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      If you own or run an outstanding local business, please join us as a guest at one of our meetings. Your first visit is free.

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      Member Testimonials

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      Find out more about the EBF quality assurance scheme and discover local businesses who have been reviewed, tested and are actively recommended by our panel of local experts.

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      Synergy Teams are powerful sub-groups within our membership. Designed to bring together collaborative businesses and to help members do better business, together.

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      Created for members, by members. The rules and regulations that form the foundation of our professional association.
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    • Read our Blog

      Our Latest Blog Posts

      Annual Review 2018 / 2019 - our 8 year anniversary

      A review of our 8th year and announcement of the EBF member awards. What a fantastic 8 years it's been....

      Chairman’s Blog 21st Feb, Kevin Brooks just dropped in...

      It was our eighth Birthday celebration and given the absences for half-term the attendance was excellent with 24 Members and 3 Visitors, one of whom is to become a Member....

      Love was in the air

      Our Valentines Day meeting had a 60 second round suitably themed and it contained both lovers joy and lovers lament. The joy is that it was a beautiful morning and there was a good turnout, 26 members and one visitor....

      QE2 bridge closed; EBF open

      If last week was dull miserable and wet; by contrast but in equal measure this week was windy, 60mph gusts were recorded and the QE2 Bridge was closed.  No such closing for EBF, infact we had an excellent turnout of 26 members and 3 visito...
      Read the Essex Business Forum Business Networking Blog. A roundup of our weekly meetings, as recalled by our chairman Aidan Squire. We welcome any comments you have to make on any of our posts.
    • Contact Us

      Contact Essex Business Forum

      View our main contact information and use our enquiry form to get in touch with us. We'd love to hear from you.

      Register as a guest at one of our meetings

      If you'd like to attend an EBF meeting yourself please complete this form so that we know you are attending.

      Invite a Guest to Essex Business Forum

      If you can think of someone who would benefit from attending an EBF meeting then please use this form to invite them along to one of our meetings for FREE.
    Menu
    • Home
    • View Members

      View Essex Business Forum Members

      Our membership represents the very best of local business. Our vetting process is thorough; each member must come highly recommended, and remain so by delivering continually outstanding work for members, their contacts, clients and friends.

      Have confidence. Browse our members page and feel free to contact anyone listed.


      If you own or run an outstanding local business, please join us as a guest at one of our meetings. Your first visit is free.

    • About EBF

      Member Testimonials

      Hear from Essex Business Forum members, past and present. Discover how membership has helped their business to grow.

      The EBF Mark of Excellence

      Find out more about the EBF quality assurance scheme and discover local businesses who have been reviewed, tested and are actively recommended by our panel of local experts.

      EBF Synergy Teams

      Synergy Teams are powerful sub-groups within our membership. Designed to bring together collaborative businesses and to help members do better business, together.

      The Essex Business Forum Constitution

      Created for members, by members. The rules and regulations that form the foundation of our professional association.
    • Visitor Information

      How to find our Business Networking Meeting

      Instructions on how to find our venue, and how to find the meeting room once you arrive.

      Meeting Walkthrough

      View a visual walkthrough and explanation of the various parts of our weekly meetings .

      What to bring

      Find out what you should be bringing along with you as a guest at one of our networking meetings

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Read a collection of common questions and answers that our prospective members and guests have asked us
    • Read our Blog

      Our Latest Blog Posts

      Annual Review 2018 / 2019 - our 8 year anniversary

      A review of our 8th year and announcement of the EBF member awards. What a fantastic 8 years it's been....

      Chairman’s Blog 21st Feb, Kevin Brooks just dropped in...

      It was our eighth Birthday celebration and given the absences for half-term the attendance was excellent with 24 Members and 3 Visitors, one of whom is to become a Member....

      Love was in the air

      Our Valentines Day meeting had a 60 second round suitably themed and it contained both lovers joy and lovers lament. The joy is that it was a beautiful morning and there was a good turnout, 26 members and one visitor....

