# Essex Business Forum > Weekly Business Networking for Essex Businesses --- ## Pages - [Enquiry](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/enquiry/): The Essex Business Forum Leadership Team. A mixture of Meeting Leaders, Membership Committee and a Board of Directors, all with... - [Member Profile Information](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/member-profile-information/): Complete this form to request an update to your member profile information You need to be a logged-in member to... - [Other Resources](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/other-resources/): Links to other member resources Downloadable 10-Minute Presentation Intro form (boring version) Downloadable 10-Minute Presentation Intro form (fun version) Complete... - [Podcast](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/podcast/): The Referral Effect is the podcast that explores how business owners in Essex grow and thrive through the power of... - [Homepage 2025](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/): Weekly business networking groups every Thursday morning in Brentwood. We’re always looking for new members to join, come along to... - [Visitor Invite Form](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/visitor-invite/): This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: - [Member Awards](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/awards/): This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: - [EBF Leadership Team](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/ebf-leadership-team/): The Essex Business Forum Leadership Team. A mixture of Meeting Leaders, Membership Committee and a Board of Directors, all with... - [EBF Visitors Day](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/visitors-day/): Essex Business Forum are holding a Visitors Day on Thursday November 18th from 6:30am to 8:30am You’re very welcome to... - [Virtual Forms](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/vforms/): Virtual Forms to record your contributions and activity Referral Activity Record Visitor Invite Meeting Absence Update Profile Referral Form Use... - [Member Resources](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/member-resources/): This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: - [Membership Application Form](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/membership-application/): Click to complete our membership application form and become a member of Essex Business Forum, the best business networking group... - [Privacy Policy](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/privacy-policy/): Privacy Policy This privacy policy sets out how Essex Business Forum Ltd uses and protects any information that you give... - [Cookie Policy 🍪](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/cookie-policy/): Cookie Policy 🍪 This site uses cookies – small text files that are placed on your machine to help the... - [Email Masterclass Lesson Complete](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/email-masterclass-lesson-complete/): Email Masterclass Lesson Complete Thanks you for taking the time to complete this email lesson. We hope that you have... - [Visitor Invite has been sent](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/visitor-invite-sent/): Your visitor invite has been sent. Thanks for taking the time to invite someone along to one of our meetings.... - [Mark of Excellence Reference Response Page](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/mark-of-excellence/reference-response-page/): Mark of Excellence Reference Response Page Complete this form to submit your reference for our members “Mark of Excellence” application. - [EBF Mark of Excellence - Members Application Page](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/mark-of-excellence/apply/): This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: - [The EBF Mark of Excellence](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/mark-of-excellence/): The EBF "Mark of Excellence" Award - A quality assurance badge for our experienced members, meaning that you can choose... - [Members of Essex Business Forum](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/brentwood-members/) - [How to find the Billericay (Tuesday) Business Networking Meeting](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/how-to-find-us/billericay-tuesday/): Our weekly meetings are held at The Burstead Golf Club in Billericay. Their address is: Tye Common Road, Little Burstead,... - [Brentwood](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/meetings/brentwood/) - [Invite a Guest to Essex Business Forum](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/invite/): Invite a Guest to Essex Business Forum Whether you’re already an Essex Business Forum member, or a website visitor who... - [Meeting Walkthrough](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/meeting-walkthrough/): See what happens as we walk you through the key moments in our weekly business networking meetings - [Homepage](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/homepage/): Join Essex Business Forum and receive regular, high quality business referrals Welcome to the most successful business networking group in... - [The Essex Business Forum Constitution](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/about-us/constitution/): The Essex Business Forum Constitution Who / What is Essex Business Forum? We are a business promotion and networking group... - [EBF Synergy Teams](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/about-us/synergy-teams/): The EBF Synergy Teams The natural sub-groups within our membership, and how they work together to jointly promote each other... - [Visit Essex Business Forum](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/visitor-information/): Visitors are always welcome at any of our meetings. The more visitors we have the better each meeting becomes –... - [How to find our Business Networking Meeting](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/how-to-find-us/): How to find our Business Networking meetings Calcott Hall Farm, Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9HS Our weekly meetings are... - [Member Testimonials](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/about-us/member-testimonials/): Read how dozens of local businesses benefited from their EBF membership - [The Meeting Agenda](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/visitor-information/the-meeting-agenda/): Our meetings follow a similar agenda each week, with some variation depending on outside speaker rotation and various committee reports.... - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/visitor-information/frequently-asked-questions/): Frequently Asked Questions about Essex Business Forum Find our more about our weekly networking group, what membership means, and business... - [What to bring](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/visitor-information/what-to-bring/): What to bring with you to our Networking meeting To make the most of our networking meetings it is advised... - [Register as a guest at one of our meetings](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/register/): Register as a guest at one of our meetings You are very welcome to join us as a guest at... - [What is Essex Business Forum (EBF)?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/what-is-the-essex-business-forum/): Essex Business Forum is an association of professional business people and owners of established and reputable SMEs based in Essex... - [Meetings](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/meetings/) - [The EBF Business Networking Blog](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/ebf-blog/): The EBF Business Networking Blog Weekly Reviews of our business networking meetings Chairman’s blog Thursday 4th September 2025 Matt Barry... - [About Essex Business Forum](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/about-us/): What is Essex Business Forum (EBF)? Essex Business Forum is an association of professional business people and owners of established... --- ## Members - [Sally Waters](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/sally-waters/) - [Sarah Smith](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/sarah-smith/): Guiding creative organisations to reduce their environmental impact through more considered planning and practical action - [Darren Lamb](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/darren-lamb/): Guiding creative organisations to reduce their environmental impact through more considered planning and practical action - [Taffy Martin](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/taffy-martin/) - [David Moore](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/david-moore/) - [Melissa Jackson](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/melissa-jackson/) - [David