Networking during business travel

Want to make the most of your commute? Our guide to networking during business travel will help boost your train commute productivity, whether preparing for meetings and events or forging new professional connections. Find out more here to plan your business travel with SWR. 

The power of networking on the move

Business networking tips: before you travel 

There are several ways you can prepare for a business trip before you travel, including: 

- Defining what you want to achieve from networking, whether that’s finding a new job, expanding your client base or learning from experts in your field. 
- Creating digital or physical business cards. 
- Writing an elevator pitch. 
- Using LinkedIn to find mutual connections in the area you’re travelling to. 
- Researching other events or potential clients near your destination. 

Onboard productivity tips 

During your commute, be strategic and boost your productivity by preparing to network at upcoming events. This could include: 

- Reviewing the event programme to learn more about who is speaking and attending.
- Sending outreach emails or LinkedIn messages to potential new clients with your elevator pitch. 
- Draft LinkedIn posts to update your connections on your recent business activity, from events to industry updates. 
- Practice your elevator pitch, so you’re ready to introduce yourself and your business. 

Remember to follow business travel etiquette during your journey. For example, if you’re sitting in a quiet coach, refrain from taking phone calls or practising your pitch out loud.  

Make the right impression at business events 

When attending business events, these are our top tips to make a good impression: 

- Arrive punctually. 
- Follow any dress code requirements.  
- Be friendly, approachable and authentic when interacting with new people. This includes maintaining eye contact, asking questions and actively listening.  
- Introduce yourself clearly to new people, giving your name, company and a brief overview of your role.  
- Where appropriate, share your expertise. For example, if you’re asked a question, answer with valuable insights that could help others learn from you. 

Follow-up networking strategies 

After networking in person, it’s a good idea to follow up to reinforce the connections you’ve made. This could include: 

- Sending a message or email to thank your new contacts for sharing their expertise or time.  
- Platforms like LinkedIn are useful for staying in touch, so post regularly or reach out to your network to offer your services.   
- Stay informed about upcoming events to keep up-to-date with industry news by subscribing to mailing lists or regularly researching what’s on in your area. 
- For a more informal approach, you could suggest co-working meetups to maintain in-person contact with your new connections, whether clients or colleagues in similar industries.

Top networking-friendly SWR destinations

South Western Railway business travel