have been there and perhaps do a summary of what you've learned. Or if there's someone you and then if there's someone you've met, then make sure you connect with them on linkedin and then do the little bell, follow their post, but always make time in your diary to sort of comment about them and things. So it's sort of nurturing, and then if there was another event you might be going to, you might think actually I think that person I met last week might like to know about that.
Speaker 1:So start being that connector where you're giving information yeah, that's a good thing, isn't it? Being a connector, and that's just actually showing an interest in people and knowing what they do, taking the time to make it less about you and more about them more about that, and the big thing is that you've actually listened.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because I often see people looking over someone else's shoulder when they're being talked to, and you know we all can pick up on that in, and we can, yeah, that insincerity, can't we? So you want to be authentic and if you find someone really very irritating when he's talking to them, you can, you can zip it up very quickly. You can say, oh, that's brilliant. Thanks so much, you know. As we know, we've only got limited time here, so I'm just going to go meet some different people, so so have a confidence to move on and don't feel like you're getting trapped in a corner but I think that is the beauty of linked um, of networking actually, because there is sort of like that moving around a room.
Speaker 1:So you don't always get stuck with some.
Speaker 2:You don't really have to feel like you can just say you know there's always a way, a way out of that, or catch someone's eye and invite them over. Yeah, one thing I've had often struggled with is joining a group of people. If they're in a sort of closed environment, you just have to knock that on the head and just because actually they might have only met five minutes before.
Speaker 1:Yes, exactly, anyway. So they're not.
Speaker 2:You know, they're probably not all best buds 20 years anyway you know, they might have just literally met yeah, and actually and that's another thing is try and avoid people that you know really well. When you're in a networking once, it's so easy to get stuck in a little huddle with people because you all think this is the best thing to do. Yeah, and then there's not much point.
Speaker 1:So tell people about Get Ahead then and what you do.
Speaker 2:Oh, thank you. Yes, so we're as you said in your opener. We're an outsourcing agency. So I set that up when my youngest daughter got three girls when she started school. So I had that feeling of actually wanting something to do for myself, something bigger than me. So I always had a vision that I would grow and scale.
Speaker 2:And flexible working has been the the common thread throughout this business. So we have a team of freelancers currently got, I think, 90 freelancers we call flexible virtual experts, and then I franchised and scaled the business six years ago. So we've got an office in Leeds and then I've got around 15 different territories around the UK and my franchisees do networking. So that's been that's why it's my pet subject so they network in their local community, meet busy business owners that need support and then they resource and build a team for that um business owner. So it's a win-win for everyone. It's a win-win for my franchisees because they get to use our toolkit, our branding, and shout about the services that we offer that are supplied then by our team of freelancers. And the freelancers love it because they're part of a growing and thriving community and, as we all know, finding work can be tricky. So being given leads and giving wonderful projects to work on is really interesting for them and you're looking for more, aren't you?
Speaker 1:you're looking for more franchise looking for more.
Speaker 2:Yes, so really keen on you know, anywhere other than where we are at the moment, but cardiff, nottingham, um, manchester, and I'd love to get up to edinburgh and glasgow as well. Yes, that's on the hit list.
Speaker 1:So if anyone's listening to this and fancies setting you know up a business, but with full support owning a business and all the flexibility that offers, then I would highly recommend getting in touch with rebecca thank you, liz and yeah, and any networking questions.
Speaker 2:Please find me on linkedin. I love linkedin, so if you want to connect, if you've ever got any questions, I'm all always open to you know, giving support emma has.
Speaker 1:So emma has messaged you've got a. She's got her first networking event next week, so she's feeling more confident now. Oh go, emma. Yeah, good luck, emma. Let us know how it went.
Speaker 2:I know it's quite good you say, but something wearing something bright, something where you stand out, also is quite nice, because if you're feeling a little bit anxious, just to feel comfortable in something, yeah, I think that I mean this sounds really silly, but I always make sure I wash my hair if I'm going to, you know, I mean I'll send a bit of time back, I know.
Speaker 1:I'm going for, you know. I mean I'll send a bit of time, all right, okay, I know I'm going for a networking lunch today. I'll make an effort.
Speaker 1:I'll wash my hair, I'll dry it, I'll do a bit of makeup you feel the best version of yourself, then you don't wear new shoes you've never worn before although I've discovered a nice brand actually that I um, I've been served on Facebook so many ads, um, it begins with a v v vella or the the um trainers. They're like trainers, it's like, yeah, it's all like. It's basically like comfort shoes that look quite nice the facebook ads worked on me in the end.
Speaker 1:Um um patricia says networking was never her thing either. She's just starting up. She loves how people help you without knowing you.
Speaker 2:She finds it's amazing yeah, no, it's, and that's a really good point. People are really the right people are up for helping, because we've all been there at the beginning before. So absolutely, and I hate that, find your tribe but you do you cry. It's up to you to go out and craft your cheerleaders that will support you in whatever you're doing next.
Speaker 1:And it can be online because, like literally, I love Rebecca and we've become such good friends and it all started through networking on LinkedIn, yes, linkedin, yeah, so you could do this and meet some really, really good friends, as well, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's all right. Thank you so much for joining me today. Thank you so much, everyone that's watched. We'll also put this on the podcast as well, so if you missed a bit of it, obviously you can watch the replay and you can also listen to it as well. We'll try and get it out next week Sometime on the podcast. That's all right. I'll see you soon, thank.