Business group delivers work to network

A new networking group promises to be the middle man, sourcing work as well as contacts to save businesses time and money.

IPNConnect is a UK-based networking company that will launch in Australia next month.

Founder Paul Lawton visited Australia this month for talks with local partners including government departments, chambers of commerce and private enterprise.

“We’re going to kill traditional networking, all over the world. I know I wouldn’t go to a networking event and pay a fee just to swap business cards. I want more,” Mr Lawton says.

IPNConnect is part of a wave of businesses using technology to deliver fast, targeted commercial connections.  

At present it provides online and face-to-face networking events, and training resources to members in the UK.

But it’s the third phase of the offering – a procurement platform that delivers project and business introductions to members – that will give the company its edge according to Lawton.

 “This is an organisation where people don’t just network, they get work. We are 90 per cent sure nobody in the world has what we’ve got,”Mr Lawton says.

The procurement platform will be rolled-out in the next few months. Members will be advised by email of relevant projects and can make direction applications for the job.

In addition to individual projects, Lawton says IPNConnect will provide access to traditional tendering routes from government departments and universities.  

Lawton wants to restrict membership to 1 per cent of businesses across each sector and region, including new markets Australia and Ireland.  

“We want to keep the quality high. Only 1 per cent of the British Army can join the SAS,” he says.

A 6 month subscription for an SME costs around $600. IPN will charge a 10 per cent fee for work introductions on top of the subscription.

Lawton believes the platform is “extremely valuable for franchises” and has identified this group as a key target market in Australia.

For more: IPNConnect