From potential disaster to huge growth due to the covid lockdown- Kate Hutchinson, The Sustainability Community

Kate Hutchinson’s events company went from potential disaster to huge growth during the pandemic. Listen how chance meetings and recommendations have powered her business growth and how she's now growing her events company in the sustainability sector.If you're looking for a business and entrepreneurship podcast that will inspire, motivate and educate you, through the personal business journeys and entrepreneurial lessons learnt of Leeds business owners then this is the podcast for you.INTRODUCING KATE HUTCHINSON Kate Hutchinson is the Founder of The Sustainability Community - a national network of 20,000+ sustainability leaders spanning CEOs, government strategists, investors, community builders and climate innovators. United by a shared mission to accelerate the green economy and build a fairer, low-carbon future, we bring this vision to life through high-impact conferences, partnerships and programmes that connect ideas with action. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00:00] Introduction to the Sustainability Community [00:03:00] Kate’s personal entrepreneurship journey [00:06:00] Getting started, connections and the importance of being on an accelerator [00:12:00] The important part the pandemic played in the business growth [00:20:00] The pivot to the sustainability industry [00:27:00] How to network effectively [00:30:00] Monetising the Sustainability Community and the expansion plans [00:34:00] My brilliant business idea 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS & BUSINESS LEARNINGS * When networking your number one priority is how you can help someone * If you make an event free to attend you can have a drop out rate of up to 60% * The biggest benefit of an accelerator is the connections you make with other founders 3 MOMENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR “We grew 325% in the first year of the pandemic” “I wrote my first business plan on a canal boat” “I went to see Leeds City Council with no logo, no website, no nothing. Just a spreadsheet” VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOU Website: www.leedsbusinesspodcast.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leeds-business-podcast/ Work with Phil - www.philfraser.co.uk  Website: https://www.thesustainabilitycommunity.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-hutchinson-9b7757a0/ Shout out: Victoria Garcia https://www.bindethics.com/  Mihaela Gruia https://www.researchretold.com/  DON'T FORGET THE LEEDS BUSINESS PODCAST ‘FAIR DEAL’My half of the agreement; Every week I bring you inspiring Leeds Business people FOR FREE.Your half of the deal - Share this episode with TWO people who you think will get value from itYOU MAY ALSO LIKE (AS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE)Helen Oldham - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/helen-oldham/Anna Sutton - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/anna-sutton/Georgie Fairhall - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/george-fairhall/Listen to Phil's story - https://leedsbusinesspodcast.com/podcast/phil-fraser/ ABOUT YOUR HOSTPhil Fraser went from an accidental kitchen table start up, with no investment, all the way to multi-million pound sale to a PLC 18 years later. He’s travelled