NetworkingAF: A refreshing take on legal sector events

There are some ideas that are so simple that you wonder how on earth it hasn’t previously been done.

I’ve been networking in the legal sector for around 30 year and it’s fair to say that many events, conferences and gatherings have been very much based around beer and wine. That’s not to say that everyone is out to get drunk, but it’s certainly been a culture where the booze has flowed alongside the conversation.

Following one of the many events late last year, Victoria Moffatt reached out to our networking group Martyn Best, Tracey Longbottom and Tom Bailey suggesting a different type of gathering in January. It would be at lunchtime and it would be specifically Alcohol Free, not just in relation to what was laid on for attendees, but the venue itself would be completely alcohol free so that people with particular religious beliefs would also be able to attend.

It may be said that this is not revolutionary thinking- lots of people do Dry January for example. However this concept was taking it to another level of total inclusion.

There was real interest and excitement for the event and on 30th January a group of around 20 of us gathered at Hinterland in Manchester for what proved to be a really lively and fun networking event. Lots of laughs. Lots of engagement and interesting conversation. All while drinking a variety of lovely non-alcoholic drinks. (The vegan canapes were also absolutely delicious!).

It was such a success that the group is already talking about doing similar events during the year in other locations, and we are very much hoping that these events will grow in popularity. Returning to your desk for meetings feeling refreshed and enlivened is such a good feeling- I can heartily recommend it and hope to see lots more people at these Networking AF gatherings in the future.