May 2010
Networking guru unveils new look group
A Northumberland businessman, who plans to take his unique three-way networking organisation global has started by re-launching with a new name and new identity today (Wednesday).
From this afternoon, Dual Concept Marketing (DCM) will be known as ipnconnect. Owner, Paul Lawton launches the new name and brand today at one of his unique networking events today at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
Many of ipnconnect’s near 200 members, along with a host of other North East business individuals, will be there today to celebrate the launch of the new look organisation which arranges a number of different face-to-face and online opportunities to collaborate with other member organisations.
Today’s event is being sponsored by Gordon Brown Associates. Its head of business development is Amy Whyte. She said: “An organisation like this, which wants to see business connect with others in innovative, resourceful and successful ways is long overdue in the region.”
ipnconnect, whose other members include the likes of Lloyds TSB, Ward Hadaway and Newcastle Racecourse, aims to cap North East membership at 250 organisations initially and also introduce Universities and third sector organisations into the groups in order to generate further procurement and mutually beneficial opportunities.
Paul, aged 50, sold his house to help fund the project hopes the early success of the scheme will see the concept rolled out into other parts of the country and even further afield. The concept has attracted the interests of business organisations in Australia and, later this year, Paul hopes to help shape ipnconnect in Melbourne and Sydney through franchising out the concept. He heads out to Australia in November.
He predicts that by the end of 2012, more than 27,000 businesses will be members of ipnconnect across the UK and is aiming for more than 100,000 businesses worldwide. Paul said: “It’s been a rollercoaster ride getting to the stage we are at today in revealing the new identity. We have a groundswell of interest in this region and we are now very close to closing membership. The numbers need to be kept manageable in order for ipnconnect to make business happen for our members.”
ipnconnect offers a variety of different ways for its closely vetted members to connect, including bi-monthly exhibitions, monthly dinners and weekly gatherings, as well as a protected and secure online members’ discussion and procurement online forums.
Paul, a former Royal Engineer in the Army, says the system employs strict disciplines to ensure maximum benefits for members and has employed the services of North Tyneside-based IT and technology specialists Project Business to help create the online platforms.
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