Member Article

Thirst for business as networking event returns

Stokesley’s growing business networking event is set to be bigger and better when it returns for the fifth time next week.

Thirsty Thursday will take place on Thursday July 16th between 5pm and 7pm at The Mill on Springfield in Stokesley. The Mill recently underwent a major refurbishment and re-opened on July 6th.

Since Thirsty Thursday’s last event in May, organisers Anna Addison and Sue Thompson, have been shortlisted for a prestigious business award and also have been granted funding by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership to secure the networking events for the coming year.

Anna and Sue, both from Stokesley, will find out this Thursday (July 9th) if they have won a Hambleton Business Award in the category of Hambleton Champion.

As well as helping businesses from around the area meet one another and share plans and ideas, Thirsty Thursday encourages attendees to help raise money for local good causes by making a small donation to enter a prize draw to win a meal for four.

Since launching last November, over 150 businesses have taken part in the informal events and are now starting to see the results of meeting likeminded individuals.

The aim of the free get-togethers is to allow businesses to meet after work and talk about new projects and opportunities and share advice on everything from accounting, marketing and PR to business accommodation, retail and events.

Thirsty Thursday was the brainchild of Anna Addison, who runs PR company Anna Addison Associates, and Sue Thompson, who runs Catch Design Management.

The ladies came up with the idea after meeting through Superfast North Yorkshire when they recognised the need for an informal networking event for people living and working in Stokesley and the surrounding towns and villages.

Anna said: “The next Thirsty Thursday is set to be even better as it’s at the new-look Mill and we’ll be celebrating being awarded our funding and also making the Hambleton Business Awards shortlist. These are two huge achievements for us and something that we never expected. The support from local people has been great and we are really pleased that so many businesses are starting to benefit from the events.”

Sue said: “We’re both really quite overwhelmed by the success of Thirsty Thursday. What started out as just a few of us meeting for a drink after work has grown to be a significant event for many businesses in Hambleton. Our feedback shows that people are seeing results from our events and that the major factor in their success is that we meet informally at a convenient time.”

The next Thirsty Thursday takes place on Thursday July 16th at The Mill on Springfield in Stokesley between 5 and 7pm. Businesses from around the Stokesley area are invited to attend.

For more details visit http://thirstythursdaystokesleyjuly.eventbrite.co.uk or follow https://twitter.com/TTStokesley and https://www.facebook.com/ThirstyThursdayStokesley

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison .