NetWORK NotWORK is a community interest company (CIC) based in Wynyard founded by Michael and Kat Carruthers. Their networking group has recently expanded to add a seventh venue in the North East. SASS media co-directors Sarah Dale and Sarah Walker joined the board of directors as the CIC's PR directors in the summer.
A networking group, which was founded in Teesside to make networking “more fun”, promote business growth and to create an empowered intergenerational community, has launched a seventh venue in Redcar.
NetWORK NotWORK CIC was started in January 2024 as the brainchild of business owners and husband-and-wife team Michael and Kat Carruthers, who wanted to start up a networking group which was “more fun”, but also supported the community.
“We wanted networking to feel like ‘not working’ which is why we came up with the name, NetWORK NotWORK,” explains Kat.
“NetWORK NotWORK is a community initiative that has a friendly, informal, fun and educational approach to support socio-economic development. Our social mindset aims to support the physical and mental wellbeing of its members by creating supportive connections in the community.”
NetWORK NotWORK, which was originally launched in Wynyard Business Park at NetWORK’s headquarters, has evolved to venues in several local authority areas in the North East, including Stockton (The Globe), Hartlepool (The Black Olive), Darlington (Majestic Theatre), Newcastle (The Maldron Hotel), Sunderland (Sheepfolds Stables), and Durham (Radisson Blu Hotel).
And, in September, NetWORK NotWORK launched its Redcar venue at The Regent Cinema, with a Middlesbrough venue coming soon.
“The launch of Redcar’s NetWORK NotWORK event was a huge success,” adds Kat.
“We have established a great presence across the North-east and it was great to see so many new faces and familiar ones in Redcar.”
NetWORK NotWORK is also extremely committed to its younger members and provides a series of programmes, including ‘Level Up! Navigating your way to WORK with NetWORK NotWORK’, supporting individuals not in employment, education or training (NEET), and ‘Ignite XP’, supporting children and young adults from eight to 24, as well as a creative media programme, ‘Junior Journalism’, to give pupils opportunities to explore the world of work, develop vital skills and build their confidence.
“At NWNW we believe that every child and young person deserves the chance to thrive, no matter their background,” says Kat.
This year, the CIC has also strengthened its board of directors, which now includes Kat and Michael Carruthers, as managing director and operations director respectively, who also run CARRO Studio, HUGO Bea Ltd, Wynyard Property Rentals Ltd and Wynyard Commercial Property Rentals Ltd; Andrew Coxon, as people, culture and learning director, who is managing director of Coxon Business Partners; Sarah Dale and Sarah Walker, as PR directors, who are also co-directors of SASS media Ltd; Jon Hocker, as learning innovations director, who is the founder and CEO of The eLearning Group Ltd; Stephen Hume, as finance director, who is also director of finance at the Racz Group; David Porter, as marketing director, who is also the founder and director of Surge; Geeta Sharma, as policy and public engagement director, who is a local implementation lead; and Rylie Sweeney, as youth director, who is a government and policy advisor for education and youth. The CIC’s partners include legal support from Adeel Bashir, of Nouveau Law, and HR support from Sophie Dodgson, of Beesure HR.
“When we were asked to join the board of NetWORK NotWORK, we could see how ambitious and committed Kat and Michael are to making a real difference in the North East in lots of different ways – from initiatives designed to inspire children and young people to learn enterprise skills to providing a free, accessible and inclusive networking community,” says Sarah Dale, co-director of SASS media.
Funding for Junior Journalism is provided by Larch, Thirteen, Asda Foundation and Miller Homes, and Ignite XP! is funded by Believe Housing and Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
Find out more about NetWORK NotWORK at www. networknotwork.co.uk and for more information on SASS media, visit www.sassmedialtd.co.uk