Bradford Digital #9 — January 2026 — collaboration & partnerships — notes

The ninth event run by Bradford Digital. The first I've been to, even though my office is right next to the hall at Assembly, where the events take place.

In his warm and energetic opener Phil Myerscough - the person behind Bradford Digital - talked about plans for Bradford Digital in 2026. Notably, Phil talked about looking at what can be done about the gap between university graduates and local employment opportunities in Bradford.

Tracey and Ian Earl, We Are In Business

A lively tag team performance offering practical networking advice, emphasising intentional relationship building.

Some tips offered:

• Set clear goals before networking events: aim to meet people who could be clients, referral partners, or valuable connections
• Avoid trying to sell directly, focus on building relationships
• At events look for "open" versus "closed" groups when approaching people
• Use a simple elevator pitch: "I help [who] to [what]"
• Think of networking as creating a map of "dots and lines" - each interaction is a line connecting you to someone, and nurturing these connections makes them stronger
• The strongest networks are built through curiosity, generosity, and genuine support

Gemma Edwards, Northern Affinity

Gemma delivered a unexpectedly powerful talk on loneliness and the importance of genuine connection, particularly for small business owners.

The loneliness problem

• Nearly 50% of adults in the UK (26 million people) feel lonely occasionally, sometimes, or always
• 4 million people feel lonely often or always
• Social media, particularly when used for connection purposes, is making people feel more isolated
• Loneliness has serious physical health impacts - equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day

The impact on small business owners

• 73% of small business owners feel they have nowhere to turn when things aren't going well
• Working alone can be isolating and detrimental to both mental and physical health

Building real connections

• Move beyond broadcasting and focus on building genuine relationships
• Spend time with people in real life, not just online
• Be intentional about who you spend time with
• Join communities that allow peer-to-peer interaction, not just one-way communication
• Don't be afraid to ask for help - most people want to help if asked
• Remember: "If you don't ask, you don't get"

Mark Endacott, Endacott Associates

Mark shared his experience of collaborating with competitors rather than competing against them. Also done slide-less.

• Collaboration with people who do similar work can benefit everyone involved
• Example: working with another business mentor brought in on projects together, leading to director-level work for both
• One introduction from a collaborative relationship led to a sizeable chunk of his annual income at one point
• Warned against "snaky competitiveness", sharing an example where bad behaviour from a supplier ultimately benefited no one
• Focus on genuine relationships beyond just the services you offer
• Don't be afraid to bring in others who might be better suited for certain aspects of client work
• Sometimes the best thing is to walk away from clients who no longer need your services

Dave Plunkett, The Collaboration Junkie

Dave focused on building strategic referral partnerships through understanding the customer journey.

Understanding ideal partners, look for four key alignments:

1. Shared audience - do you serve the same type of clients?
2. Aligned offering - is there a logical connection between what you both do?
3. Authority - does the person you're partnering with have influence with their clients?
4. Scale - can they refer enough volume to make the partnership worthwhile?

The value chain

• Your ideal referral partners are those who come before you in the customer journey
• People who come after you in the journey rarely refer back because the decision is already made
• Example: for a copywriter, ideal partners might be web developers who need copy for their projects

Making referrals easy

• Be specific about who you help and the problem you solve
• Understand "situational triggers" - the exact words people use when they're experiencing the problem you solve
• This isn't about your features or services, but about the human, personal moment when someone needs help
• Make introductions feel like favours rather than sales pitches
• Frame it as "if you hear someone say [this specific thing], think of me"