Networking Survey

1. Introduction

This survey is being undertaken by Steve Pollard Ulster University Business School in collaboration with Linzi Conway Principal at KTS Consultants.

We wish to explore the value to business of participation in organised business networking events whether they be in person or through technological means.

There is considerable evidence linking successful business practice and social networks however it is the value of organised business networking events that we wish to focus on.

Participation in these events requires considerable investment by business people as well as significant financial investment by the public sector and others in the creation and organisation of business networking events.

Our aim is to better understand which, if any, of these events is most effective and why.

Please take a few minutes to complete this survey.

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* 1. About you.

Business name

Your Name

Your email address

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* 2. Business Activities:

Accommodation

Administrative & Support Services

Agriculture Forestry or Fishing

Construction

Finance or Insurance

Food Services

Health & Social Work

Information & Communication

Manufacturing

Transportation & Storage

Wholesale Distribution

Real Estate

Retail

Trade

Professional, scientific and technical activities

Service

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Number of employees

1-9 Employees (Micro)

10-49 (Small)

50-249 (Medium)

250+ (Large)

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* 4. Turnover (optional)

Under 250k

Under 500k

Under £1 million

Under £2 million

Under £5 million

Under £10 million

Under £50 million

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* 5. Is Business Networking something that your business actively engages with?

Yes

Don't Know

If no or Don't know, please say why

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* 6. Is it something that happens as part of a Plan or something that is less formally structured? Select one from the options below

My Business Networking activities are part of a Plan e.g. Marketing; Sales; Business Plan.

Some of my activities are part of a Plan but I also engage with events as and when they are of interest.

I respond only to events as and when they are of interest to me at that particular time.

I have attended Business Networking events occasionally but without a Plan as such.

I attend rarely and am not convinced by networking events.

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Types of Business Networking Activities

Online Events: Please select those that you have participated in within the past 12 months. In doing so please rate them in
terms of their value to you and the business. Please use a score of 1-5 with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor.

	1	2	3	4	5
Facebook	Facebook 1	Facebook 2	Facebook 3	Facebook 4	Facebook 5
Twitter	Twitter 1	Twitter 2	Twitter 3	Twitter 4	Twitter 5
Linkedin	Linkedin 1	Linkedin 2	Linkedin 3	Linkedin 4	Linkedin 5
Instagram	Instagram 1	Instagram 2	Instagram 3	Instagram 4	Instagram 5
Interactive special interest websites	Interactive special interest websites 1	Interactive special interest websites 2	Interactive special interest websites 3	Interactive special interest websites 4	Interactive special interest websites 5
Mobile Apps	Mobile Apps 1	Mobile Apps 2	Mobile Apps 3	Mobile Apps 4	Mobile Apps 5
Twitter Hour Platforms	Twitter Hour Platforms 1	Twitter Hour Platforms 2	Twitter Hour Platforms 3	Twitter Hour Platforms 4	Twitter Hour Platforms 5
#NewBizHourNI	#NewBizHourNI 1	#NewBizHourNI 2	#NewBizHourNI 3	#NewBizHourNI 4	#NewBizHourNI 5
#AntrimHour	#AntrimHour 1	#AntrimHour 2	#AntrimHour 3	#AntrimHour 4	#AntrimHour 5
#NorthernIrelandHour	#NorthernIrelandHour 1	#NorthernIrelandHour 2	#NorthernIrelandHour 3	#NorthernIrelandHour 4	#NorthernIrelandHour 5
#DerryHour	#DerryHour 1	#DerryHour 2	#DerryHour 3	#DerryHour 4	#DerryHour 5
#FermanaghHour	#FermanaghHour 1	#FermanaghHour 2	#FermanaghHour 3	#FermanaghHour 4	#FermanaghHour 5
#MagherafeltHour	#MagherafeltHour 1	#MagherafeltHour 2	#MagherafeltHour 3	#MagherafeltHour 4	#MagherafeltHour 5
#NewryHour	#NewryHour 1	#NewryHour 2	#NewryHour 3	#NewryHour 4	#NewryHour 5
#NIStartupsHour	#NIStartupsHour 1	#NIStartupsHour 2	#NIStartupsHour 3	#NIStartupsHour 4	#NIStartupsHour 5
#CookstownHour	#CookstownHour 1	#CookstownHour 2	#CookstownHour 3	#CookstownHour 4	#CookstownHour 5
#LisburnHour	#LisburnHour 1	#LisburnHour 2	#LisburnHour 3	#LisburnHour 4	#LisburnHour 5
#LegenDerryHour	#LegenDerryHour 1	#LegenDerryHour 2	#LegenDerryHour 3	#LegenDerryHour 4	#LegenDerryHour 5
#ArdsNthDownHour	#ArdsNthDownHour 1	#ArdsNthDownHour 2	#ArdsNthDownHour 3	#ArdsNthDownHour 4	#ArdsNthDownHour 5
#WestBelfastHour	#WestBelfastHour 1	#WestBelfastHour 2	#WestBelfastHour 3	#WestBelfastHour 4	#WestBelfastHour 5
#BelfastHour	#BelfastHour 1	#BelfastHour 2	#BelfastHour 3	#BelfastHour 4	#BelfastHour 5
#FoodNIHour	#FoodNIHour 1	#FoodNIHour 2	#FoodNIHour 3	#FoodNIHour 4	#FoodNIHour 5
#CastlereaghHour	#CastlereaghHour 1	#CastlereaghHour 2	#CastlereaghHour 3	#CastlereaghHour 4	#CastlereaghHour 5