Roberts](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/david-roberts/) - [Jonathan Foster](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/jonathan-foster/) - [James Humphreys](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/james-humphreys/) - [Joshua Ayettey](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/joshua-ayettey/) - [Howard Bullock](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/howard-bullock/) - [Ben Golding](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/ben-golding/) - [Stuart Smallcombe](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/stuart-smallcombe/) - [Clara Downton](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/clara-downton/) - [Mike Skinner](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/mike-skinner/) - [Toby Acton](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/toby-acton/) - [Catherine Foley](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/catherine-foley/) - [Jane Malyon](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/jane-malyon/) - [John Hammond](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/john-hammond/) - [Paul Corrigan](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/paul-corrigan/) - [Matt Barry](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/matt-barry/) - [Leann Reason](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/leann-reason/) - [Paul Dulieu](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/paul-dulieu/) - [Blake Hammond](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/blake-hammond/) - [Paul Booth](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/paul-booth/) - [Aidan Squire](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/aidan-squire/) - [Terry Maylin](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/terry-maylin/) - [Scott Griffiths](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/members/scott-griffiths/) --- ## Posts - [Guest blog by Terry Maylin Thursday 18th September 2025](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/guest-blog-by-terry-maylin-thursday-18th-september-2025/): Howard Bullock delivered a successful “Top Tips” session, and Sarah Smith educated us on the topic of Imposter Syndrome. - [Chairman's blog Thursday 11 September 2025](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/chairmans-blog-thursday-11-september-2025/): Jonathan Foster demonstrated his Locksmith skills and how easy it is to break into a lock. Paul Dulieu educated us... - [Chairman's blog Thursday 4th September 2025](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/chairmans-blog-thursday-4th-september-2025/): Matt Barry entertained us all with a brands quiz, featuring many logos that his team crafted. Paul Booth educated us... --- ## FAQs - [What do I need to bring with me to the meeting?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/what-do-i-need-to-bring-with-me-to-the-meeting/): We have a page that explains this – click here to view it. Basically you should being plenty of business... - [Can I attend as a guest for FREE?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/can-i-attend-as-a-guest-for-free/): Absolutely! Your first visit to our meetings is free of charge. If you’d like to attend as a guest for... - [What payment options exist for my membership?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/what-payment-options-exist-for-my-membership/): If you decide to join EBF there is a one-time joining fee of £75. After this, we have a few... - [Do I have to pay for breakfast each week?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/do-i-have-to-pay-for-breakfast-each-week/): As well as the membership fee, there is a weekly meeting fee that all members must pay. This covers the... - [Can I bring someone else with me to the meeting?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/can-i-bring-someone-else-with-me-to-the-meeting/): Yes, you’re welcome to bring others with you to the meeting, however, as there is a cost for each person... - [Is there a regular agenda at the meeting. Is it the same every week?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/is-there-a-regular-agenda-at-the-meeting-is-it-the-same-every-week/): We run a standard agenda for most of our meetings. You can see roughly what goes on by visiting our... - [I’m a little nervous of public speaking…can I avoid the 60 second round?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/im-a-little-nervous-of-public-speakingcan-i-avoid-the-60-second-round/): As a new member, you’ll be partnered with a mentor. This friendly approach makes sure that you are comfortable and... - [There are lots of business networking and breakfast clubs. What makes EBF different?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/there-are-lots-of-business-networking-and-breakfast-clubs-what-makes-ebf-different/): EBF was formed in 2011 as a break-away group from an existing networking organisation called BNI. As members of BNI,... - [Will I receive training?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/will-i-receive-training/): EBF is more than a referrals organisation. We’ll provide all sorts of other opportunities to assist you in your business... - [I don't like public speaking. Is Essex Business Forum for me?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/i-dont-like-public-speaking-is-essex-business-forum-for-me/): The great thing is we are all in the same boat. Very few of the members have had formal public... - [Will there be other people from my profession at the meetings?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/will-there-be-other-people-from-my-profession-at-the-meetings/): There will be members in related and associated trades and professions, but only you will occupy your specific business description.... - [How often are the meetings?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/how-often-are-the-meetings/): EBF meets every week on Thursday mornings. We meet over a good breakfast just before the business day gets started... - [What happens if I can't make it to a meeting?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/what-happens-if-i-cant-make-it-to-a-meeting/): There will clearly be odd occasions when holidays, sickness or an important event will mean you miss a week at... - [What if I think I can't bring a referral every week?](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/faq/what-if-i-think-i-cant-bring-a-referral-every-week/): Although important, referrals are only one facet of the EBF meetings. You can make valuable contributions every week by holding... --- ## Testimonials - [Aidan Squire](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/aidan-squire/): EBF has been a source of business referral, support and comrade ship for me since it’s inception and an ideal... - [John Hammond](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/john-hammond-2/): After several years with this group, I can confidently say it’s still a phenomenal business networking community. The exceptional quality... - [Tina Walker](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/tina-walker/): Great network group very friendly and welcoming - [Toby Acton](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/toby-acton/): I love being part of this group! I’ve been a member of Essex Business Forum for nearly 7 years, and... - [Howard Bullock](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/howard-bullock/): I’ve been a member for over 10 years now! That just about sums up how worthwhile it is! - [Catherine Foley](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/catherine-foley/): I joined EBF in October, having just set up my own tutoring and proofreading business the month before; my only... - [Blake Hammond](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/blake-hammond/): By far the best networking meeting in Essex. I look forward to the meetings every week and everyone is really... - [Paul Dulieu](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/paul-dulieu/): Having started our own business in October 2019, a friend invited me to attend Essex Business Forum as a guest.... - [Melissa Jackson](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/melissa-jackson/): Being part of a local business networking group has been incredibly valuable, both personally and professionally. It has provided a... - [John Hammond](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/john-hammond/): First reviewed this group a year ago and it is still Fantastic business networking group. The quality of referrals is... - [Jo Jones](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/jo-jones-2/): I have been a member of Essex business forum for nearly 2 years it is one of the best things... - [Carmel Jane](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/carmel-jane/): EBF is an excellent networking group. A friendly and relaxed environment, but still with a lot of