I love networking events on company time - feels like great two way value. But put it into the evening and all of a sudden you are bumping up against my time with my family (and my hobbies). If the value is there for me, and it isn't too regular, then I'll certainly go to something out of hours, but if it is purely a social then the pay off becomes harder for me.

When I was younger though (and child free), I'd jump at these sort of events, and loved them. A company I used to work for wrapped up about 6pm, except Friday when you were still expected to be around until 6, but there were beers and soft drinks plus snacks from 5pm. Most people would still end up talking work, and plenty of us would still be there talking work (in various guises) until 7pm or later, and would carry on to the pub to do the same if we fancied it. But I loved the fact it started in 'working hours' and that the snr staff would all get involved. Was a great icebreaker and helped move silos between teams and departments.

Now I'm older, if it is outside of working hours, I have to see the benefit in it for me.