      QE2 bridge closed; EBF open

      If last week was dull miserable and wet; by contrast but in equal measure this week was windy, 60mph gusts were recorded and the QE2 Bridge was closed.  No such closing for EBF, infact we had an excellent turnout of 26 members and 3 visito...
      Read the Essex Business Forum Business Networking Blog. A roundup of our weekly meetings, as recalled by our chairman Aidan Squire. We welcome any comments you have to make on any of our posts.
    • Contact Us

      Contact Essex Business Forum

      View our main contact information and use our enquiry form to get in touch with us. We'd love to hear from you.

      Register as a guest at one of our meetings

      If you'd like to attend an EBF meeting yourself please complete this form so that we know you are attending.

      Invite a Guest to Essex Business Forum

      If you can think of someone who would benefit from attending an EBF meeting then please use this form to invite them along to one of our meetings for FREE.

Leadership Team abducted by aliens…

Guest Blog post, written by the Mayor of Gants Hill Village, Vince Goode.

Thursday 17th May was a lovely sunny morning, however not only were we deficient by at least 14 members, but the entire leadership team were replaced, as if by osmosis, by exact replicas. These imposters, although clearly a much more handsome lot than the usual fodder, consisted of Paul Booth at right back, Terry Maylin at left back, and Brian Painter playing the Franz Beckenbauer sweeper role.

We did benefit however from 3 shiny visitors, who certainly brought a bit of glamour to the table.

The naughty corner was also depleted this week, but the two-man naughty combo of Dean Caldon and Howard Bullock, more than compensated for their friends’ absence, by talking amongst themselves and generally misbehaving. We wouldn’t want them any other way.

Performance League

Vying for position at the top of the league, and within touching distance of a Champions League spot, are Saj Sreedharan in 3rd place, Matt Berry in 2nd, and currently sitting smugly at the top, Paul Booth.

Education Presentation

This week’s presenter was Alan Shaw, who told us something about houses. If anyone present can expand on this, please comment below. We all felt strangely educated after this though…

The 60 Second Round

We were instructed that this week we all had to tell a bad joke as part of our minute. So Mike Rogers duly kicked off the proceedings by informing us that the Post Office are now selling new mortgage products. I didn’t get the punchline, but it was a hilarious start, which really set the tone.

Vincent Goode told us that although you spend your life trying to be popular, the number of people present at your funeral will be largely dependent on the weather. Referring to his printed order of service booklets, he finished with his very catchy memory hook “if you’re gonna die, I’m your guy”.

Alan Shaw told us that he was sitting in a bar when a giraffe walked in saying “the high balls are on me!” Not great, but at least we finally got a joke.

Jo Eastwood didn’t have a joke prepared, but told us she would like to share Alan Shaw’s offering.

Saj Sreedharan posed the question “what’s a pirate’s favourite cheese?” “Cheddaaaarrrr!”

John Hammond reminded us what the cheese said when it looked in the mirror. “Halloumi”

Brian Painter spoke about claustrophobia. It certainly feels like you’re in broom cupboard when having a conversation with Brian (I was told to say that). His joke concerned a ham sandwich walking into a bar. “I’m sorry we don’t serve food”.

Graphic Designer Matt Barry said “I’m very font of you, you’re just my type”. Not sure if that was justified (Matt will understand that).

John Freeman likes the easy peasy jobs. In fact, he said he would like to pop into you on the way home for a quick one.

Paul Booth was in Brentwood High Street on Saturday. There was a TV for sale in the window for £1, although the volume button was stuck on loud. Paul said: “I can’t turn that one down”.

 

The Oscar

Judging by the quality on display this morning, it was clear there would be only one winner, and last week’s champion Ben Golding, duly awarded the Oscar deservedly to Vincent Goode.

This weeks statistics and points of note

  • 18 members present
  • 3 visitors
  • 11 referrals
  • £7300.00 worth of business recorded
  • 1st 2 weeks of May, 47 referrals and £41.045 business passed
£
0
+
Business Passed Between All Members This Week
0
Referral Opportunies Passed Between Members This Week

10 minute presentation

Due to a technical problem, Kelly Walker’s presentation has been pushed forward to next Thursday. Instead we enjoyed a lively Q & A session. Although I think this would have been much more challenging as an A & Q session.

