New Networking Group Launching in Chelmsford - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Zoe · Senior Member

New Networking Group Launching in Chelmsford

RobH · Expert

Is that a 4N group Zoe?

Zoe · Senior Member

Hi Rob

Yes - it is. It's in early stages at the moment but hoping to launch in June.

Kind regards

Zöe

RobH · Expert

Ah I wondered as I used to go to the meeting in Coventry, the passport idea is good, trouble was I couldn't get away often enough to make use of it! Don't know if you have evr come across Bartercard, but if you are a member you can pzy on trade (this will either mean something or nothing to you!!)

Rob

Zoe · Senior Member

Yes - it's great the way that you can go to lots of different groups with just one membership and meet lots of different people.

I have heard of Bartercard but don't use it - I've heard mixed reviews of it to be honest. Do you use it?

Amanda · Expert

Hi,

I know someone who uses Bartercard. I had not heard of it before that though. Great concept if it works for your type of business, I heard that accountants can do well out of it!!!!

A

RobH · Expert

Yes I'm a member and I have picked up a bit of work without trying, need to find good places to spend the trade though (maybe like a 4N passport!)

Zoe · Senior Member

Well if you do and you're anywhere near Chelmsford at any time you'll have to pop in!

Stardoe · Guru

Hi Zoe,

I am in Chelmsford. Don't know if the sessions will be any use to me though, and the thought of 8am put the willies up me...lol

What is Bartercard?

Pauline

Zoe · Senior Member

Hi Pauline

I belong to the Braintree group of 4Networking and it is such a good group for networking. We are hoping that the Chelmsford group will be the same. The great thing about 4Networking is that you get a 'passport' membership so that you are not just limited to one group but can go to as many groups you want to. This means that as well as getting to know a core group of people, you can also visit other groups and get to know lots of different people as well as those 'passporting' in to your group.

The early start put me off a bit at first but it works out well as the meeting ends at 10am then you still have the whole day to work.

More information is here if you are interested - 4Networking

Rob will probably be able to give you more information on Bartercard but here is the website - http://www.bartercard.co.uk as I understand it, you can trade with other Bartercard members using your barter points instead of cash.

Kind regards

Zöe

RobH · Expert

Hi pauline,

Bartercard is as Zoe says a way of trading outside of the cash economy. You still traet it as cash in your books. It is really good for people with spare capacity because in effect they can trade their goods and services for other goods and services. But to do this normally would be difficult because theer is a big discrepancy in prices, eg a hairdresser may charge £20 per hour whereas her accountant may charge £100per hour. So one haircut will not equate to an hours worth of accountancy. So you charge your rate out in trade pounds and you spend your trade pounds wherever you can. It's not for everybody and not everybody uses it in an effective manner. And it is absolutely not for people who are ran off their feet. I use it sparingly but it has brought in extra clients who then have referred me to cash paying clients. Also I use it on my telephone answering service since I have a receptionist answering calls so she may as well answer a few more that I get paid in trade for. So it works well for me.

8am , an early start?!! Try BNI, you'll have to be up by 5.30am!

Rob

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Morning Rob.

Sounds a complete nightmare for cashflow statements!

There needs to be a new heading in the cashflow statement Cash or thereabouts!

Thankfully though at least until 2012 small companies don't have to produce cashflow statements.

Think that I'll keep all of my barter chips with the queens head on them!

Shaun.

Wella · Expert

Shamus wrote:

........Think that I'll keep all of my barter chips with the queens head on them!

Shaun.

I wonder for how much longer??

Bill

RobH · Expert

Shame really Shaun, I was going to nominate you as head of the Barter Free State!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Morning Bill.

Stop it... You know from the other thread where I've been wearing my political colours on my sleeve that it doesn't take much to set me off!

Personally I would rather have the US Dollar imposed on me than the Euro.

I realise now why they stopped teaching the basics of history in school! Thankfully my boy still has me to inform him what exactly is wrong with the French. I know that we keep fighting the Germans but personally I have nothing against them... And they make great cars.

Actually, on the French point. Bought a great book the other day. 1000 years of annoying the French by Stephen Clarke. First non Accountancy book that I've purchased for three years.

Wella · Expert

Morning Shaun

I think we are in agreement

I nearly wrote in the other thread that I would rather be in the 51st state of America, than in a bad state in the EU.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

I can't afford to retire to Thailand yet so I might consider looking for work there if labour get another five years.

I worked in Houston, Texas back in the 90's and loved the place. (For some reason American women REALLY like our accents?).

Wella · Expert

You just sent a shiver down my spine

.......if labour get another five years (or did you mean prison sentences?)

Sorry head stuck with a vision of shoulder pads, stetson and JR Ewing

-- Edited by Wella on Thursday 22nd of April 2010 01:16:49 PM

RobH · Expert

5 years hard labour? Could be preferable to 5 years of George Osbourne but I wouldn't expect any bankers to agree.

Shaun I bet you really overdid the English accent and added a few 'don't you knows' as you flicked your brolly and doffed your bowler hat!

Bill....ten to go......!

Rob

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Howdy Y'all

Note that my choice of chancellor was Lord Digby, not George Osbourne.

I don't agree with all things or people tory. I just follow general principles rather than personalities (or lack or them) and the countries hopes of pulling out of this nosedive that we're in with Brown at the helm is best under a conservative government.

For some reason when you start chatting to the women in Houston they always think that we're Australians which immediately opens up a conversation.

I think that I've got a pretty non descript accent as I'm a midlands boy but I've spent most of my working life in the city so the sing song brummie twang pretty much disappeared.

Right, got to go. Bit of busyness before the school run.

Talk in a bit,

Shaun.

semsley · Guru

I've always been blue but with the eurosceptic wing being sidelined none of the three main parties will take us out of Europe and unless we do this, I can't see things improving. I actually voted to become a member of the Common Market as I believed and still do in free trade, however, I did not sign up to join the federal united states of europe with 80% of our laws being made there and ignored by most of our european brethren and gold plated by our government. UKIP is the only way out.

-- Edited by semsley on Friday 23rd of April 2010 12:55:27 PM

Marky65 · Guru

Hi Sheila

And after watching last nights debate it was certainly quite obvious that all 3 parties are keen for us to stay in Europe even if there was a lot of rhetoric from them saying how they will fight for us.

Zoe · Senior Member

Hi All

I love the way a lot of threads on this forum start about one topic and can then end up about something completely different!

So to change the subject again...

I have more details on the networking group. It will most probably be held in Chelmsford on every other Thursday starting 24 June. You can visit the group up to three times before deciding if you would like to become a member of 4Networking (which entitles you to visit any other 4Networking group in the country). The cost to visit is £10 which includes the meeting and breakfast.

If you would like to come along and see what it is all about, please let me know and I will ensure you receive an invitation to the launch. It would be good to meet some of you in person rather than just virtually!

Kind regards

Zöe