Inaugural Networking Event a Success

Ourselves, Hartlepool United, and Great Annual Savings are joining forces to encourage greater collaboration among businesses in the area. The first networking event held last month, at the football club’s Suit Direct Stadium was a success, with over 50 businesses in attendance and drinks sponsored by Cornerstone Business Solutions. Assistant principal Gary Riches, head of commercial and operations at Pools Rose Stoker, and business development manager at Great Annual Savings Mark Boyce all spoke to guests at the event.

Our Assistant Principal, Gary Riches shared his thoughts on the success of the event, saying, “I was pleasantly surprised with the really strong turn-out considering it was the first we have done together. We are pleased with the number of businesses who engaged. It was an opportunity for me to tell those in attendance about the transformational partnership the College has with Hartlepool United. And how this partnership – which is working well in a number of other ways too - is about two anchor institutions in Hartlepool having accumulated almost 300 years of working alongside each other now working together. We are situated less than a mile from one another, and it makes perfect sense to work in collaboration for the benefit of the town and the surrounding areas.”

The organisers are determined to ensure that there are more networking events on a regular basis. Rose Stoker said, “We want this to be the first of many. There is more to come with monthly meetings, referring local businesses to one another – and of course, an opportunity to join us at Hartlepool United on a match-day too. We want to encourage local businesses to work together, and what better way than to work with two of the town’s most long-standing organisations, like Hartlepool United and Hartlepool College of Further Education.”

Mark Boyce, the driving force behind the networking event, expressed his hopes for the future of the initiative, saying, “I hope everyone enjoyed the first networking event and that everyone managed to find some useful introductions for new business or general contacts to help them. We are now looking to arrange the second event and will contact everyone again soon. We would also like everyone who attended to invite a business customer or supplier so the event can grow and become more fruitful for everyone. Keep an eye out on Eventbrite for the next one.”

This collaboration among Hartlepool’s long-standing institutions shows the potential for businesses to work together and contribute to the growth of the town and the surrounding areas. We are looking forward to hosting more networking events that will encourage local businesses to collaborate and thrive. The next event will be held on Thursday 6th April. between 5.30pm - 7.30pm at The Suit Direct Stadium, Sign Up now with the link below.