Netwalking in Devon: A Better Way to Build Business Connections

 

There is a familiar version of business networking: a room full of people, name badges, coffee and the pressure to explain what you do before the conversation has really begun. It works for some people. For others, it can feel forced. 

 

Put those same people on a Devon path and something changes. You are no longer standing face-to-face waiting for your turn to speak. You are moving, looking at the world around you and having a conversation that feels far more natural. 

 

That is the thinking behind netwalking, bringing people together to walk, talk and build genuine business relationships without the formality of a conventional networking event.  

 

 

There may be a reason ideas seem to flow more easily when we are moving. 

 

Research shared by Stanford University found that walking increased creative output by an average of 60% compared with sitting. The benefit was particularly noticeable when people were generating ideas and exploring different possibilities. 

 

That does not mean every meeting should become a hike. But when the aim is to exchange ideas, see a problem differently or get to know someone properly, walking can create a very different kind of environment. 

 

There is less pressure to perform. Silences feel less awkward. Conversations can move in unexpected directions. Instead of delivering a polished pitch, people have the space to be themselves. That is often where the most useful connections begin. 

 

 

Devon is made for this kind of networking. We have coast, countryside, riverside routes, woodland and open spaces within easy reach of our towns and business communities. Yet much of our networking still happens indoors. 

 

Netwalking offers an opportunity to make better use of where we live and work. It combines fresh air and movement with something many business owners, freelancers and professionals genuinely value: time with other local people who understand the realities of running a business. 

 

It is still networking, but without needing to dominate a room, work your way around a stack of business cards or prepare a rehearsed introduction. The conversation comes first. Business can follow naturally. 

 

 

I have recently taken on the running of the Exeter & East Devon Small Businesses Netwalking Group on LinkedIn, with the support of its previous organisers, Calvin Krimmelbein and Viki Howden. 

 

The group already brings together business owners, freelancers and professionals from across the area. The next step is to shape a regular programme of walks that is useful, welcoming and genuinely enjoyable to attend. 

 

The aim is simple: relaxed local walks, good conversations and new connections with no pressure to pitch. Plans are still taking shape, so I am currently listening to the group and learning what members would most like to see. Details of the first walks will be shared once they are confirmed. 

 

 

You do not need to be a confident networker. In fact, this format may particularly appeal to people who find traditional events uncomfortable, overly formal or difficult to fit into the working day. 

 

It could suit you if you are: 

 

There is no requirement to arrive with a sales pitch. Just bring an interest in meeting people and being part of the conversation. 

 

 

If a more relaxed and human way of networking appeals to you, you are welcome to join the Exeter & East Devon Small Businesses Netwalking Group on LinkedIn. You can meet the growing community, contribute ideas and be among the first to hear when the opening walks are announced. 

 

The best networking may not feel like networking at all. Sometimes it might simply look like a good walk and an even better conversation.