First Networking Meeting - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Eilef · Senior Member

First Networking Meeting

Leger · Master Book-keeper

Good luck Eilef, I'm sure you'll be fine

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

take plenty of business cards, don't try to sell as remember that everyone there is looking to sell their products and services not to any spend money.

You need to perfect an approach that its their idea to approach you.

As you will be new to the group in the pre meeting people will not know you so they will be feeling the ground out to determin whether you are a potential income source.

Try to chat about their business, not yours. The more that they see you the more they will feel you one of the group and thats when freindly chats now turn into customers six months down the line.

If people are Hanging around the coffee table try picking off the one's standing alone.... Although try to avoid picking off the accoutnants there who will be doing the same thing.

The smallest businesses there will be attempting to do their own books. Ensure that you have your patter practiced for convincing them why thats a bad idea (they should be building their company, not wasting time on the administrative tasks that can be outsourced to you).

Do not go there expecting clients and if you do get some leads arrange a meeting, don't be tempted to start quoting prices before you know what the job entails (potential clients always downplay the complexity of their business).

Don't try to sell accountancy services in front of accountants, they will (a) absolutely trash you to the group and (b) you will lose the people there most likely to be the best constant stream of work for your business.

Good luck with the event Eilef, now get in front of that mirror and start practicing the art of not seeming to sell in prder to win business! (that sounds wrong but trust me, the hard sell just sends clients running).

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Agree with everything Shaun has said. Absolutely do not try to sell......you get more out of such events by not obviously selling, although you will probably need to attend a few of them with the same people before you get a bite. Always ask about their business - you get to discover a lot that way and can use some of that information to start the conversation with them next time you meet. Most people are impressed if you actually remember them and what they talked about. The tell me about your business question has opened up a wealth of opportunities for me over the years in this role and in my last one.

Good luck with it - let us know how you get on.

Eilef · Senior Member

Thanks,

They have a guest speaker this week, and breakfast is free on your first visit so it's worth it just for that.

Looking down the list of members on the website there is no accountant that's a member, however I do not know how up to date that page is.

Really want an early night Thursday as the meeting is 7am, but I'm stuck working my job until midnight, but I will just have to manage on little sleep, it could lead to not working my job anymore.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

It's BKN isn't it? Don't sign up to join no matter what they say.....will cost you a fortune. At least There is a post on here somewhere -have a read before you go.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Ignore last message, didn't mean BKN I meant BNI!!! Will edit properly when I ger home and have my glasses in, unless the nice Mr Moderator adjusts it for me! Sorry for typo!!

Onion4Sage · Senior Member

Joanne,

Nearly fell off my seat when I read that! Classic. biggrin

Regards,

Eilef · Senior Member

BNI?

I have no idea I just thought it was a local meeting.

Eilef · Senior Member

Cheshire wrote:
Ignore last message, didn't mean BKN I meant BNI!!! Will edit properly when I ger home and have my glasses in, unless the nice Mr Moderator adjusts it for me! Sorry for typo!!

thnaks for the heads up Cheshire, I have searched the forum and then searched the BNI locally.

The one I'm going to is not BNI so should be fairly safe I hope.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Onion4Sage wrote:
Joanne,

Nearly fell off my seat when I read that! Classic.
Regards,

Hi Ian

As it gave you such a laugh I thought I would leave it there! Left me red faced, lol disbelief

Jo

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Eilef wrote:
Cheshire wrote:
Ignore last message, didn't mean BKN I meant BNI!!! Will edit properly when I ger home and have my glasses in, unless the nice Mr Moderator adjusts it for me! Sorry for typo!!

thnaks for the heads up Cheshire, I have searched the forum and then searched the BNI locally.
The one I'm going to is not BNI so should be fairly safe I hope.

No problem Eilef. Hope you enjoyed your freebie breakfast! How did you get on?

Joanne

Eilef · Senior Member

Thanks,

It was really good, breakfast was great and I could easily get used to it.

The list must be outdated as they introduced me to the chartered Accountant straight away, who then made a bee line for me and I couldnt get away from.

As it turns out he is snowed under with work and can't keep up with the bookkeeping and wants to catch up on a one 2 one and discuss if he can outsource me some work.

