In Person Connections
The Business Networking Community
IPC News - May 2026
IPC now has several venues, each one meeting fortnightly:
The Three Mile Inn, Gosforth (Mondays 10-12)
The Broomside Park, Durham (Tuesday 7.30-9.30)
The Bluebell, Holystone (Tuesdays 8.30-10.30)
The Seaton Lane Inn, Seaham (Tuesday 11-1)
The Wheatsheaf, Woolsington (Wednesday 7.30 – 9.30)
The Grand Hotel, Seaburn (Thursdays 7.45 to 9.45)
The Hollymere, Sunderland, (Thursday 9.30-11.30)
The Wearside Farm, Washington (Thursdays 11-1)
The Church Mouse, Chester-le-street (Thursday 1-3pm)
All of the venues now have their venue and founder memberships in place. There is also Flexi membership. You can read more about the different types of membership in the previous March News Article.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you want more information.
The group in Seaburn quickly outgrew its original venue and is now based in the Grand Hotel.
The group’s chosen charity is Grace House.
This Sunderland based charity supports children and young people right across the region.
If you are a charity and looking to take part in networking events, please do contact us.
There are plans to keep IPC growing, establishing groups in the Wheatsheaf, Cramlington and the Tynemouth Castle pub, Tynemouth.
Each venue has its own online platform and there is a wider channel for all the members of IPC. As and when the groups achieve their 10-founder member status, there will be a big announcement online.
So, watch this space!
Written by Chris Rooney
0741 595 4065
r[email protected]
www.chrisrooney.wordpress.com
Facebook.com/WritingLifePeople/
Christopher Rooney | LinkedIn
IPC News - March 2026
In Person Connections enters a new era with a restructured membership. To date there has been a flexible membership with people able to visit any venues, whenever they like. That continues but, in conjunction, there is now Venue Membership. The main criteria for this is a commitment to attend a chosen venue on a regular basis.
Venue Membership is £180 a year. This is £15-per-month, surely a good investment. Flex members, for example an accountant, can still visit. But if the venue already has an accountant, then they are the go-to person in that group.
It's really about finding people who can commit to attending a venue every fortnight. Furthermore, each will have its own Founder Membership, consisting of the first 10 people to join. Membership for founder status is £120 for the year. That breaks down to £10-per-month.
That is a fixed price. Venue membership will cost exactly the same in 10 years time. It isn't going to creep up because of inflation.
Importantly, founder members will play a key role in developing their group; in its management; on inviting guests. Being in business can be a tough ride and the Venue Groups will offer peer support and expertise, as well as an opportunity to make sales and clients: Keep the cash tills ringing! In-Person Connections has venues opening all over the North-East.
So, watch this space!
Written by Chris Rooney
0741 595 4065
r[email protected]
www.chrisrooney.wordpress.com
Facebook.com/WritingLifePeople/
Christopher Rooney | LinkedIn
IPC News - January 2026
Steve Bodtenberg takes time to assess how In Person Connections is doing. And he looks ahead, for this new networking group, which he established in 2025.
“I didn't know what to expect. What I did know was that I wanted In Person Connections to be different from other networking groups. I was surprised at the variety of businesses that joined. Usually, when you go to a networking event, there is a solicitor, an accountant (maybe more than one!), a website designer. It is a very traditional type of scenario. But the variety of IPC members is quite different.
“One of the first to join was a glutton free cake maker!”
Business networking is a mainstay of marketing, especially for small businesses, sole traders. There are plenty of groups to choose from, offering face-to-face and online networking. They range from being very structured - the BNI model - to mix and mingle. They all have their strengths and weaknesses.
It has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for Steve but he has no regrets and is proud of In-person Connections.
“I've enjoyed all of the experience, I'm not in it for the money, I really can't see a downside to it. And you have to patient – that is one thing I've learnt in business – nothing happens as quickly as you would like it to. And there are set-backs, of course there are.
“We are opening new venues in County Durham and Northumberland, see how it goes. The key to success, I think, is making sure that the people attending are decision makers. You might go into a business networking group that is full of people but they can't decide yes or no to a business possibility. So, it is not all about numbers. Something else I've worked hard at is ensuring that IPC is not cliquish, which does happen in some other networking groups. It's almost like some private club.
“I enjoy meeting and greeting new members and I enjoy encouraging the shy ones. I've learnt a lot, about different ways of networking, about work-flows. I haven't been frustrated by anything. It is all an opportunity to learn.”
Written by Chris Rooney
0741 595 4065
r[email protected]
www.chrisrooney.wordpress.com
Facebook.com/WritingLifePeople/
Christopher Rooney | LinkedIn
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