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Attendance in Person:
Please select those that you have participated in within the past 12 months. In doing so please rate them in terms of their value to you and the business. Please use a score of 1-5 with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor.

	1	2	3	4	5
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce	Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 1	Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 2	Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 3	Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 4	Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce 5
Your Local Chamber of Commerce	Your Local Chamber of Commerce 1	Your Local Chamber of Commerce 2	Your Local Chamber of Commerce 3	Your Local Chamber of Commerce 4	Your Local Chamber of Commerce 5
Confederation of British Industry (CBI)	Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 1	Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 2	Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 3	Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 4	Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 5
Federation of Small Business (FSB)	Federation of Small Business (FSB) 1	Federation of Small Business (FSB) 2	Federation of Small Business (FSB) 3	Federation of Small Business (FSB) 4	Federation of Small Business (FSB) 5
The Rotary Club	The Rotary Club 1	The Rotary Club 2	The Rotary Club 3	The Rotary Club 4	The Rotary Club 5
Institute of Directors	Institute of Directors 1	Institute of Directors 2	Institute of Directors 3	Institute of Directors 4	Institute of Directors 5
Business in the Community Northern Ireland	Business in the Community Northern Ireland 1	Business in the Community Northern Ireland 2	Business in the Community Northern Ireland 3	Business in the Community Northern Ireland 4	Business in the Community Northern Ireland 5
Women in Business Northern Ireland	Women in Business Northern Ireland 1	Women in Business Northern Ireland 2	Women in Business Northern Ireland 3	Women in Business Northern Ireland 4	Women in Business Northern Ireland 5
Women Mean Business	Women Mean Business 1	Women Mean Business 2	Women Mean Business 3	Women Mean Business 4	Women Mean Business 5

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* 9. Trade, Professional Body, Sector Body Events

Please specify (1)

Please specify (2)

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* 10. Rate effectiveness for Q9

	1	2	3	4	5
1	1 1	1 2	1 3	1 4	1 5
2	2 1	2 2	2 3	2 4	2 5

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* 11. Specialist Business Network Events

	1	2	3	4	5
Belfast Entrepreneurs Network (BEN)	Belfast Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) 1	Belfast Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) 2	Belfast Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) 3	Belfast Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) 4	Belfast Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) 5
Catalyst CONNECT	Catalyst CONNECT 1	Catalyst CONNECT 2	Catalyst CONNECT 3	Catalyst CONNECT 4	Catalyst CONNECT 5
Mobile Monday	Mobile Monday 1	Mobile Monday 2	Mobile Monday 3	Mobile Monday 4	Mobile Monday 5
Digital Circle	Digital Circle 1	Digital Circle 2	Digital Circle 3	Digital Circle 4	Digital Circle 5
Acordia Business Network	Acordia Business Network 1	Acordia Business Network 2	Acordia Business Network 3	Acordia Business Network 4	Acordia Business Network 5
Business Hubs	Business Hubs 1	Business Hubs 2	Business Hubs 3	Business Hubs 4	Business Hubs 5
Lean IN	Lean IN 1	Lean IN 2	Lean IN 3	Lean IN 4	Lean IN 5
Centre for Competitiveness	Centre for Competitiveness 1	Centre for Competitiveness 2	Centre for Competitiveness 3	Centre for Competitiveness 4	Centre for Competitiveness 5

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Business Support Agencies:

