Businesses urged to press the flesh

There has never been a more important time to network - according to professionals across the sectors in Manchester. Please see below a release about the value of 'pressing the flesh' in a downturn:

Manchester's top professionals urge businesses to press the flesh

AGAINST a backdrop of economic uncertainty, leading business figures in the region are calling on professionals to work their contacts harder and make more time for networking.

Leading spokespeople from the banking, accountancy and legal sector argue that 'pressing the flesh' and being overtly seen on the scene are crucial to both retaining and pulling in business.

Michael Hartig, corporate director for Barclays Commercial Bank in the North West, advocates membership of influential networking organisations such as promanchester.

He commented: My view has always been that the more people you talk to, the luckier you get. Promanchester has certainly helped Barclays to cement closer working relationships with other professionals to our mutual benefit.

Assistant director at Ernst and Young, Joe O'Connor, achieved recognition as North West Business Insider's Young Professional of the Year in 2008, in association with promanchester.

He reinforces the value of being proactive on the networking circuit: It's vital to be able to go to an event knowing you will have access to like minded peers and decision-makers from across the professional sectors.

These networks have certainly created business opportunities for me and the wider firm and help to create a strong sense of community in Manchester, which is crucial in times of such uncertainty.

Daniel Rubin, managing associate within Addleshaw Goddard's employment team, gives insight into the value of networking to the legal sector in the region:

We invest more than many other firms to better understand the markets our clients operate in. Building strong and mutually beneficial relationships is an important aspect of this and pro-manchester offers a great platform for effective networking.