Referrals & Testimonials

Despite the low attendance, plenty of business was passed between the members. As Ben Golding is off on holiday next week, it was decided that Piggy should go into kennels. We have found the perfect place: THE HOLIDAY HOME FOR PET PIES LIMITED.

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May 18, 201813 Comments

13 Comments

  1. Blue Serif says:
    May 18, 2018 at 9:24 am

    Who’s this imposter – Matt Berry?

     Reply
    • Vincent Goode says:
      May 22, 2018 at 9:45 am

      oops

       Reply
  2. Saj says:
    May 18, 2018 at 9:26 am

    A pleasant meeting and great to see visitors again, looking forward to the synergy meeting on Monday evening. THE BEST JOKE WAS THE ONE FROM DEAN 😂

     Reply
  3. Scott Griffiths says:
    May 18, 2018 at 9:46 am

    Two parrots in their cage sitting on a perch. One says to the other “Can you smell fish?”

     Reply
  4. Richard Reed says:
    May 18, 2018 at 10:25 am

    Depleted on numbers a little this week but still a bright meeting. Looking forward to the return of our visitors.

     Reply
  5. terrymaylin says:
    May 18, 2018 at 10:40 am

    I hope the A team are back soon , that was hard work! See you all back next week…

     Reply
    • Vincent Goode says:
      May 18, 2018 at 11:14 am

      It was hard work for us too, Mr M…

       Reply
  6. Brian Painter says:
    May 18, 2018 at 11:22 am

    Very goode, Vincent. The job’s yours!

     Reply
  7. Tina Walker says:
    May 18, 2018 at 11:42 am

    Glad the meeting went well and three visitors – back from sunny spain see you all next week.

     Reply
  8. Ellen Beckenham says:
    May 18, 2018 at 11:57 am

    Sounds like you all had fun! Vincent well done on the blog thoroughly enjoyed reading it, apologies will be missing next week due to half term, looking forward to seeing if Terry can outshine Vincent in the blog writing 😉

     Reply
  9. jill willis says:
    May 18, 2018 at 1:59 pm

    Well done on the blog Vince! See everyone next week.

     Reply
  10. HowardBullock says:
    May 18, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    Although a brilliant blog I must take umbrage with Vince’s comments above. I have it on good authority from myself that for at least some of the time, I listen to every third word spoken by almost half of the people in the room!

    I’m not asking for thanks, glory or accolade. I too humble for such attentions!

    Good meeting everyone.

     Reply
  11. Paul Booth says:
    May 18, 2018 at 6:20 pm

    Fantastic blog Vince and another great meeting. The cunning plan in making the normal leadership team look brilliant (which of course they are) worked a treat.

     Reply

Leave us your feedback, ask a question, or add your point of view... Cancel reply

Recent Blog Posts
  • Annual Review 2018 / 2019 – our 8 year anniversary
    February 21, 2019
  • Chairman’s Blog 21st Feb, Kevin Brooks just dropped in…
    February 21, 2019
  • Love was in the air
    February 14, 2019
  • QE2 bridge closed; EBF open
    February 7, 2019
  • Ben’s addiction to BOOBS left nothing to be desired…
    January 31, 2019
Come along to and EBF meeting

Are you interested in coming along to our networking meetings? If you own or run a local business then attending Essex Business Forum could help you to receive your share of regular referred business.

Our next events: 

  • Weekly Business Networking Meeting on February 28, 2019 6:30 am
  • Weekly Business Networking Meeting on March 7, 2019 6:30 am
About Essex Business Forum

Essex Business Forum is an association of professional business people and owners of established and reputable SMEs based in Essex which represents every trade and profession, and with the addition of an extended network of businesses in highly specialist fields.

We run weekly business networking groups every Thursday morning in Brentwood, plus other regular events and networking meetings.

We're always looking for new members to join, so if you are interested then come along to one of our meetings.

Recent Blog Posts
  • Annual Review 2018 / 2019 – our 8 year anniversary
    February 21, 2019
  • Chairman’s Blog 21st Feb, Kevin Brooks just dropped in…
    February 21, 2019
  • Love was in the air
    February 14, 2019
  • QE2 bridge closed; EBF open
    February 7, 2019
Get in touch with EBF
» Send us an email: [email protected]
» Call us on 01245 790 390
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