	1	2	3	4	5
Local Enterprise Agency	Local Enterprise Agency 1	Local Enterprise Agency 2	Local Enterprise Agency 3	Local Enterprise Agency 4	Local Enterprise Agency 5
Invest Northern Ireland	Invest Northern Ireland 1	Invest Northern Ireland 2	Invest Northern Ireland 3	Invest Northern Ireland 4	Invest Northern Ireland 5
Local Council	Local Council 1	Local Council 2	Local Council 3	Local Council 4	Local Council 5
Tourism Northern Ireland	Tourism Northern Ireland 1	Tourism Northern Ireland 2	Tourism Northern Ireland 3	Tourism Northern Ireland 4	Tourism Northern Ireland 5

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Private Sector and Others

	1	2	3	4	5
Vistage	Vistage 1	Vistage 2	Vistage 3	Vistage 4	Vistage 5
Bank or other financial institution (please specify and rate)	Bank or other financial institution (please specify and rate) 1	Bank or other financial institution (please specify and rate) 2	Bank or other financial institution (please specify and rate) 3	Bank or other financial institution (please specify and rate) 4	Bank or other financial institution (please specify and rate) 5
Ulster University	Ulster University 1	Ulster University 2	Ulster University 3	Ulster University 4	Ulster University 5
Queen’s University	Queen’s University 1	Queen’s University 2	Queen’s University 3	Queen’s University 4	Queen’s University 5
Further & Higher Education Institute	Further & Higher Education Institute 1	Further & Higher Education Institute 2	Further & Higher Education Institute 3	Further & Higher Education Institute 4	Further & Higher Education Institute 5

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Your Investment in Business Networking

Do you pay for any networking services?

Yes

Don't know

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* 15. If Yes please select annual budget:

< £500

< £1000

< £2000

< £5000

< £10,000

Other (please specify)

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* 16. What business networking services do you pay for? (Please specify)

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* 17. Do you monitor non-cash expenditure on business networking?

Your time away from the business.

Marketing collateral.

Staff time.

Travel and subsistence.

Membership fees.

Other (please specify)

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* 18. What outcomes have you achieved from your investment? (Please select all that apply)

Increased sales.

New services.

New products.

Brand awareness.

Suppliers.

Referrals.

Innovation.

Knowledge.

Skills.

Help to solve a problem.

Mentoring.

Coaching.

Friendship.

Other.

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* 19. Please estimate as a percentage any sales generated in the past year as a result of your networking activity?

1-10%

11-20%

21-30%

31-40%

41-50%

51-60%

61-70%

71-80%

81-90%

91-100%

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* 20. In terms of justifying the investment in business networking activities which of the following statements most closely matches your view:

Participation in business networking events is a vital part of my business growth plan.

Participation in business networking events is useful to me in growing my business.

Participation in business networking events is interesting to me but hasn’t really helped in the growth of my business.

I don’t see any value in participating in business networking events.

Other (please specify)

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* 21. Personal Insights

What advice would you give to others regarding business networking in Northern Ireland?

With the benefit of hindsight, what would you do differently regarding business networking?

Any other comments

Thank you for making the time to complete this survey.

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* 1. About you.

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* 2. Business Activities:

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* 3. Number of employees

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* 4. Turnover (optional)

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* 5. Is Business Networking something that your business actively engages with?

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* 6. Is it something that happens as part of a Plan or something that is less formally structured? Select one from the options below

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* 7. Types of Business Networking ActivitiesOnline Events: Please select those that you have participated in within the past 12 months. In doing so please rate them in terms of their value to you and the business. Please use a score of 1-5 with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor.

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* 8. Attendance in Person: Please select those that you have participated in within the past 12 months. In doing so please rate them in terms of their value to you and the business. Please use a score of 1-5 with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor.

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* 9. Trade, Professional Body, Sector Body Events

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* 10. Rate effectiveness for Q9

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* 11. Specialist Business Network Events

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* 12. Business Support Agencies:

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* 13. Private Sector and Others

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* 14. Your Investment in Business NetworkingDo you pay for any networking services?

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* 15. If Yes please select annual budget:

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* 16. What business networking services do you pay for? (Please specify)

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* 17. Do you monitor non-cash expenditure on business networking?

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* 18. What outcomes have you achieved from your investment? (Please select all that apply)

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* 19. Please estimate as a percentage any sales generated in the past year as a result of your networking activity?

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* 20. In terms of justifying the investment in business networking activities which of the following statements most closely matches your view:

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* 21. Personal Insights

* 7. Types of Business Networking Activities

Online Events: Please select those that you have participated in within the past 12 months. In doing so please rate them in
terms of their value to you and the business. Please use a score of 1-5 with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor.

* 8. Attendance in Person:
Please select those that you have participated in within the past 12 months. In doing so please rate them in terms of their value to you and the business. Please use a score of 1-5 with 5 being excellent and 1 being poor.

* 14. Your Investment in Business Networking

Do you pay for any networking services?