Connections Matter, Follow-Up Matters More

The EpiCentre’s network is an advantage for founders who want opportunities, not just conversations   

There is a difference between meeting people and building a network. Most founders will attend events. The harder part is turning introductions into outcomes, whether that means new customers, partnerships, hiring support, or building visibility in the right places.   

From his base at The EpiCentre in Haverhill, Innovation Director Gary Jennings has relationships across local councils, business groups and networks across the region, and he is willing to pull on these relationships to create opportunities for your business.  

To support your own networking activities, Gary and the centre team act like an extension of your company. That might look like creating warm introductions, helping the right people understand what you do and why they’d want to find out more. 

That reach becomes particularly valuable when a founder needs to unlock a next step that cannot be achieved by cold outreach alone. The right meeting at the right time can change the pace of a business where. The EpiCentre helps founders access those conversations faster and with more confidence.   

This business support is not only about introductions and networking. It is about getting to know you, your business and what you need to do to unlock the next steps. In recent weeks, Gary has helped a company access free recruitment support through the DWP, knowing that controlling costs is key to their success at this point. He advised another company on available grants, to help them to unlock the next stage of their growth. With another company, he drew on his background in internationalisation to give practical input on overcoming potential pitfalls of selling their new product into Indonesia from a manufacturing plant in Taiwan. There are numerous other examples where Gary has spotted an opportunity, made an introduction, and collaborations have occurred as a result.  

This is what it means to have business support that is connected to the real economy around you. It is not generic advice. It is access, context, and practical help that shows up when you are trying to move your business forward.     

When you are building your company, you do not need more noise. You need the leverage and support that comes as standard when you join The EpiCentre’s business community.