Property consultancy JLL’s Southampton team hosted its first speed networking event with a twist at Gusto Lounge, Southampton, at the end of last month.
The evening offered a fun alternative to the standard forms of networking, targeting the younger generation of professionals in the South Coast.
Following the well-known ‘speed dating’ format, guests from property, financial and legal industries, including Gladman, Hydrock and Lester Aldridge were given three minutes to talk to another delegate, before being asked to move on and meet someone else.
It was a great chance to meet many other professionals and make initial connections to develop business profiles and build valuable relationships.
Hannah Griffiths, graduate surveyor at JLL, said: “I am extremely pleased with the success of the event; fantastic feedback has been received from the night. It was encouraging to hear that people enjoyed getting involved in an innovative style of networking.”
Simon Woodruff, surveyor at JLL, said: “It was great to network with different peers, whilst strengthening the relationships with other professionals in our market.”
Commonly, guests gravitate towards familiar faces at events, so the evening enabled people to network effectively through meeting new people, work on their elevator pitch and exchange contact information, before rotating to meet the next. After canapés were served, guests could build on any successful initial connections made during the rotations for the remainder of the evening. Congratulations to Samuel Mann, a senior solicitor at Blake Morgan, who won a bottle of champagne in the business card draw.
Cameron Macmillan, trainee quantity surveyor, AECOM who attended Gusto Lounge, said: “The speed networking event hosted by JLL was both enjoyable and productive. The format was a fresh idea that increased the usual 5/6 new correspondence I’d make to 20+. The time limit kept conversations fast and energetic, removing any awkwardness whilst still allowing ample time to get to know the individuals.”
Profits of the evening successfully raised £230 for Yellow Door: a charity which supports those who have suffered abuse and offers preventative services across Southampton and Western Hampshire.
