How to Host Summer Networking Events in Your Office Space.

A major part of being in any organization or advancing your career is not just about working hard, but also about making the right connections. Networking, as it’s called, involves fostering these connections with professionals in your relevant field or business. This has only become much more important in the modern era with the fierce competition both online and offline.

The first step to clinching networking is to attend or host a networking event, and here, you’re going to learn the best ways to host a summer networking event in your office space.

1. Prepare a Welcome Speech.

When prepping to host a networking event, one of the first things you should do is create a welcome speech. It can be a short video explaining what the event is all about, why the event is being organised, the successes of previous hosting, teasing new things, and guest speakers who will be available.

2. Research and Invite Possible Guest Speakers and Sponsors.

Once the welcome speech has been crafted, you research potential guest speakers from professionals in the field. Contact them and see if they’re interested in participating online or in person, and if they might be able to participate in the event. This also allows you to easily plug in the names of guest speakers onto the fliers and get them to promote the event, so your networking event can generate some buzz.

The same also goes for sponsorship. You can partner with various organisations and companies that will be interested in networking.

3. Decide on the Possible Number of Attendees and Venue.

Once you’ve done your research on the guest speakers and narrowed the list of potential sponsors, you can start booking the venue. 

You estimate how many people are going to attend by reviewing past attendance, engagement online, and sending out surveys. 

This will inform your decision on the size of venue you’ll need to rent out. It’s always advisable to do this before committing to inviting any guest speaker because the availability of the venue might not align with the speaker’s schedule.

4. Post an Update on The Event.

Consistently post updates with the help of a well-run social media campaign to raise awareness for the event and retain the interest of Attendees in the networking event.

5. Send out Invites.

Once the date, venue, and speakers have been decided, you can send out invites to speakers and attendees.

6. Set Up a Welcoming Interior.

Now that invites have been taken care of, you can concentrate on things like decoration for the venue. When hosting a networking event for your office space, you’ve got to know how to impress, and you accomplish this by creating an impressive, welcoming space. 

The welcome entrance has to be a place where people can stop and take pictures to post on social media platforms like LinkedIn to boost their portfolio.

A good welcome scene also creates a lasting impression on people attending, allowing them to perceive the event as highly professional and an opportunity to network with worthwhile individuals and organisations.

7. Set up Refreshments and Entertainment.

No good event is complete without some refreshments and entertainment. Since it’s an office space networking event, the type of refreshments provided has to be inclusive. If there are a lot of people attending, then snack bars, a bar, and packaged food might be enough. 

These refreshments should be provided when it’s sure it won’t distract from the event, and proper plans should be made to accommodate allergies and religious preferences.

If it’s an exclusive event, then a buffet and a nearby bar with servers passing drinks around would be a more suitable setup.

8. Get a Team of Connectors.

Despite creating an accommodating and fostering environment, it can still be difficult for some people to interact. That’s why you need Connectors to chat up these introverts, collect their contacts, and introduce them to other like-minded fellows. This creates a good atmosphere that fosters more networking.

Planning and setting up all of this can be quite the hassle. But not to worry, Millyard Technology Park has got you covered on that end with their professional event planning and networking services. Millyard Technology Park will help book a venue, create targeted social media campaigns to reach your intended audience, and even cover organising food and drinks.