business being passed. - [Nikhil Shah](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/nikhil-shah/): Great networking group. Friendly fun and informative. I have developed my business and myself since joining. The contacts you make... - [Sajeevan Sreedharan](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/sajeevan-sreedharan/): Probably the best business networking group around. Plenty of quality referrals and most importantly great business relationships built with good... - [Chilli Republic](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/chilli-republic/): Great Networking group, most welcoming, would recommend to all. - [Jane Malyon](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/jane-malyon-2/): Business-focussed but lots of laughs and supportive camaraderie too. The perfect mix for a networking group! ! - [Mike Skinner](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/mike-skinner/): Fantastic networking group and its been a real help to my business, both in acquiring new work and lots of... - [Mike Hickson](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/mike-hickson/): Joining EBF 12 months ago was a great decision for me. I’ve made some great contacts, some great friends, and... - [Jane Malyon](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/jane-malyon/): Still such a great business networking group – my favourite ever and I’ve been networking for decades! Great for my... - [Nick Cooke](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/nick-cooke-2/): My name is Nick Cooke and I’m a Structural Engineer. I am a member of the Essex Business Forum (EBF).... - [Paul Corrigan](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/paul-corrigan/): Such a great group of people! Have tried other networking groups but EBF smashes them out of the park! - [Terry Maylin](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/terry-maylin/): Essex Business Forum has been excellent for my business since i started it, not only for referral of business to... - [Jonathan Foster](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/jonathan-foster/): Amazing group, as a first time small business owner I have learned a lot from the fellow members. Can’t recommend... - [John Freeman](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/john-freeman/): I’ve been a member of EBF for several years now, I’ve made some wonderful friends, and gained valuable repetitive business,... - [James H](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/james-h/): Fantastic and welcoming group which has benefited me both professionally and personally. - [Brian Painter, Pilgrim Hypnotherapy](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/brian-painter/): My business has increased since Scott redesigned my website. I highly recommend him - [Paul Booth, Booth & Co.](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/paul-booth-booth-co/): I have been very impressed by Eseyo's grasp of social media, how to improve my social media and developments in... - [Nick Cooke & Associates](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/nick-cooke/): Scott at Eseyo is the web guy for my business. Websites, the internet and emails can be very complex subjects... - [Jo Jones, Jo Jones Fitness](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/jo-jones/): ESEYO designed my website, i would highly recommend them they are very knowledgeable, efficient and professional. - [Kim Redwood-Lee, Redwood Clarke Bookkeeping](https://www.essexbusinessforum.com/testimonials/kim-redwood-lee/): The team at Eseyo Ltd are extremely professional and very creative. They are currently working on improvements on our website.... --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages The Essex Business Forum Leadership Team. A mixture of Meeting Leaders, Membership Committee and a Board of Directors, all with different roles to ensure an effective business networking organisation. Enquiry Form --- Complete this form to request an update to your member profile information You need to be a logged-in member to view this content. Member Login --- Links to other member resources Downloadable 10-Minute Presentation Intro form (boring version) Downloadable 10-Minute Presentation Intro form (fun version) Complete Virtual Referral Slips and Activity Forms Click to download a 1-2-1 Meeting record sheet Click to join the EBF National Lottery Syndicate Update your Member Profile Information You need to be a logged-in member to view this content. Member Login --- The Referral Effect is the podcast that explores how business owners in Essex grow and thrive through the power of networking. Hosted by Paul Dulieu, each episode features real conversations with local entrepreneurs and professionals, sharing their journeys, insights, and the connections that have shaped their success. The Referral Effect Business Networking Podcast The Referral Effect is the podcast that explores how business owners in Essex grow and thrive through the power of networking. Hosted by Paul Dulieu, each episode features real conversations with local entrepreneurs and professionals, sharing their journeys, insights, and the connections that have shaped their success. Whether you’re an established business owner or just starting out, tune in for practical advice, inspiring stories, and tips on making networking work for you. Brought to you by Essex Business Forum, the most successful business networking group in Essex. --- Weekly business networking groups every Thursday morning in Brentwood. We’re always looking for new members to join, come along to one of our meetings. Weekly Networking Breakfast Meetings 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 Find out more Browse our directory of Highly Recommended Essex Businesses 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. Browse Member Directory Receive Regular High-Quality Business Referrals 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. Apply to Join Weekly Business Development and Education 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. View Meeting Walkthrough A Friendly Community of Essex Business Owners 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. View our weekly blog / 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! Find out more 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 our Member Directory What is the Mark of Excellence? 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. View our meeting walkthrough Welcoming guests, no strings attached It’s free to... --- This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: --- This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: --- The Essex Business Forum Leadership Team. A mixture of Meeting Leaders, Membership Committee and a Board of Directors, all with different roles to ensure an effective business networking organisation. EBF Leadership Team The different teams responsible for the running of our weekly business networking meetings Meeting Leadership Team Aidan Squire Meeting Chairman View Member Profile Aidan Squire Meeting Chairman Scott Griffiths Meeting Secretary View Member Profile Scott Griffiths Meeting Secretary Terry Maylin Membership Co-ordinator View Member Profile Terry Maylin Membership Co-ordinator Ben Golding Education Co-ordinator View Member Profile Ben Golding Education Co-ordinator Paul Corrigan Social Secretary View Member Profile Paul Corrigan Social Secretary Membership Committee Jane Malyon Membership Committee Chairperson View Member Profile Jane Malyon Membership Committee Chairperson Terry Maylin View Member Profile Terry Maylin Blake Hammond View Member Profile Blake Hammond Clara Downton View Member Profile Clara Downton Leann Reason View Member Profile Leann Reason Board of Directors Scott Griffiths View Member Profile Scott Griffiths Paul Booth View Member Profile Paul Booth Aidan Squire View Member Profile Aidan Squire Terry Maylin View Member Profile Terry Maylin --- Essex Business Forum are holding a Visitors Day on Thursday November 18th from 6:30am to 8:30am You're very welcome to join us and take part in our networking meeting for Essex Based Businesses. This visitors day is FREE for you to attend, and we hope that this will provide you with a useful insight into how we run our weekly networking meetings and how your business can benefit from receiving high quality referrals and more. Our weekly meetings are held at The Barnyard Cafe, part of Calcott Hall Farm on Ongar Road in Brentwood. There is plenty of parking and a fantastic breakfast available for all who attend. The postcode to use for your Satnav journey is CM15 9HS. You can find out more about our meeting, what you need to bring etc from the Visitor Information option on our main menuRegister to attend this networking session which has no fee and no further obligation. We hope that you'll enjoy the meeting and consider joining us each week, that's the extent