He has suggested that he has about 5 clients I could start work on tomorrow.

Not sure how this works, or what to charge mind 😎😎😎😎

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Excellent news Eilef.

well done on a very profitable meeting. Sounds as though you've joined a really good group.

Meadowlands · Senior Member

Eilef

that's a great result. Well done

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Thats a brilliant result for a first meeting, well for any networking meeting! Well done you.

Eilef · Senior Member

Thanks

I didn't do much just talked to him, I got in before he could ask me anything and found out all about him.

He was almost like begging me to meet up with him and take some work off him, so it should be good to get started with.

Not sure how to go about things now so made a new post titled subcontracting, as I have no idea how this works.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Responded on your other post!

JRA · Veteran Member

Glad to hear the meeting was useful.

Are you able to share what networking meeting it was. I have looked at 4n however, can't really take time off to attend...

Eilef · Senior Member

Sure can....

It was Severn Valley Business Group, which used to be a franchise group (not BNI) but the other one.

It was run very poor and members dropped out and then when the last 3 were due to renew they split away and started there own.

The franchise one went and disappeared and then the current SVBG still is going.

Not too sure how it runs but Full Members go every week, associate members at least once a month.

No joining fee or membership fee but subs as you attend, which seems good value.

Guests are allowed anytime but get charged £10 each for breakfast, which was good but not worth £10 if I'm honest.

However the result I seem to have got out of my meeting would make the breakfast worth £100, even more as I had it free as it is free for first timers.

The verdict is out on if I will be allowed membership, as my services clash with the Chartered Accountant and whilst he wants me too work on some of his clients it would seem from his email regarding my services he will object to me being a member along them grounds.

-- Edited by Eilef on Wednesday 9th of September 2015 02:42:59 AM

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Which 'other one'?

I had a quick look at their site - seems that it runs very much along the BNI lines, without the extortionate fees and the absolute need (or you are expelled) to attend EVERY week.

I couldnt see a Chartered Accountant on the members list but I wasnt paying that much attention, but the website itself says they are looking for a bookkeeper so how can they now justify you not being allowed membership? I think I would be querying that one. If its along the lines of experience then they should be putting something on the site which stipulates what level of experience/qualifications they are looking for. Yes I understand that they dont want two of each profession - but then it begs the question as to why they have listed bookkeeper in the first place is the existing Accountant covers this off.

Eilef · Senior Member

Well I wasn't expecting a chartered accountant either and he is not on the list.

I was surprised when he was introduced to me.

I am welcome to join but if the accountant has any objections then I cannot join as our services clash.

In an email to me he said I do not offer pure bookkeeping, which goes back to Shaun's post about ICB being an accountancy qualification or bookkeeping.

I think he will still offer me some work but will not want me to become a member of the network meeting, and if that's the case I can still attend as a guest and might go once every few months just to meet up with him for breakfast and a chat.

I have asked for a prospectus from AAT which I'm waiting for still but from what I can tell without looking to much into it at this stage is that the Level 3 ICB is only a module or two away from being a full AAT

JRA · Veteran Member

Thanks for sharing. It would seem you are a little further up the Severn than I am.

I have looked at both 4n and BNI both seem expensive for me at the moment

Eilef · Senior Member

Yes some are very expensive to join and from what I have read and been told you are under pressure to get referrals and networking doesn't work overnight.

It takes time to build a trust and foundation for doing business on.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Eilef wrote:
Well I wasn't expecting a chartered accountant either and he is not on the list.

I was surprised when he was introduced to me.

I am welcome to join but if the accountant has any objections then I cannot join as our services clash.

In an email to me he said I do not offer pure bookkeeping, which goes back to Shaun's post about ICB being an accountancy qualification or bookkeeping.

I think he will still offer me some work but will not want me to become a member of the network meeting, and if that's the case I can still attend as a guest and might go once every few months just to meet up with him for breakfast and a chat.

