Join us each week in Brentwood for a friendly and fun, yet business focussed networking meeting. Meetings every Thursday morning from 6:30am - 8:30am
View our members directory page to see our current list of members. Use our filters to help find the right businesses, and then click through to see a full profile on each member's business.
Members share referral opportunities to help each other with new business. On average, each member receives > £25,000 of business per year as a result of their membership.
Our structured business referral meetings follow the same agenda each week: an education slot; a 60 second presentation from each member; one detailed 10 minute presentation; and the sharing of referral opportunities and work completed.
It’s so much more than networking and business referrals. Our members build genuine relationships, enjoy a busy social calendar, and provide real help and support for one another. It’s a truly strong and supportive business community.
Welcome to the most successful business networking group in Essex
We are the Essex Business Forum, an independent networking group made up of 30 or so members – from tradesmen, to professional services and everything in between. We actively promote each other by passing regular, high quality referrals and collaborate to grow our businesses.
Our dynamic approach works. We average around £100,000 in member to member referrals each month – and in the last 10-years, our referrals have boosted the local economy by more than £6.75 million of genuine local business generated between our members.
Our weekly networking meeting takes place every Thursday in Brentwood, and guests are always welcome!
Looking for a local business you know you can trust?
From accountant to architect, wine merchant to web designer, bookkeeper to builder. Our membership represents the very best of local business. With a thorough vetting process, and ongoing member assessment programme, we ensure that quality levels stay high.
Plus, our Essex Business Forum Mark of Excellence now provides an extra level of quality assurance, meaning you can choose businesses with confidence, as listed businesses have been reviewed, tested and are actively recommended by our panel of local business experts.
View a meeting walkthrough
Our meetings are dynamic and friendly. To learn more, take a quick Meeting Walkthrough. Written by fellow members, it’s designed as a simple step-by-step guide to the meeting format. Helping you to feel at ease from the moment you walk through the door.
Each week we follow the same agenda, with content kept fresh and engaging thanks to regular guests, outside speakers, education slots and varying members present.
Welcoming guests, no strings attached
It’s free to attend your first Essex Business Forum meeting, and visitors are under no obligation to join.
So, if you think EBF membership would benefit a business colleague or friend, please use our simple form to invite them to one of our meetings. Better still, why not bring them along with you?
Just remember, guests should bring plenty of business cards so that they can actively promote their business!
Meet our members
The members of our business networking meetings cover a full range of professions including trades, finance, property, business-to-business and business-to-consumer.
We’re always looking to grow our membership with more high quality, reliable business, so if you’d like to join or can recommend us to someone you know please do.
Click to browse our current member directory, where you can filter our members and view individual profiles containing reviews, photo galleries and of course full contact information.
Listen to our podcast, "The Referral Effect"
What our
members gain
By joining, and attending our weekly business networking meeting, members benefit from:
Latest articles in our Business Networking Blog
Chairman's blog Thursday 29th January 2026
Scott Griffiths demonstrated his website design and SEO services by walking us through his new website,...
Chairman’s Blog Thursday 22nd January 2026
Stuart Smallcombe educated us on the value of FREE, and Leann Reason presented about her interior design...
Chairman’s blog Thursday 15th January 2026
Ben Golding educated us on goals for the new year, but didnt call them resolutions! Sarah Smith presented...
Chairman's blog Thursday 8th January 2026
First meeting of 2026. Catherine Foley educated us on New Years resolutions, and then Clara Downton gave...
Chairman's blog Thursday 18th December 2025
Our annual Christmas celebration with members looking back over 2025, and a fun quiz arranged by Ben...
Chairman's blog Thursday 11th December 2025
Stuart Smallcombe gave a presentation on his business LG Networks, about LANs and WANs. Jane Malyon played...
I have been a member of this group for over a year now. Being a part of Essex Business Forum has been great for expanding my network. Not only do I get to meet with likeminded individuals each week, I also have been able to build friendships. There is a real diverse mix of businesses and there are many tangible benefits.
I’ve been a member of EBF for several months now and, as their newest member, I’ve been welcomed incredibly warmly and guided through all aspects of becoming a member. I really enjoy the weekly 60-second round-up and have recently completed my first 10-minute presentation, which gave me a great opportunity to showcase our business services. This is a fantastic group of business professionals who genuinely support one another with training, ideas, opinions and innovation — not to mention the many referrals for ÉLAN.
EBF has been a source of business referral, support and comrade ship for me since it’s inception and an ideal forum to enable businesses, particularly SMEs to grow and thrive
After several years with this group, I can confidently say it’s still a phenomenal business networking community. The exceptional quality of referrals combined with the outstanding breadth of advice and support available from such a friendly group makes it invaluable
I love being part of this group! I’ve been a member of Essex Business Forum for nearly 7 years, and it’s been a fantastic part of my business journey – one of the best business decisions I have ever made! The group is welcoming, supportive, and packed with experienced professionals. I genuinely look forward to the weekly meetings – they’re structured, energising, and full of value.
Most importantly, I’ve gained significant business through the group and built strong, lasting connections. Highly recommended to any business owner looking to grow and be part of something special.
I’ve been a member for over 10 years now! That just about sums up how worthwhile it is!
I joined EBF in October, having just set up my own tutoring and proofreading business the month before; my only regret is that I didn’t join before I set it up! I have received so much fantastic advice from the members and the referral system has led to lots of work for me. The group are really friendly and the meetings are funny and invariably very entertaining – definitely worth getting up early for.
By far the best networking meeting in Essex. I look forward to the meetings every week and everyone is really friendly. I have made some great friends from attending EBF and I know that each of them are there when I need some advise or just a chat.
I would recommend this group to anybody.
If your looking for a networking meeting that will create a lasting impression and have people that will actively support you and help you grow not only your business but as a person, come along as a visitor. You will not regret it.
Being part of a local business networking group has been incredibly valuable, both personally and professionally. It has provided a strong support system during challenging times, offering advice, encouragement, and practical solutions from people who truly understand the ups and downs of running a business. The connections made have not only opened doors to new opportunities and collaborations but also created lasting friendships. It’s been a real lifeline, helping me stay motivated, informed, and connected in ways that go far beyond just business.
I have been a member of Essex business forum for nearly 2 years it is one of the best things I have ever done for my business,
everyone is very kind , friendly and willing to refer me to others , I will continue to stay as I feel very privileged to be part of such an accomplished and well organised group .