of the sales-pitch you'll receive! Attendance and eventual membership to any EBF event is EXCLUSIVE which means that only one person from each type of business is allowed. You can view our existing members on the members page of this website, and providing your business is not in the same category as any of these, then you would be welcome and eligible to attend our visitors event. The details that you submit will be kept securely in accordance with GDPR and will not be passed on to any third parties. Registration Form Your Name *Business Name *Email Address *TelephoneWebsiteBusiness Category *Have you attended any Business networking meetings before? YesNoAre you currently a member of any other Business networking organisations? YesNoWould you be interested in joining our regular networking meetings? Yes, at the Physical meetings each week in BrentwoodI'm not sure... NoWho invited you to our visitors day? Choose a member, or select "I was not invited by a member"Aidan SquireAlan MollerAlison BeanBen GoldingBrian PainterColin O'ConnorHoward BullockJames HumphriesJane MalyonJohn FreemanJohn HammondKeiron PeatyMason EdwardsMatt BarryMike RogersMike SkinnerNeil BellhamNick CookePaul BoothPaul DulieuRichard ReedSarah SteelScott GriffithsSimon EssexStuart SmallcombeTerry MaylinTina WalkerToby ActonVincent GoodeWilliam VernerI was not directly invited by a memberLet us know which member invited you along, or choose "other" if you weren't directly invited by a memberHow invitedGDPR *Yes, I agree with the Essex Business Forum privacy policyCOVID Safe *I confirm that I have received a minimum of two COVID vaccinations (I am "Double Jabbed")Register to attend --- Virtual Forms to record your contributions and activity Referral Activity Record Visitor Invite Meeting Absence Update Profile Referral Form Use our referral form to record a new opportunity that you have collected for another member in the group. Internal referrals are direct business between one member and another, and External referrals are where you are introducing the member to an external third-party who is not a group member. These are the most valuable kind of referrals but all are good. We have two “temperature” scales to allow you to grade the opportunity level and the value of the potential business. These are just a guide. Once this referral record is submitted a copy will be sent to the member for which it was intended, and a copy will also be emailed to you for your records. Usage instructions below the form Activity Record The activity record form is used to capture lots of different EBF events. Select which events you’d like to capture from the check boxes, and the relevant fields will appear below. “Thank you for the money” will ask you which member you want to thank, the value of the item, and a breif description of the item. This will be shared with the member you are thanking to give them an idea of what you are thanking them for! “121 Meeting” will allow you to record which member(s) you had a 121 meeting with, and it will ask you to provide a summary of what you discussed in the meeting. A 121 meeting is a proper discussion about each members business. “Social Meet-Up” is to record events where members have met socially and while business may have been discussed briefly, does not qualify for a full 121 meeting. “Synergy Team” attendance will ask you to choose which of the Synergy Team group meetings you attended. “Review/Testimonial” will ask you to select which member you left a public review or testimonial for. Valid reviews would be on Google, Checkatrade or other similar sites, or a printed letter. “Social Sharing” asks you to record which platforms you have shared our EBF content on. “Tree Planting” is recording the trees that you have added to the EBF Virtual Forest, supporting our sustainability goals. Usage instructions below the form Visitor Invite Use this form to invite a new potential member to visit our group as a guest.   Remember that guests should have no overlap or potential conflict with any existing members. Enter the contact details for your guest and this form will generate an email to them giving them the information they’ll need to come along to one of our meetings.   There is an option for you to add a personal message to the email and so it is a good idea to use this to help explain to the guest why they are receiving the email. Usage instructions below the form Meeting Absence Use this form to notify the leadership tem if you are unable to attend an... --- This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: --- Privacy Policy This privacy policy sets out how Essex Business Forum Ltd uses and protects any information that you give Essex Business Forum Ltd when you use this website. Essex Business Forum Ltd is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement. Essex Business Forum Ltd may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 1st February 2018. What we collectWe may collect the following information:name and job titlecontact information including email addressdemographic information such as postcode, preferences and interestsother information relevant to customer surveys and/or offersWhat we do with the information we gatherWe require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:Internal record keeping. We may use the information to improve our products and services. We may periodically send promotional emails about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided. From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you for market research purposes. We may contact you by email or phone. We may use the information to customise the website according to your interests. SecurityWe are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. How we use cookiesWe have a dedicated Cookie Policy page which contains details of how we use cookies on our website. Links to other websitesOur website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question. Controlling your personal informationYou may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website, look for the box that you can click to indicate that you do not want the information to be used by anybody for direct marketing purposesif you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us at info@essexbusinessforum. comWe will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless... --- Cookie Policy This site uses cookies - small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience. In general, cookies are used to retain user preferences, store information for things like shopping carts, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. As a rule, cookies will make your browsing experience better. However, you may prefer to disable cookies on this site and on others. The most effective way to do this is to disable cookies in your browser. We suggest consulting the Help section of your browser or taking a look at the About Cookies website which offers guidance for all modern browsers --- Email Masterclass Lesson Complete Thanks you for taking the time to complete this email lesson. We hope that you have found its content useful and has helped you to maximise your membership to Essex Business Forum. If you have any feedback about this lesson please share it with the membership committee. --- Your visitor invite has been sent. Thanks for taking the time to invite someone along to one of our meetings. If you'd like to send another invite then use the button below: --- Mark of Excellence Reference Response Page Complete this form to submit your reference for our members “Mark of Excellence” application. Your Name *Your Email Address *Your Telephone NumberName of the person who asked you to provide this reference *When did you last do business with this person? *Would you be happy to recommend this person? *YesNoValue for Money *OutstandingVery GoodGoodAcceptableNot very goodUnacceptableTimeliness *OutstandingVery GoodGoodAcceptableNot very goodUnacceptableCommunications *OutstandingVery GoodGoodAcceptableNot very goodUnacceptableProfessionalism *OutstandingVery GoodGoodAcceptableNot very goodUnacceptableOverall quality of product/service *OutstandingVery GoodGoodAcceptableNot very goodUnacceptablePlease share any further comments or information that you wish us to know about for this reference:Submit your reference --- This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: --- The EBF "Mark of Excellence" Award - A quality assurance badge for our experienced members, meaning that you can choose them with confidence. The EBF Mark of Excellence Our certification of excellence from established members who have passed our references and checks All members of Essex Business Forum have undergone a review and referencing process to ensure that they provide high quality work and that they are professional and trustworthy. The Essex Business Forum “Mark of Excellence” scheme is an extension to this