Why Networking Works

Laura Hyde, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice East Herts was fortunate to be invited to join the recent Business Peer Networks Programme, sponsored by Herts Chamber of Commerce and the Local Enterprise Partnership. The aim was to support local businesses to survive and thrive during and post pandemic. The Programme took the form of nine Action Learning Sets and three separate advisory sessions with a Business Mentor. In total X different local business leaders took part during 2020 and 2021.

As an independent local charity, Citizens Advice East Herts benefited from working alongside business leaders, discovering many commonalities and helping each other with challenges and issues. An unexpected but welcome by-product from the Programme was meeting other leaders beyond your own cohort. Citizens Advice East Herts and Pearldrop Media shared the same Business Mentor – Nigel Grant. Nigel knew that Citizens Advice East Herts were looking for a way to explain how to access advice service during the pandemic and so he introduced Laura to Denise Austin at Pearldrop Media, also a participant on the programme. As a result, Pearldrop Media created this great animation. The film has led to Denise talking to other local Citizens Advice across England about creating media bespoke to their needs. A win:win all round!

Watch the animation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS3O84T3QeI&feature=youtu.be