In my role with the world's leading networking and referral training organisation, The Referral Institute, I'm on a mission to raise the level of networking in my region - the East Midlands.

There are close to 100 opportunities to network in around the Nottingham-Derby-Leicester triangle and beyond. That's 100 clubs, events, groups, organisations, get-togethers and associations that bring people together for support, information and business generation.

Many of these groups I've had the honour of speaking at in the past. Those that make the biggest difference to their members and guests tend to be the ones who in some way educate and train people to network better.

Whether that means a speaker of note or some kind of professional development input, people benefit hugely from both the opportunity to network and the opportunity to learn.

I'll be interviewing the leaders and organisers of many of these clubs, groups and events over the next few months. Yesterday I spoke at Access2Business, ran by the incredible Karen Kennedy.

After a very successful relaunch of this highly successful club of senior decision makers and business owners, Karen is putting her intimate blend of education and connections into growing A2B into a dominant networking brand in this region.

Her next event on on 3rd December. With a dedicated core of high level business developers and connectors, this is one of the premium groups in the East Midlands. Karen herself will also be doing a presentation on 'The Many Intangible Benefits of Networking!' Get yourself there and tell her I sent you!