standard referencing criteria and allows members to proudly display our mark as a badge of honour. If you’re looking for a reliable, trustworthy and professional person to provide you with a product or service, then our “Mark of Excellence” members have been proven to excel in these areas, and you should get in touch with them to assist you. Mark of Excellence certified businesses: Have business-appropriate professional indemnity and other insurance cover Have been a member of the Essex Business Forum organisation for 12 months or more Have been checked for company liquidations, insolvencies and bankruptcy Actively fulfil the ongoing requirements of being a member of the Essex Business Forum organisation Have provided a minimum of 5 detailed customer references which have been checked and reviewed by our panel of experts Current Members who have been awarded our Mark of Excellence: --- Our weekly meetings are held at The Burstead Golf Club in Billericay. Their address is: Tye Common Road, Little Burstead, Billericay, Essex. CM12 9SS For directions visit their website. Get Directions to an Essex Business Forum Meeting: Please enter YOUR postcode into the box below and click on the "Get Directions" button. We will then show you detailed directions for how to find one of our weekly networking meetings. --- Brentwood | Essex Business Forum Skip to content Home About EBF The EBF “Mark of Excellence” Scheme Member Testimonials EBF Synergy Teams EBF Leadership Team The Essex Business Forum Constitution Member Directory Property Synergy Team Finance & Professionals Synergy Team B2C & Domestic Synergy Team Creatives Synergy Team New Member Application Visitor Information How to find us Meeting Walkthrough What to bring Frequently Asked Questions Register as a guest at one of our meetings Membership Application Form Read Our Blog Resources Virtual Forms Member Offers Invite a guest Other resources The Referral Effect Podcast Contact Register as a guest at one of our meetings Invite a Guest to Essex Business Forum Home About EBF The EBF “Mark of Excellence” Scheme Member Testimonials EBF Synergy Teams EBF Leadership Team The Essex Business Forum Constitution Member Directory Property Synergy Team Finance & Professionals Synergy Team B2C & Domestic Synergy Team Creatives Synergy Team New Member Application Visitor Information How to find us Meeting Walkthrough What to bring Frequently Asked Questions Register as a guest at one of our meetings Membership Application Form Read Our Blog Resources Virtual Forms Member Offers Invite a guest Other resources The Referral Effect Podcast Contact Register as a guest at one of our meetings Invite a Guest to Essex Business Forum About EBF Member Directory Visitor Information Blog Podcast Resources Contact Member Testimonials Read what our past and present members think about being part of EBF Synergy Teams Group of related professions that work with the same clients but do not take business away from each other. Mark of Excellence A quality assurance badge for our experienced members, meaning that you can choose them with confidence Leadership Team Who are the people responsible for the running and management of Essex Business Forum? Members Constitution Created for members, by members. The rules and regulations that form the foundation of our professional organisation How to find us Instructions of where we meet, where to park and everything you need to know to be able to get to our meetings Meeting Walkthrough A guide to our meeting agenda, including items where you'll have the opportunity to contribute What to bring Other than yourself, what things to need to bring with you to our meeting and/or prepare in advance Frequently Asked Questions A collection of common questions and answers about different aspects of our meeting and membership Register to attend Register your attendance as a guest at one of our weekly meetings Member Application A link to our application form and details of costs to join and me a member View All Members View all group members from all trades and professions Property Synergy Team Members whose businesses relate to the property sector Finance & Professionals Members whose businesses relate to the financial or professionals sector B2C & Domestic Synergy Team Members whose businesses relate to Business-to-Consumer or Domestic sector Creatives Synergy Team Members whose businesses relate to the creative sector Member Application A link to our application form and details... --- Invite a Guest to Essex Business Forum Whether you’re already an Essex Business Forum member, or a website visitor who thinks EBF might be useful for a friend or colleague, then you’ll find inviting a guest to one of our business networking meetings easy. Simply complete the invite form on this page. An email will automatically be sent to the person you invite containing some information about our group and how they could attend. To help your guest, your name plus other useful information will also be included. This ensures that the recipient understands immediately who has made the recommendation. 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Upon arrival at Calcott Hall Farm, our meeting is held in the Barnyard Cafe. At our welcoming and sign-in table, you will be greeted by at least two of our members who will record your name and details and then introduce you to our other members and guests. Open networking session “Open Networking” is perhaps the best opportunity to meet with the other guests and regular members and to introduce yourself and your business. Coffee, tea and juice is provided and this open-networking session lasts around 30 minutes. NETWORKING TIP: Try to meet with as many individuals as possible during this time and to avoid any in-depth discussions with just one or two members. In this way, you are maximising your opportunity to meet as many new people as possible. Breakfast is served A selection of different breakfast options is available. At around 7:00am, our breakfast is ready, members find their seats and the formal part of our meeting starts. Chairman opens the meeting Our Chairman opens the meeting by introducing himself and the other members of the meeting leadership team. This is followed by introducing the guests and giving apologies for absence for any missing members. Our Membership Secretary then provides us with an overview of the statistics we record for our meetings including the value of the business passed amongst members and guests. We also maintain a "Members Performance League" which aims to highlight which members contribute most effectively to the group in terms of giving business, receiving business, attending training and social events, conducting 1-2-1 meetings and lots of other factors. Weekly education and development presentation Our Education and Development Co-Ordinator manages a weekly educational presentation which lasts approximately 5 minutes. Mainly delivered by himself, or sometimes delegated to other members who have volunteered, this part of the meeting aims to highlight ways members can improve their networking techniques and make full use of their membership of Essex Business Forum. 60-Second Presentations One of the most important parts of our weekly meeting is the "60-Second Presentations round" where members first, and then guests, are allowed 60 seconds to introduce themselves and their business to the rest of the meeting. Most members (and guests) will have prepared their presentation in advance so that it can be delivered effectively and on-time. Our time-keeper will give a warning at 50 seconds and a bell is rung at 60 seconds so that you know when to wind up your presentation and sit down. Although some guests find this part of the meeting quite daunting, we are a friendly bunch, and you will have the opportunity to watch all of the other members first to hopefully see how it is done! The anatomy of a good 60-second... --- Join Essex Business Forum and receive regular, high quality business referrals 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 £100,000 in member to member referrals each month - and in 2016 our referrals boosted the local economy by an additional 1. 5 million. 