I’ve been looking back at 2021 and realised most of the business I’ve given and received has come from being in our local SAM Networking Ltd group. Not only have they given Portel business but they’ve also given me support and friendship, a reason to get up, dress up and turn up every Friday even in the early morning grim winter weather (Welcome to Yorkshire !). It’s always a warm welcome and lots of valuable interaction. Yes 2021 has been the worst of times but its also been the best of times, partly due to Samantha Hartley and her brilliant idea to set up SAM Networking Ltd
Lunch
EVERY THURSDAY | 11.15AM – 1PM
Our Lunch group is held at Cedar Court. Find the Cedar Court at Ainley Top, Lindley Moor Road, Hudderfield HD3 3RH. Literally 2 minutes from the M62, junction 24.
SAM Business Expos
My Expos are a little different to all the others.
Firstly, if it says 10am until 3pm. That’s precisely what happens. You can be safe in the knowledge that if you want to rock up at 2.30pm, then you can and we will all still be there, waiting to greet you!
Secondly, there won’t be oodles of the same types of business. Nobody wants to visit an Expo and be faced with 42 web developers or 17 solicitors, and the like. There will never be more than 2 or 3 of the same sector. Makes it interesting for everyone exhibiting and everyone visiting.
You can learn stuff too > There’ll be a bunch of seminars you can attend – keep checking back here for updates, or pop along to Eventbrite.
Networking > Make sure you allow a good few hours, as the 89 exhibitors are across 3 rooms, so you’ll need to make sure you have plenty of business cards and a lot of stamina to do lots of networking!
FREE PARKING > Thought it does get busy. The hotel staff will be available to help you find a space.
FREE BAG TO CARRY ALL YOUR MERCH > Collect this on arrival, along with a brochure explaining what’s what and where you can find everyone.
FOOD > The hotel have a restaurant on the ground floor, so if you want to make a day of it, grab a bite to eat, a coffee or something stronger, to keep you going!
FANCY A STAND TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS?
Then drop me a line at your earliest convenience. Email me at sam@sam-networking.co.uk Of the 89 available, only a handful remain and this is because it’s gained a lot of followers over the last 4 years, making it the ‘go-to’ Expo in the region.
See you there, Sam!
SAM
Socials
At SAM, we’re super social and find that the better we get to know each other, the more the referrals come flying in. We have lots of get togethers throughout the year. After the Business EXPO in April, we celebrate our busy day of connecting by relaxing with a few beers.
Then the Summer party BBQ is getting bigger each year, with more and more members attending. We have a live band (a few members are in different bands), lots of yummy food and lots of refreshments! So far, the weather has been kind too!
Christmas time brings another party. All groups join forces to round off the year and enjoy a Christmas lunch, drinks, fun quizzes and awards for the best attended to name but a few!
SAM
Charity
We love to support local charities here at SAM and lots of the local ones enjoy FREE membership and visit the meetings on a regular basis. This gives them access to a massive support system and lots of business professionals to lean on and collaborate with.
Many of our members love to undertake their own fund-raising activities too for our charities. We’ve had members throw themselves out of aeroplanes, do wing walks, whilst others took part in a wheelchair race to demonstrate how tough it is to have a disability. This year, one member is undertaking the rather gruelling London marathon! Also, in the depths of Winter, a few members are sleeping rough for 24 to support the homeless.
We have many events too with our charities. Charity balls, golf days, you name it, anything goes and everyone is happy to get involved. Our last charity ball, the Monster Mash, raised over £17,500. How fabulous is that?!
Check Out Our Members
A conglomeration of extremely pleasant, local, very experienced and inspirational professionals (some start-ups too), motivating each other to do business, referring genuine potential business partners to each other through an enormous network of contacts and simply supporting one other with advice and wisdom when things can get tough.
All peppered with a little humour (who wants to attend a miserable business meeting?!) and some members just choosing to have a catch-up over a delicious breakfast/lunch and a cup of fresh coffee. Whatever works for you.
Why Businesses Love Sam Networking
Portel AV
SAM Networking is a brilliant collection of local business people helping them to develop their own companies, supporting others to grow theirs, making a difference in the world and having loads of fun along the way.
Nestbox Financial Planning
When I started my business in 2020, networking was totally new to me as I had never had to do it before, plus I didn’t even know where to start!
I joined one well known group that came highly recommended but I found that unfortunately it wasn’t for me, but then someone introduced me to Sam Hartley who runs SAM Marketing, and I just knew straight away that not only had I found my ‘forever home’ networking group and I had found a fantastic friend too!
The group is so supportive of one another and meeting up every Thursday morning (very early!) has become breakfast with friends.
We laugh (and sometimes cry) because it is that sort of group where we can be open and honest with each other and I love that.
There are no hidden agendas, no chuffin’ divas, no backstabbing or one-upmanship (Sam just wouldn’t stand for that), just caring people who want to help each other personally and their businesses – that’s down to the way Sam runs the group and I love it!
GRK-VA
I joined SAM Networking in March after moving down here last year and deciding to open another office in Huddersfield. I have networked in the North East and North Yorkshire for many years. But Sam Networking is something special. Sam is fantastic, she gets it and knows all the right things to do to ensure a successful group. And she is very choosey about who is good enough to take a seat at one of her tables. Other networking groups say that but do not always adhere to these standards in my experience. I have secured a lot of business via my wonderful Sam Group and made many new friends too. Thank you to Sam for running an amazing group and thank you to Gill Kitson for inviting me.
The Human Group
SAM Networking has helped us make some truly valuable connections. Alongside getting sales enquiries, the biggest benefit has been finding reliable local businesses to work with. One member built us a fantastic new website that exceeded all expectations, and another helped is with branded merch and flyers. Sam goes the extra mile and genuinely cares about helping people collaborate & succeed, a true networking guru. Would I recommend SAM Networking? Abso-chuffing-lutely!
Roche AV