What a great meeting!

/ The Old Brickworks/

Friendly network and support - CY members meeting, January 2020

This week saw the first of our monthly meetings in 2020, and I just felt compelled to journal (it’s all the rage) about what a fantastically valuable meeting this is for CY members like me – independent consultants and freelancers who love independent working but miss the support networks we used to have in our old corporate roles.

From Tax advice for new independent consultants to why Google Docs might be better than Microsoft Word, and much, much more …

I love the relaxed, friendly, informal approach to our meetings – yes we do have an agenda to work through, but there is no referral pressure, no outrageous selling or expectation of being sold by others; just amazing mutual support from some really nice and interesting people.

We are an eclectic bunch with a diverse range of skills and backgrounds, and this month’s meeting covered and equally diverse range of discussion topics, including:

  • When you first start a new independent venture, when are your first accounts due?

  • Some clever collaborative alternatives to attaching MS-Word documents to emails.

  • Using iZettle to collect payment.

  • Helping to fill some new jobs in a new business.

  • How do you go about registering a trademark.

  • The power of asking for follow-on work with satisfied clients and customers.

  • Where to get investment for your idea for a new app.

  • How to get that very aged debt paid quickly (and without paying for legal support).

  • Celebrating new ventures and new customers.

I am already looking forward to next month’s meeting.  If you are a Yorkshire based independent consultant, freelancer, or micro-business, why not come along?

We meet 09:30-12:30 on the third* Wednesday of the month at The Old Brickworks, Brewer’s Fayre restaurant in Drighlington, just off the M62/M621/A62 junction.  There is no charge other than around a fiver for any refreshments you choose to have (I also enjoy the bacon butties!)

See you next month!

 — Colin

* no meeting in August, second Wednesday in December.