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, book keeper to builder. Our membership represents the very best of local business. With a thorough vetting process, and ongoing member assessment programme ensuring 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 with confidence, as listed businesses have been reviewed, tested and are actively recommended by our panel of local business experts. Statistics from our 2018/2019 year (*view our latest statistics page) What our members gain By joining, and attending our weekly business networking meeting, you’ll benefit from: Regular business referral opportunities – on average each member receives more than £30,000 worth of new business each year because of their membership Ability to expand your network, and connect with like-minded business professionals Promotion of your business on our high traffic website Opportunity to become an accredited EBF Mark of Excellence business Promotion of your business via our popular Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media channels Weekly business development, education and training sessions Promotion via repeated daily adverts on local Radio Plus business training events, social gatherings, and much much more... Read testimonials from our past and present members 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. To the right is a... --- The Essex Business Forum Constitution Who / What is Essex Business Forum? We are a business promotion and networking group who are looking to support and provide new business for our members. This is through regular networking breakfast meetings where individual members can promote their business and make and pass on new business referrals to other members. We provide facilities to support and promote member businesses both through forums, a website and through separate group meetings of members who are in similar areas of business. We also look to promote member's businesses by arranging and having a presence at Forums organised by others in the business sector. The intention is to promote EBF and its members to the public and local community as a collection of trusted suppliers and businesses. About Our Meeting 1 The weekly breakfast meeting is for members who each come from a different business or professional category. Although most categories are effectively exclusive, this will not always be the case, and the Membership Committee reserves the right to expand any category in consultation with the individual member or members affected. 2 The weekly meeting runs from 6:30am to 8. 30am. The meeting will open at 6. 15am for registration and networking between members, their guests and visitors. After 8. 30am, the meeting remains open for further networking. 3 Members are expected to arrive in good time for the 6:30am start and must stay until 8. 30am. We do not wish to set rigid attendance goals, but full members are expected to attend regularly. If you are not there, you cannot pass business to another member and you cannot provide the regular promotion of your own business to enable you to receive referrals from other members. This is fundamental to the ethos of EBF. 4 The meeting will be conducted by a Leadership Team that will consist of:-Meeting Chairman - who leads the meetingMeeting Secretary – who reports to the meeting on business passed and other statistics and important informationMembership Co-Ordinator - who works with the membership committee to review new member applications and existing member renewalsEducation Development Officer – who delivers the education slot and arranges the 10-minute presentationsSocial Secretary – who arranges events for members - both social and business. 5 The Membership Committee will be made up of the Membership Committee Chairperson, one director, and three other members. 6 If the Membership Committee consider your attendance is not adequate and this is without good reason, the Membership Committee may refuse renewal at the end of your membership term or immediately cancel your membership and look for someone who can fill your category more effectively. 7 Members are encouraged to bring visitors on a regular basis. Visitors should be either potential members who are involved in business or people who can provide valuable information to the meeting and potentially provide referrals to Members and /or for other promotional reasons. 8 All visitors must be notified to the Leadership Team prior to any meeting that they... --- The EBF Synergy Teams The natural sub-groups within our membership, and how they work together to jointly promote each other What is a Synergy Team? A Synergy team is a group of related professions that work with the same clients but do not take business away from each other. In our networking group we have defined the following Synergy teams: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) / Domestic Finance & Professions Property Creatives On our members page, you can easily filter the different synergy teams that we have to see which members are present in each team. In this networking environment, our members will find 67% of their referrals come from their own Synergy team and the other 33% of their referrals come from the rest of the organisation. You could find yourself in more than one Synergy team – but the most important thing is to surround yourself with members who talk regularly to the type of clients that YOU want! Are you missing out on 67% of the business you should be getting? Is a Synergy team different from your normal weekly meetings? Yes it is! Each of our four Synergy teams meet on a monthly basis, with a different group scheduled each week. These meetings are run by individual members of each group, and while there is no strict formula or agenda to them, we have learned how to make them effective. Can I join a Synergy team? Yes you can! Talk to any member of a Synergy team and they will tell you the time, date and venue for their next meeting. All Synergy team meetings will also shortly be added to this website. --- Visitors are always welcome at any of our meetings. The more visitors we have the better each meeting becomes - there is a reall "buzz" when we have lots of visitors attend our networking meetings. Why should I visit Essex Business Forum? If you own or run an Essex based business then you should visit us to see if you like our group and would like to consider becoming a member. You are welcome to attend two times as a visitor, at which point you will be required to join in order to make subsequent visits. If you want to make contact with Essex businesses then you are also welcome to visit us. You may be a journalist, researcher, student or just a member of the public who wants to use trusted local businesses who thrive on good service and their high reputations. What does it cost to visit Essex Business Forum? Your first meeting is absolutely free. We'll cover the cost of your breakfast as our gift to you! Businesses may attend a second time but the cost of this meeting will be £10. What do I do if I want to attend? So that we can manage the logistics and catering for the event, advance notice of your attendance is required. Simply contact us to let us know you are coming. Important Links for Visitors: How to find us Meeting Walkthrough What to bring Frequently Asked Questions --- How to find our Business Networking meetings Calcott Hall Farm, Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9HS Our weekly meetings are held every Thursday from 6:30am until 8:30amThe venue is Calcott Hall Farm in Brentwood. The address is Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9HS, United KingdomThe Farm has ample parking. We are based in "The Barnyard Cafe" which is the first building that you see as you enter the Calcott Hall property. --- Read how dozens of local businesses benefited from their EBF membership Testimonials from our current and past members Read how dozens of local businesses benefited from their EBF membership --- Our meetings follow a similar agenda each week, with some variation depending on outside speaker rotation and various committee reports. All meetings begin from 6. 30am with "Open Networking". Whilst this is not part of the actual "sit-down" meeting, this is one of the most important parts as it is where you will have to opportunity to meet and chat with the other members. Open Networking is also available after the meeting has finished at around 8. 30am, however some members and visitors usually have to leave promptly to open their businesses. 6:15a. m. - Meeting Begins - Open Networking, including tea, coffee and orange juice 7:00a. m. - Breakfast is served - Meeting chairman will call the meeting to breakfast. A full buffet style breakfast is provided 7:15a. m. - Formal meeting begins - Introduction from Meeting Chairman and support team 7:17a. m. - EBF Networking Game - An update on our performance league table for members 7:19a. m. - Education Slot - A breif educational presentation regarding networking or other business development 7:22a. m. - New member’s induction - Meeting Chairman welcomes new members to the organisation (when required) 7:23a. m. - Passing the Business card Box - a box containing all of the members cards is passed around the room 7:25a. m. - Members 60 Second Presentation Round - Members each stand and present their businesses for 60 seconds 7:50a. m. - Visitors and Substitutes 60 Second Presentation Round - Opportunity for visitors and subs to present their businesses for 60 seconds 7:55a. m. - Power Group Report. A report from the most recent Power Group meeting 8:00a. m. - Speakers Annoucement - A report on memberships due and an introduction of the 10 minute speaker 8:02a. m. - 10 minute presentation - either a member or guest speaker presents to the group for 10 minutes followed by questions and answers session 8:14a. m. - Committee Report - A report from the meeting membership committee 8:16a. m. - Referrals and testimonials - Business referrals and testimonials are passed by all members (and visitors where appropriate) 8:24a. m. - Referral reality check - A review on business referrals passed within the last two weeks for quality control 8:27a. m. - Announcements, reminders & special reports 8:29a. m. - Speakers Prize - the 10 minute speaker awards their prize to a member or visitor 8:30a. m. - Close meeting. 