WORKSHOP | NETWORKING SKILLS
Helping University of Wolverhampton students build networking confidence
A three-hour interactive workshop that helped aspiring entrepreneurs develop the skills to start conversations, build relationships and recognise opportunities.
Delivered: July 2026, University of Wolverhampton, West Midlands
“The workshop was excellent. The students were engaged, participated enthusiastically and grew in confidence throughout the session.
The practical activities kept everyone involved and created a positive learning environment.”
— University of Wolverhampton SPEED team
Charlotte Davies is a West Midlands-based workshop facilitator and presentation coach specialising in communication and networking skills for business owners and professionals.
She has delivered networking skills workshops for organisations including South Staffordshire Council and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, and has been a regular presence in the West Midlands business community as both a speaker and event host – including a TEDx talk.
She knows what it feels like to walk into a room full of strangers.
At a glance
Client: University of Wolverhampton, SPEED Enterprise
Programme: Entrepreneur Experience Week
Workshop: Creating Opportunities Through Networking
Duration: 3 hours, July 2026
Focus: Networking confidence, communication and relationship-building
Outcomes:
- Greater understanding of how and where to network
- Practical techniques and frameworks students can use to create future opportunities
- New connections and developing relationships between students from different degrees.
THE BRIEF
Making networking accessible to future entrepreneurs
Networking can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations and career development. But for students with limited professional experience, knowing where to start can be daunting.
As part of its five-day Entrepreneur Experience Week, the University of Wolverhampton’s SPEED Enterprise team wanted students to develop the confidence and communication skills to build meaningful professional relationships.
The group included students from different degree disciplines, many with little or no previous business experience.
The challenge was to make networking feel accessible, relevant and achievable, while giving students practical skills they could use beyond the programme.
WORKING WITH ME
Experience, preparation and a tailored approach
My approach starts with understanding the audience, the objectives and what a successful session needs to achieve.
This draws on 20 years of experience in communications, including public relations, organising networking events and delivering communication training. I’m also a CELTA-qualified teacher, bringing practical teaching techniques into an accessible, supportive learning environment.
I also wanted to make the process as easy and straightforward as possible for the SPEED team.
“Communication was clear and Charlotte was flexible and open to tailoring the session to meet the needs of our students.”
— University of Wolverhampton SPEED team
THE APPROACH
Learning through doing
I designed and delivered a three-hour interactive workshop, Creating Opportunities Through Networking, tailored to the students’ experience and needs.
Rather than treating networking as a sales exercise, the workshop explored how genuine conversations and relationships can lead to opportunities.
The session followed the journey of attending a networking event, from preparation through to making connections and following up afterwards.
Students explored:
- Before the event: Finding relevant opportunities, preparing introductions and understanding how to approach networking with greater confidence.
- At the event: Starting conversations, joining groups, listening, asking questions and leaving conversations comfortably.
- After the event: Following up, maintaining relationships and turning initial conversations into longer-term connections.
Throughout the session, practical exercises, group discussions and live networking activities gave students opportunities to apply what they were learning.
They developed introductions suited to their own interests and ambitions, practised conversational techniques and explored how to make connections without feeling they needed to sell themselves.
Teaching moment
During the workshop, one student described feeling out of her depth when attending an event with her professor because she was “just a student”.
It created an opportunity to challenge the assumption that you need professional experience or a particular job title to have something valuable to contribute.
A different perspective can be an asset in a conversation, not a disadvantage.
I also introduced practical frameworks and an AI prompt to help students find networking opportunities relevant to their goals.
“Charlotte’s relaxed delivery style quickly put everyone at ease.”
— University of Wolverhampton SPEED team
THE RESULTS
From reserved participants to confident conversations
One of the clearest signs of progress was the change in students’ participation throughout the session.
“It was great to see students who were initially quite reserved becoming increasingly confident as the session progressed. By the end, they were actively introducing themselves and making connections with one another, which was exactly what we hoped to achieve.”
— University of Wolverhampton SPEED team
The SPEED team also reported extremely positive feedback, with students describing the workshop as interactive, enjoyable and full of practical techniques they could use.
Feedback from students reflected both the practical value of the session and a change in their perceptions of networking.
“I really enjoyed the session. I had no idea about networking really. I had heard about it but never ever considered it. Now I do.”
“Interesting and educational session. Picked useful insights and liked the framework.”
“Love it. Very calming and reassuring.”
“An engaging session that showed how strong relationships can create new opportunities, partnerships and support.”
THE WIDER VALUE
Skills beyond the classroom
The workshop supported the programme’s aim of preparing students for entrepreneurship while developing transferable communication and relationship-building skills.
Students left with frameworks, conversation techniques and practical experience they could apply to future networking events, business opportunities and professional situations.
“Charlotte’s expertise would add value in helping students develop the confidence and professional skills they need to progress with their careers.”
— University of Wolverhampton SPEED team
Why this worked
Networking confidence doesn’t develop simply by being told what to say. People need opportunities to try things out, ask questions and discover that they have something valuable to contribute.
By combining practical frameworks with supportive, real-time exercises, the workshop helped students move from understanding networking in theory to participating in it themselves.
Bring practical communication skills to your students or team
I design and deliver interactive workshops that help people communicate more clearly, build professional relationships and create opportunities.
Whether you’re developing student employability, supporting emerging entrepreneurs or helping teams become more confident networkers, I can tailor a session to your audience and objectives.
Please fill in the form below and let’s start the conversation.
(Prefer to email? charlotte@charlottethecopywriter.com)
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