A total of 11 new Founder Members have joined during the past year, enjoying the opportunity to tailor the way they use the Network. Different Founder membership packages focus on raising profile through the website directory and opportunities for sponsoring events; recruiting staff via the Recruitment Gateway; or providing quality training for employees through courses run by the Network's Learning Collaboration. As well as all company staff having access to the monthly business lectures, Founder Members also benefit from more exclusive networking dinners and parties.
Existing members with over 20 staff - and companies thinking about joining - can find out about the full range of services at special bimonthly Meet Cambridge Network meetings**, aimed at giving an insight into the ways their organisation and employees can engage with the Network. These meetings are in addition to regular informal Make the most of membership lunchtime events, which introduce new and potential members to the Network's services. The next of these takes place at The Hauser Forum on Friday September 14th.
Almost 2500 members have participated in Network events since September last year. On average, these have taken place once a fortnight, with activities including business lectures from the likes of Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia; Peter Barron, Google's head of PR for for Britain, Ireland and Benelux; and Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.
Further high profile lectures are planned for the coming months, including Angus Thirlwell, co-founder of premium chocolate brand 'Hotel Chocolat' (September 12); and Paddy Lowe, Technical Director at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, the team in which Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button compete for the Formula One World Championship (October 17) - sign up by following the links.
Cambridge Network's twice-yearly technology partnering event, the Corporate Gateway, also takes place again this autumn (October 18 and 19). This event has previously attracted delegates from prestigious companies such as PepsiCo, Shell, Dow and Procter & Gamble, who were introduced to Network member companies in a series of confidential one- to-one meetings. (Network members are encouraged to make sure their directory profiles and press releases are up to date, as this is often the first port of call for potential matches!)
All Cambridge Network services and activities are underpinned by this website, the latest iteration of which was relaunched in March this year. Since then it has enjoyed increasing traffic, with an average of 22,000+ unique visitors every month. Most popular sections are the interactive jobs board Recruitment Gateway - which is helping Cambridge employers to attract new talent, both from the region and beyond - and the news area, updated daily.
"We are delighted with the response we've had to the new and enhanced website facilities, but we are not being complacent. We're continually looking to improve the site, and welcome feedback from members and website visitors alike," said Hilary Laing, Cambridge Network's COO.
Send your comments via the website 'enquiries' button, or email editor@cambridgenetwork.co.uk
** 'Meet Cambridge Network' meetings are by invitation only, but if you are interested in attending, please email Andrea.Mitchell@cambridgenetwork.co.uk
Read more about Recruitment Gateway and the Learning Collaboration in the next Cambridge Network Newsletter on August 21st.
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