8:31a. m. - Continue Open Networking. Although the Meeting is now formally closed you are welcome to stay on and continue networking --- Frequently Asked Questions about Essex Business Forum Find our more about our weekly networking group, what membership means, and business networking geneally A collection of common questions and answers relating to our specific networking group as well as other general business networking questions. If these questions don't provide you with what you need to know, then please get in touch with us and we'll be happy to discuss things with you. Your First Visit How it works Costs and Fees More than a Networking Meeting What do I need to bring with me to the meeting? We have a page that explains this – click here to view... Read Full Answer Is there a regular agenda at the meeting. Is it the same every week? We run a standard agenda for most of our meetings... . Read Full Answer Can I bring someone else with me to the meeting? Yes, you’re welcome to bring others with you along... Read Full Answer Can I attend as a guest for FREE? Absolutely! Your first visit to our meetings is free... Read Full Answer No posts found Will I receive training? EBF is more than a referrals organisation. We’ll provide... Read Full Answer Is there a regular agenda at the meeting. Is it the same every week? We run a standard agenda for most of our meetings... . Read Full Answer I dont like public speaking. Is Essex Business Forum for me? The great thing is we are all in the same boat. Very... Read Full Answer Will there be other people from my profession at the meetings? There will be members in related and associated trades... Read Full Answer What if I think I can't bring a referral every week? Although important, referrals are only one facet of... Read Full Answer How often are the meetings? EBF meets every week on Thursday mornings. We meet... Read Full Answer What happens if I can't make it to a meeting? There will clearly be odd occasions when holidays,... Read Full Answer I’m a little nervous of public speaking... can I avoid the 60 second round? As a new member you’ll be partnered with a mentor... . Read Full Answer No posts found Can I attend as a guest for FREE? Absolutely! Your first visit to our meetings is free... Read Full Answer What payment options exist for my membership? If you decide to join EBF there is a one-time joining... Read Full Answer Do I have to pay for breakfast each week? As well as the membership fee, there is a weekly meeting... Read Full Answer No posts found There are lots of business networking and breakfast clubs. What makes EBF different? EBF was formed in 2011 as a break-away group from an... Read Full Answer No posts found Can I attend as a guest for FREE? Absolutely! Your first visit to our meetings is free... Read Full Answer Is there a regular agenda at the meeting. Is it the same every week? We... --- What to bring with you to our Networking meeting To make the most of our networking meetings it is advised that you come prepared. Members and other guests will be excited to discuss your business with you and how we may all be able to generate additional work for each other. It is important therefore that you bring with you plenty of business cards and company literature. You will also have the opportunity to stand and introduce your business to the group for 60 seconds. This is optional but highly recommended. If you choose to do this, below is a suggested structure for your introduction: Introduce yourself and your business name. (10 seconds) State the main products or services provided by your business (20 seconds) Why should we refer you (10 seconds) The type of new business you are looking for (be specific! ) (20 seconds) If you would like to bring a colleague or even better someone from a different business then please do. The more businesses that meet the better our meetings become. A good idea before you attend is to perhaps take a look at our blog. Each week we review our meetings in the blog and most meetings are recorded so you can watch it and see how things go. --- Register as a guest at one of our meetings You are very welcome to join us as a guest at one of our regular meetings. Your first meeting as a guest is FREE, and to book all you need do is complete the short form opposite. Top tips from fellow members:Take a quick Meeting Walk-Through before you visitBring plenty of business cards (at least x50)Have your 60 second presentation prepared. A snap shot overview of who you are, what you do, and the type of new customer you are looking for. If you have any questions about attending, please feel free to contact us for more information. Essex Business Forum allows only one business from each trade or professional category to join its membership. You can check here to see if your category is vacant. If you are unsure or consider that there may be scope for a new category to be added, please contact us to discuss in further detail. --- Essex Business Forum is an association of professional business people and owners of established and reputable SMEs based in Essex and the surrounding areas which represents every trade and profession, and with the addition of an extended network of businesses in highly specialist fields. Essex Business Forum, as an organisation, exists to facilitate the meeting of it's members for the promotion of it's members' businesses and to promote its members to the public and to the local business community as a full range of 'trusted' suppliers in order to generate commercial opportunities for its member-businesses. "We promote each other, for the benefit of all" --- The EBF Business Networking Blog Weekly Reviews of our business networking meetings Chairman's blog Thursday 4th September 2025 Matt Barry entertained us all with a brands quiz, featuring... Chairman's blog Thursday 13th February 2025 Ben Golding educated us on using key phrases to make... Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next --- What is Essex Business Forum (EBF)? Essex Business Forum is an association of professional business people and owners of established and reputable SMEs based in Essex and the surrounding areas which represents every trade and profession, and with the addition of an extended network of businesses in highly specialist fields. Essex Business Forum, as an organisation, exists to facilitate the meeting of it's members for the promotion of it's members' businesses and to promote its members to the public and to the local business community as a full range of 'trusted' suppliers in order to generate commercial opportunities for its member-businesses. What does EBF do? The purpose of Essex Business Forum is to provide the means by which its members can promote their own and each others' businesses for their mutual benefit; to provide business support for each other; to generate business referrals and create new commercial opportunities for each other; and to help each other to develop and grow their individual businesses. "Better business by referral " EBF provides a variety of promotional opportunities for the benefit of its members, including networking, forums, presentations, organised referral-exchange sessions, exhibitions and other events at which members can meet or be recommended to potential new associates, suppliers, or customers/clients; plus structured external online and offline marketing activities for ongoing promotion of EBF member-businesses to the public and the local business community. Who can join? EBF is open to reputable and professionally-run SMEs from all business sectors whose owners/managers are aiming to develop and grow their business in the Essex area. Membership is not simply by request - we will ask for business references and these will be checked. Your application will also be reviewed by our committee and if approved you will be allowed to join. We aim to keep the standard of members high within our group so that each of us can refer other members without worry. --- --- ## Members --- ## Posts Howard Bullock delivered a successful “Top Tips” session, and Sarah Smith educated us on the topic of Imposter Syndrome. Holidays, illness and other commitments meant we were a small but perfectly formed group of just 17 today, chaired by our stand in chairperson Jane Maylon. https://youtu. be/L0fKc-Mj940 Performance League Leann is hanging on to her lead but we are only halfway through the month to it is all to play for and remember you get points for logging onto the new website to test it! Education Slot Sarah Smith for her maiden Ed slot did really well in explaining “Imposter Syndrome”. which is where you don’t feel that you belong and which is fuelled by our inner critic She explained that 70% of people experience this. It can be combated by catching the voice and adding “yet” to the end of your sentence and use body language, setting yourself scary goals to build confidence. If you hear it in someone else challenge it and tell them how great they are and compliment people. 