Due to Overwhelming Popular Demand, Peer to Pier Networking Walk Returns Friday, April 20th
The LEO office in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown are building on the great success of their inaugural and innovative Peer to Pier walk from March involving lots of fresh air, free ice cream and a highly effective networking format.
The second ‘Peer to Pier’ Networking Walk will happen along the East Pier in Dún Laoghaire on Friday April 20th – with more than 300 entrepreneurs and business people expected to take part.
The success of the first walk during Enterprise Week in March, which attracted hundreds of people and produced such a wave of positive feedback prompting the office to meet the demand for this highly effective and fun format.
Owen Laverty, Head of Enterprise, LEO dlr, said: “We’re inviting entrepreneurs and business people from all over Dublin to participate in this unique networking experience. This event is pure networking. It’s outdoors and structured but it’s also relaxed and fun. I think people are more relaxed when they are walking, which removes the awkwardness of some networking events. It’s open to everyone, no matter their business or sector. The East Pier is a great walk at the best of times so why not combine it with the chance to meet and develop new connections and business opportunities. And then there’s the free Teddy’s ice cream as well!”
The unique networking format comprises of a series of points along the walk where people are encouraged to “swap” their walking partners before they reach the end of the Pier where they are supplied with Ice cream and coffees before returning to the National Yacht Club where the networking continues.
More than 300 business people took part in the last event, despite having put on more than 20 events during Enterprise Week everyone remarked on the effectiveness of the peer to pier format.
One participant, Mary Cronin, of Apple Tree Limited, said: “I thought the last event was absolutely fantastic. You have to approach these things with an open mind. The format was brilliant, well organised. I loved the flow and the stops where you have to swap (from the person you were networking with). I got huge benefit from this, great contacts and a few laughs. We should do this every week, really it should be a regular occurrence."
Richard Strahan, Bike Locker.ie said: “I came along not knowing what to expect. The format was completely different from anything that I had been involved with before. It was novel for sure, but it really worked. I think been in the social setting of the pier meant everyone was more relaxed and open than if we were all crammed in an office environment. By the time we finished I had met four businesses that I am now in contact with that would never have been on the radar before the walk. In fact, one of these leads began over a conversation of our mutual love of the humble 99. You could say Ice Cream is the new networking catalyst.”
Although the event is spearheaded by the LEO DLR it is open to all from the Greater Dublin area. The stated goal of the promoters is to create a unique networking platform that encourages participation in a fun and healthy way.
Mr Laverty added: “We were bowled over by the level of support and encouragement we received so we decided to organise another Peer to Pier walk. The novelty of the occasion seems to have hit a cord with those who took part and the positivity from the day has continued after the event. We have seen business relationships develop where they hadn’t existed before and from our own perspective we have had an increase in the number of enquiries about the services and supports we provide local businesses. We intend to run a series of these unique networking opportunities and I would encourage anyone who is free or wants to step out of the office to do some business to come and join us.”
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Tom Murphy said: “We are excited that this new initiative has taken off. We want to encourage participation from throughout the county and beyond as it is unique events like this that we feel will help encourage business and innovation in the locality. Pioneering ideas like this one from the LEO exemplifies our commitment to the county and our goal to create a positive environment to do business in.”
The Peer to Pier walk takes place on Friday, April 20th at 3.30pm on the Dún Laoghaire East Pier. More details can be found here.
