A VIDEOGRAPHER who boosted her business through attending networking events has now set up her own group for North Hampshire businesses.

Jade Binsted set up The Ribbons Network in Odiham and Eversley after realising the benefits of these business support groups.

The 25-year-old launched her videography business in 2015 and discovered networking groups two years’ later, which she used to help grow her business.

“I was asked to franchise a group in Hampshire and ran it from May 2017 to August last year. It won awards, but it was bought out by another company so I decided to step away and create my own brand of networking groups called Ribbons Network.”

The group, which launched in September last year, meets twice a month, once for a structured breakfast meeting in Eversley on the second Tuesday of each month an the other for a more relaxed early evening meeting in Odiham held on the fourth Thursday of each month.

“If people come to both they get the best from it,” explained Jade, adding: “It’s going well and we have 20 to 30 attendees at each meeting. I receive a lot of good feedback about it.”

Jade said networking is vital for small business owners, explaining: “It’s a great confidence booster especially if you are a one-man-band, most of the time you spend totally on your own. Networking allows you to grow your confidence and talk about your business and form relationships. It’s a support network first and then the business comes naturally because you gain trust from people in the room and wouldn’t think twice about recommending them.”

The group attracts business owners from Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey, who hear from a guest speaker at the events.

Jade is hoping to grow her network business across the country, and already has an online community of more than 500 entrepreneurs who offer tips, advice and promotion.

Jade, who is pregnant with her first child, said networking has been invaluable to her, adding: “It’s done so much more for me than just growing my business.”

For more information visit https://ribbons-network.com/.