What networking groups are there on the Costa del Sol?
We love networking and believe that it’s great that there are so many different groups on the Costa del Sol offering different styles of networking in different locations so as many businesses as possible can take part.
We reckon there are about 20 different networking groups operating here, so there are lots of groups to choose from. Here are the ones we know of, please add any more in the comment box below!
- Costa Women with 9 different regional groups
- Business 1st Mijas
- Marbella Business Institute
- Marbella Networking Club
- CIT Marbella
- CITE Estepona
- REM
- British Chamber of Commerce
- Trusted Trades Association
- J Biz Lounge
- Expat Club
- Malaga Business Minds
- Marbella Dutch Business Club
- Bites and Business
- Ellas Spanje
- Zonta
Costa Women is a very popular group which brought together 100 women for International Women’s Day this year and has 9 different groups across the different areas and interests. Ali Meehan Founder of Costa Women explains why she’s such a passionate advocate of networking – “It’s so easy to get distracted by the day-to-day of working IN your business and to put aside the important outward actions which drive it forward. Networking is not about collecting business cards, it is about cultivating relationships and watching them grow. Successful networking comes from a place of plenty rather than scarcity, a place of stretching your hand first rather than looking for hands to stretch out to you.” http://costawomen.com/
The strongest Spanish one is CIT Marbella. The others are all doing well, with a lot of demand from the international businesses, but little traction still in the Spanish community. I strongly believe in the potential of networking to bring the business community together and break down the barriers of language and culture, however it will be a slow process as networking is still a relatively unknown concept in the Spanish community.
The majority of the groups focus on the Mijas Costa and Marbella areas, with a cluster in Malaga, but until recently there wasn’t much going on for the western Costa del Sol. Over a year ago, Shaw Marketing Services set up their Manilva networking group and have started to collaborate with CITE Estepona on international networking events. There are also two Costa Women events in this area now, which is brilliant.
The good thing about having so many groups is you can pick and choose the ones that suit you and there’s always something going on for the business community near you. The important thing is that you get involved!!!
Shaw Marketing Services hold regular Manilva networking events at CIVIMA Wine Museum in Manilva Pueblo, check out our Facebook page to see the latest events and information.