The heart of the local business community

Your morning needn’t be tea, toast and traffic. Instead, it could be the opportunity to get a step further towards your business goals, amongst the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee and the taste of delicious bacon rolls.

We have been the home to the Bordon Business Exchange since 2016; a monthly networking event hosted in partnership with SiGNAL, raising money for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.  On the second Tuesday of every month, local business men and women join us for a morning of networking, where they have the opportunity to meet valuable contacts, expand their connections and skills, and hear from influential speakers.

We invited SiGNAL’s Founder and networking expert, Emma Selby, to write a guest blog to give you an update on the monthly networking event and the reasons why it could benefit you and your business.

Here’s what Emma had to say…

When we first started the Bordon Business Exchange, it was to reach out to the local business community as the Whitehill & Bordon regeneration project kicked off. Our aim was to keep people informed about developments and provide a forum for feedback and ideas about how the redevelopment can support local businesses.

Now, over 3 years since our first meeting, the Bordon Business Exchange has become more than just a venue for discussing the Whitehill & Bordon regeneration. Instead, BBX has firmly established itself as THE place to meet other local businesses, network and be part of the local community.

Much of this is down to our hosts, The Royal Exchange. Pubs have always been a focal point in our local communities and The Royal Exchange is no exception. Many successful business relationships start or develop over a pint in the local! Although in our case it’s more likely to be over a coffee and bacon bap as our networking meetings are held in the morning. For years pubs have been informal business networking venues – we’ve just made it a bit easier by providing a regular networking meeting where you’re guaranteed to meet other local business people.

If you haven’t been along to one our meetings before, let me give you a few good reasons to come to our next Bordon Business Exchange…

5 reasons to come to the Bordon Business Exchange!

1. It’s before work (from 8am)
I think we’ve hit the sweet spot with our breakfast business networking meetings. Unlike some events that start at the crack of dawn, we’re a bit more civilised. Our meeting starts at 8am so you can come on your way to work and still be at your desk or on site at a reasonable time.

2. Great venue and hosts
The team at the Royal Exchange are really welcoming and provide great coffee and breakfast baps to help kick start your morning. The pub’s in a very convenient location for businesses in the area, with plenty of parking and great facilities.

3. An inclusive business community
I’m delighted at the broad range of people and businesses that attend the Bordon Business Exchange. We’re an inclusive community and it shows. Don’t be surprised to see trades in their workwear chatting to people in suits, working parents making time after the school run to drop by, and home workers building professional relationships before returning to their home offices!

4. Inspiring speakers
The format for our business networking meetings starts with informal networking followed by a short talk by a local influencer, business owner or community group. Expect to leave our monthly meetings feeling more informed, more motivated and with new ideas and inspiration.

5. Encourages investment in our local community
Meeting other local people is good for business and helps to boost our local economy. Why use services provided by a company based miles away when you’ve got them on your doorstep? Attending local networking events helps your business reach potential customers in your local community and introduces you to companies that you might want to buy from too.

I hope this has given you a few reasons to come along to our next meeting. If you’re coming, please let me know and I will make sure you’re introduced to some of our other attendees and given a warm welcome. For booking and details click here.

About Emma Selby and SiGNAL

Emma is the founder and director of SiGNAL, Bordon’s new innovative workspace for local businesses. The aim of SiGNAL is to provide a flexible workspace for small businesses including free coworking, hotdesking, pay-as-you-go workbench hire and office space, alongside business services and support. As well as providing a space that’s affordable and scalable, SiGNAL is also a hub for the local business community promoting collaboration and mutual support for freelancers, sole traders and micro business owners in the local area.

For more details visit their website – www.signalbordon.org