A different approach to networking

Author: Tom Butterworth, Tax Manager (Ipswich)

In my spare time I regularly do voluntary work for local schools, colleges, charities, and clubs etc. (pics attached of my latest project). Last year I randomly donated 700 books across 3 local schools which was equivalent of 1 book per pupil at the schools.

The latest project was revamping a local nursery that was a bit dim. Adding colour to their old fences, privacy screening for fencing, fixing guttering and fascia’s, painting goal posts, installing basketball hoop.

It’s a great way to network, meeting some people sometimes in some senior roles in various businesses, business leaders who also volunteer their time as trustees of the various entities I choose to support.

One example of the benefits of this is that through this I met and have subsequently been asked to look at a £3million pound football development supported by the Football Association which has a tax cost of £600k of VAT. We have identified potential savings of £400k for the club and means LB Group will potentially play a part and win large advisory work on that project.

There has been lots of new work for LB Group and my previous business Butterworths generated by these activities.