I would recommend business owners, entrepreneurs and freelance professionals to register with Linked In (http://www.linkedin.com).

It's a great way of meeting and organising events with other professionals, and there are a number of groups relevant to Sheffield.

Feel free to add me (http://www.linkedin.com/in/szabohaslam)!

Seconded, it's a great business networking facility.

Add me too:) (http://www.linkedin.com/in/evantage)

Does anyone else use it? It's free!

I got sick of being spammed in the first week so switched off the alerts and never went back.

Another business networking site is Million Impossible (http://millionimpossible.com/default.asp). You can sign up for free.

Yeah, MI rang me 2 weeks ago with a pathetic attempt at trying to sell me membership. There was an interesting thread over on ukbf about them some time last year.

I think Million Impossible are a network to watch. They are putting massive effort into their system and I can see it becoming a very useful way of networking and making business contacts from across the UK. I have just had this from Sheffield Chamber of Commerce today.

Join us for another exciting networking event - part of our Networking After Hours series, these events are an informal opportunity to make new business contacts and strengthen or renew old ones.

17th September: The Edge, Endcliffe Vale Road, Sheffield S10 3ER
Sheffield Chamber Members £10 + vat
Non-members £18 + vat

This will be a unique opportunity to visit this new venue and have a tour of the facilities if you wish.

The {Sheffield} University is currently investing £160 million into event facilities and accommodation, creating one brand new conference centre called The Edge, and refurbishing a 19th century mansion called Halifax Hall.

The Edge offers flexible event space with excellent bar and entertainment facilities and has already proven to be a highly successful venue for a wide range of events of events including meetings, conferences and exhibitions.

Located just a short wakl from The Edge, Halifax Hall is a Victorian mansion retaining many of its original features to combine 19th century elegance with a contemporary finish and equipment and facilities you would expect from a quality events venue. Halifax provides an alternative style of venue to The Edge, but with the same high standards of service, alongside beautiful landscaped gardens.The brand new conference centre 'The Edge' is just a short walk away from Halifax Hall.