Business Networking for Directors and Business Owners: Where Senior People Actually Network
Most networking events are full of people who want to sell and short of people who can buy. Directors and business owners know this, which is why so many of them stopped going to networking events years ago.
Yet senior people still need a trusted network: advisers they can refer clients to, peers to sense check decisions with and introductions into other businesses. This article looks at how directors network well and what to look for in a group.
Why directors skip most networking events
Time is the main reason. A director's diary is full, and a morning lost to a room of sixty second pitches is a morning not spent running the business.
The second reason is quality. Big open events attract early stage sellers. A director wants to meet other owners and senior advisers, not be pitched to all morning.
What senior people look for
A small, consistent group of peers. Relationships that build over time rather than one-off conversations. A setting that feels worth the time. And no competition from someone in the same trade sat across the table.
Why golf suits executive networking
A round of golf gives you hours of relaxed conversation with three other people. You learn how someone thinks, how they treat people and whether you would trust them with a client. That is the basis of every good referral.
A monthly morning at a good golf club is also something a director will actually put in the diary and keep.
How Pro 5 works for directors
Pro 5 groups meet monthly at golf clubs across England, with one seat per profession in each group. Meetings start with breakfast and a structured business session, then golf in mixed fourballs. There is no joining fee and membership starts from £69 + VAT a month.
Golfers of every standard are welcome, so you do not need a low handicap to take part.
Questions
Where do business owners network?
Many owners prefer small, closed referral groups that meet less often, such as monthly golf networking, over large open events.
Is Pro 5 only for directors?
Pro 5 is for business owners, directors and senior professional advisers, with one seat per profession in each group.
How often do Pro 5 groups meet?
Once a month, at a golf club.
Can I visit first?
Yes. Visitors can book a place at a meeting before deciding to join.