Enterprise Nation

When did you start Business Scene?

Business Scene was incorporated in Oct 2006 although we had spent about a year prior to that working on the trial site under a different name.

Have you always been your own boss or did you have a spell at working for someone else?

I have worked for someone else but on both occasions it ended in disaster leading me to the conclusion I am unemployable.

Can you tell us what Business Scene is all about?

Business Scene is an online business community with a focus on business events and networking. We feature thousands of events across the UK and help our members raise their profiles in their local communities. We also run our own evening events supported by our national sponsors BlackBerry and Microsoft which aim to bring all of the networks together in any geographical area. People mix with a glass of wine and nibbles making new contacts, and can listen to an inspiring speaker during the evening.

How do you think home businesses can make the most of networking and networking events?

Regardless of where someone operates their business from they need customers. Networking is a fantastic medium to long term strategy for businesses to fill their pipeline, build their reputation/credibility. Home working can be quite a lonely experience if you were previously used to working in a busy office, and networking can be a good place to meet people on a professional level to bounce ideas, share current issues and provide mutual support. As a home worker myself I know I have come to appreciate this more and more.

Do you work from a dedicated room in the house? If ‘yes’, what’s your favourite thing in it?

I work from an office in my attic.  It is fairly spacious and has a couple of desks so colleagues can join me for a day and has a couch which is normally covered in papers. My favourite thing in my office is my guitar which is used when I need inspiration.

Do you have any events coming up in the next couple of months?

We have events running all year round and November is particularly busy with 3 events in London, Gloucestershire and Chester. At these events many networks are profiling themselves and in London we even have Mark Prisk MP (Shadow Minister for Enterprise) speaking. If EN members want to come along they will be more than welcome and do make sure they introduce themselves to me J

Details are;

• London Event
• Gloucestershire Event
• Chester Event 

What are your plans for the future?

We have big ambitions for Business Scene which includes international growth. We would like to be known as the ticketmaster for business events.

What would be your one piece of advice to someone starting a business from home?

Network with as many people as possible both online and face to face in the short term, then start to concentrate your time on the key relationships for you and your business. Quantity helps you get going, but for quality relationships it takes time to build trust.

Warren Cass talks to Emma Jones

• Business Scene