Jack Butler

Four things are different about Sparkle: It’s for young people

The emphasis is on peer support

It attracts people with interest in all sectors

It is friendly and fun, not dominated by listening to speakers, and creates a safe environment for good-quality conversations and peer learning

Because I saw the need for something like Sparkle and didn’t see anyone else doing it. Networking is such a crucial skill and yet education doesn’t seem to emphasise it and a lot of young people feel intimidated by business networking events, or just don’t realise the value and enjoyment in it, so Sparkle is a safe and fun introduction to the world of networking.

Finding other connectors…it’s the quickest way to meet a lot of interesting, open and connected people. After a chance meeting in a library, asking to stay in touch and soon finding myself round a table over dinner with people who knew Madonna, Orlando Bloom, MPs and just about everybody!

Set the tone – tell people that it’s a friendly and open environment and they will respond accordingly in how they approach people Keep an eye out for people who have come away from conversation – plug them back in with a new introduction Be clear with the venue about noise levels – try to find a semi-private space and possibly one which allows you to control the music level independently of the rest of the venue Consider having some help with admin and hosting, so that it allows you to take a step back and engage in good conversation without being worried about timings and arrangements Make a point of enjoying it and not getting to caught up in the organisation

Ecademy – try power networking for a month for free and see how useful the search functionality is and 3Cs Community for aspiring entrepreneurs.