I have asked for a prospectus from AAT which I'm waiting for still but from what I can tell without looking to much into it at this stage is that the Level 3 ICB is only a module or two away from being a full AAT

I think you only get 4 exemptions with Level 2 and 3 ICB - have a look at this https://www.aat.org.uk/sites/default/files/assets/Exemptions-for-AAT-Accounting-Qualification-AQ2013.pdf

You can find out what you need from the site if you havent had the prospectus.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Joanne,

that link seems more than a little confusing. Must admit to being a little shocked myself at first reading that the AAT were recognising a non QCF qualification at all.

On second reading I realised that they are not actually giving any exemptions directly for ICB from the AAT accounting technician qualification, only four modules at the advanced level of the bookkeeping qualification.

To move from ICB to AAT people would still need to either do the skillscheck (and then should be able to start as Level III) or sell themselves to a training provider on the basis of their ICB qualification being the equivalent of the QCF recognised IAB qualification to be allowed to start at level III without doing the skillscheck.

Its another of those anomalies that I was talking with John and David about in that ICB and IAB are the same level but one gets recognised where the other doesn't. Go figure!

Looking at that form it does seem that the AAT actually give less direct exemptions for ICB than the ACCA do! (Having the two level IV ICB qualifications will get you exemptions from ACCA fundamental level papers F2 and F3). Although, as mentioned above, having ICB will get one trough the skillscheck so I really cannot see any MICB's having to do AAT level II.

TrevorD · Senior Member

Premiere Training said I could join on level 3.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Tut, don't go doing a Brian on me and only read half my email, lol.

What Premier said to you just confirms what I said above in that a training provider can override the necessity for the skillscheck for certain qualifications if they choose to.

And also confirms that the ICB qualification is at leat the equivalent of AAT level II.

It won't stay that way of course as the ICB have obviously got their eye on being the equivalent of level III AAT and possibly into a fair chunk of level IV.

You have to admire their bottle considering the opposition in that market.

I can see them doing an IFA sometime soon in that the Institute of Financial Accountants used to be the Institute of Bookkeepers but reinvented themselves as an accountancy qualification (and also seemingly reinvented Wikipedia as they really do seem to be attempting to obliterate all trace of their origins (you can still see the original Wikipedia entries as the history is never removed fully. The IFA site also used to be proud of where they came from but seemingly no longer)).

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Deleted to save further confusion as I was listing the Accounting units, instead of bookkeeping ones. Soz folks . evileye

-- Edited by Cheshire on Thursday 10th of September 2015 08:50:09 PM

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Joanne,

just to confirm in case people still misread what is being said here.

I wasn't implying level exemptions from the AAT helpsheet, I was saying that its unit exemption from a different qualification (the AAT bookkeeping qualification, not the AAT accounting qualification... They really are confusing things there aren't they!).

The level exemption would be AAT level II as that is very similar to the bookkeeping qualification.

And as is being said a lot in this thread, the skillscheck is a great override to prove the level that one should be doing.

Sorry trevor, I just reread your post from a few above and I fear that on conversion from ICB you would still be quite a few modules away from MAAT. If you want to make the move have a chat with Nick or Neil at first intuition who I am sure would be able to work out the best route specific to you.

kindest regards,

Shaun.

Eilef · Senior Member

My AAT prospectus turned up yesterday and I have to say it's as clear as mud!

I have emailed AAT direct today asking what if anything do my ICB qualifications exempt me from.

I am hoping for an answer by Monday.

TrevorD · Senior Member

Eilef - You should be exempt from Level 2 - Why do you want to do AAT ?

Eilef · Senior Member

Well kind of got hooked on this learning thing.

So thought I might give AAT a pop bigger qualification means big money in the long run.

Cheshire · Master Book-keeper

Eilef wrote:
My AAT prospectus turned up yesterday and I have to say it's as clear as mud!

I have emailed AAT direct today asking what if anything do my ICB qualifications exempt me from.

I am hoping for an answer by Monday.

Hi

Shaun answers this one very well and if you look at the list of modules on that link I sent - they are just some that relate to the bookkeeping qual they offer. But as the boys suggest you might be able to bypass Level 2 of the Accountancy qual by doing the skills test - give it a try online via the AAT site.

I think its good that you want to keep learning and progressing your career. There really is a lot to learn - away from these courses as well as with them! You can never stand still in this business.