Business Beacon Networking

Promoting business growth through shared knowledge and experience

Beacon style networking is based on the premise that people do business with people they know and trust.

All business people are always welcome to come to any meetings.

The Beacon facilitates this knowledge and trust through the meeting format where there is no pitching, just lots of discussion and information sharing in an informal, friendly atmosphere.

We learn from each others’ mistakes, triumphs and experiences. Our Beacon Mavens share their business skills and knowledge in bite size chunks.

We encourage people to meet for a 'one to one' chat after the meeting in order to see how we can co-operate or help each other.

There is no pitching and no forced referrals. Beacon members have their profile given to all attendees before the meeting. This saves spending time on introductions and gives a longer lasting impression.

Networking On The Move is a new format for the Beacon led by Annie Page of Essentii, it is a walk with simple exercises and good conversation.

 Michael Darvell of Darvell Consultancy L:td said after the first meeting

"Networking on the move is an excellent innovation. It was good to be out in the fresh air with plenty of opportunity to chat and gain useful pointers from Annie to stay fit in simple ways. The walk left me feeling energised for the day ahead but was by no means too strenuous - even for someone like me who doesn't go near the gym!"

The picture shows Graham Childs, Michael Darvell, Pam Woods, John Guinn and Annie Page

Alistair Burt M.P. at Wyboston Breakfast 

Today Business Beacon - next week United Nations

Foreign Minister and Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt took time out from a hectic week in Parliament and working on Foreign Affairs matters

 Alistair talked a little about his international duties - phone calls with Hillary Clinton, meetings in Middle East, the United Nations next week ( wc Sept 19th) then listened and took notes as local businesses told him about the challenges they faced - most them seemed to concern the Government’s HMRC.

Complaints were made and reinforced about a new aggressive approach from HMRC in chasing and fining small firms for innocent mistakes over accounting - where they backed off when faced with expensive lawyers from larger companies.

 “It think our members believe they are an easy target,” voiced Beacon boss Pam Woods.

 Alistair will be passing these comments on to colleagues who run HMRC and promised would report back to the Business Beacon.

 Bedfordshire’s Business Beacon is the only local business group which combines networking  and support and advice, with pulling in top speakers. Bedford and Kempston MP Richard Fuller presented the awards earlier this year at the Business Beacon ceremony at the Bedford Swan Hotel. Beacon groups are held across the county at breakfast, lunch and evening slots and attract 100s of businesses large and small.

 “People can attend as many events as often as they wish - without the pressure of having to attend every week or bring in a handful of proposals for the carpet-fitting fellow member,” explained Pam,

 “This is a forum to share ideas and experiences and learn, free of charge from experts. Our next seminar on October 14th will involve Jacquie Manners MD of Manners PR giving people the benefit of her 35 years experience in the media world - including how social media can help your business thrive.”

Please click here for Booking and details of all our meetings