Helping women across construction and development connect more naturally through creativity, conversation and shared experience.
Angela Bray wanted to bring her Join The Dots network together in a way that felt different from traditional networking.
Hosted at Rider Levett Bucknall’s offices at Platform in Leeds, the session brought together women working across construction and development — most of whom had never met before.
Through simple creative activities and relaxed facilitation, the group quickly moved beyond surface-level conversation. Barriers dropped, laughter filled the room and genuine connections started to form naturally.
Because when you remove the pressure to “network”, people tend to connect far more easily.
The challenge
Angela’s aim was simple: create an environment where people could get to know each other properly without the awkwardness that often comes with traditional networking events.
Most of the group didn’t know each other at the start of the session, so the challenge was helping people feel comfortable quickly and naturally.
Our approach
We designed a Create & Connect session focused on removing pressure and encouraging interaction through simple creative activities.
Participants worked alongside each other rather than opposite one another, allowing conversation to happen naturally through the process.
The focus wasn’t on artistic ability. It was about relaxing, getting involved and creating an environment where people felt comfortable enough to connect properly.
The energy in the room reflected Angela’s network perfectly — open, supportive and willing to have a go.
The result
By the end of the session, the atmosphere in the room had completely shifted.
People were relaxed, engaged and already talking about ways they could support one another beyond the event itself.
Conversations flowed naturally, connections formed quickly and the whole experience felt far more genuine than traditional networking.
Creativity has a habit of breaking down barriers surprisingly quickly.
“I wanted to bring my network together in a way that felt natural and inclusive, and this completely delivered. You created an environment where people felt comfortable straight away. It didn’t feel like networking at all – it felt human.”
– Angela Bray
What Nicci said
“None of the group knew each other at the start of the session, yet by the end there was a genuine sense of connection and willingness to support one another. Watching that shift happen through creativity never gets old.”
– Nicci Rushfirth
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