60-Second Presentation Round We went round in order of seating starting with the naughty corner ( who were complete today) for a change. Stuart Smallcombe is looking for people who may have had their heads turned to a competitor so that he can turn it back to LG Networks for their business communication needs. Paul Dulieu shared with us that all through his career he has suffered with imposter syndrome until now and he really feels like he belongs. Scott Griffiths is looking for people using live chat to change over to Whatsapp business which has a much more user friendly chat function and cheaper to boot. Jane Maylon told us about an environmental health visit in which she and Roger were busily preparing only for the inspector to turn up several hours early to try and catch them out. Thankfully all was in order and they maintain their 5 star rating for hygiene. Our newest member Sally Waters explained that she does corporate gifts and with Christmas not far away she is looking for orders from corporates to their clients. Catherine Foley is looking for those who are hoping to go to Oxbridge and want help with their personal statements which have changed now and need doing correctly. Meeting Secretaries Report Scott Griffiths reminded those who have not already done it to log onto the new website so he can see the logins are working and gain 25 points for doing so. He is aiming to launch the new website today. 10-Minute Presentation by Howard Bullock This week’s presenter was our resident Independent Financial Advisor Howard Bullock to “ Do a Paul” and give us his 10 top tips. have an emergency fund. protect what income you have including you. Start saving now, it’s never too early. Risk-know and understand it. Home ownership, think about it joint beneficial tenants or tenants in common. Gifts- don’t try gifting your home to your children it will end in tears. Tax on investments- get proper advice. . Behaviour- when the markets change, don’t panic. Transfer of cash from... --- Jonathan Foster demonstrated his Locksmith skills and how easy it is to break into a lock. Paul Dulieu educated us about travelling in the right direction, via an interesting metaphor. This week, despite holidays, we were 22 in number. Might it be because autumn appears to with us that the balance between sausage and granola has now swung very much in favour of the pork product. Anyway, good pre meeting networking atmosphere pervaded and everyone seemed ready for the fray at 7:10. am. https://youtu. be/xiCzUmTZItI Performance League One week of input leaves us with Ben Golding in 3rd place with 108 points. Leann Reason 2nd on 136 and heading the table is Scott Griffiths with 138. Education Slot Paul Dulieu had a walking metaphor to hand that left Toby Action drooling. If you set off in the wrong direction you can find yourself lost or further from your goal rather than closer. Paul Booth was selected to set off in a northerly direction but finished up facing West. In business you need to know where you want to go and you should always be willing to step back, look around, and adjust your route to enable you to reach your destination. Membership Matters New member Sally Waters received her membership certificate and Blake Hammond has been renewed, perhaps in all senses of the word. 60-Second Presentation Round Catherine Foley, last week's winner, is on holiday and this week’s adjudication was undertaken by the Naughty Corner. Stuart Smallcombe got things under way and devoted his time to promoting of Brentwood rugby club in its search for local sponsors. Paul Booth's theme was to search for anyone who might need to sort out tax problems over declarations made to HMRC. Following Stuart's lead Paul Corrigan mention the Maldon Car Show that Solitaire are involved with, inviting us all along and suggesting we tried the ‘buzzer game’ that he had demonstrated last week. It was left to Joshua Atteyey to really get the ball rolling in actually promoting his business. He showed us some drawings that he is currently working on that included a bathroom with ‘his and her’ sinks. Mike Skinner had a simple message; video photography can enhance your business message. If Paul Dulieu thought he had got away with his metaphor, he was very wrong. Toby Acton was not to be denied. He used the recent visit to Bletchley Park to compare the ethos of the Second World War Code Breakers with how we should approach the running of our businesses. The master of metaphor was not to be outdoneJust as it was getting interesting Sally Waters ruined it all by mentioning Christmas. She used it attract referrals by suggesting that people sampled her fragrances, 11 in all, which can be done by either visiting or receiving samples. Leann Reason was offering the luxury of black as a colour to give depth to the interior design of your home. It was therefore inevitable that Darren Lamb should follow her and exhibit his green credentials. Encouraged by Sally, Blake Hammond followed with a reminder that there are 15 Thursdays to go before Christmas. More of him laterJon Foster, despite his upcoming... --- Matt Barry entertained us all with a brands quiz, featuring many logos that his team crafted. Paul Booth educated us all on Referrals round etiquette. Getting up and getting dressed this morning was done in the dark and a stark reminder of the onset of autumn. But are we downhearted... . . ? https://youtu. be/GyVjxJGHGMY Performance League So August is over! What a month! Over 20 members hit the benchmark, and Paul Corrigan was the outright winner with a record-breaking 585 points. In his absence Terry Maylin would have been the winner with what would otherwise have been a near record-breaking score of 425 points. Stuart Smallcombe with 279 points wasn't bad either... ! Education Slot Paul Booth was our presenter this week and this subject matter was our referrals and testimonials round. Here referrals are passed, monies received and acknowledged and testimonials given. It is the last section of the meeting and arguably the most important. It certainly summarises the reasons that we are all present and is largely a celebration of what we have been doing over the previous week. His message was, like the veritable crocodile sandwich, keep it snappy. Do not say that you have no referrals... keep it positive. Eliminate too much detail that might delay this final round. Let it be a celebration, not a funeral. Membership Matters One of the meetings highlights is always a new member induction. Sally Waters has now become our newest member. Welcome Sally! Not only did Terry Maylin administer the induction but also reported that we have several renewals in the pipeline which will be reported upon when completed. 60-Second Presentation Round Paul Corrigan as current Oscar holder was our adjudicator and got things underway. Short staffed this week he's been out ‘on the tools’ and seemed to have enjoyed it. It gave him an opportunity of running through the services that they can provide. He wasn't the only one, Dave Roberts also did a run through of the services that he can supply as an electrician and reminded us that, in particular, testing can be a good intro to further work. Not to be outdone Dave Moore was sporting a ‘Ben Golding’ and also used his 60 seconds to advertise the range of his products which all can be seen on his Saturday stall at Brentwood market between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. If the trades we're anxious to display all of that talents, Joshua Ayettey was not backwards in coming forward. Turning a garage into an annex or doing a loft conversion he provided a range of ways in which he can help you add value to your property. Whilst we were into listing our services, Toby Acton created an acronym of the word mentor and then in true fashion rattled off the various services that he offers in getting your business from A to B, or rather M to RAfter so many of us had set out their stalls, the rest kind of paled into relative insignificance. Highlights included Paul Dulieu’s much anticipated first wedding celebration, Ben Goldings help to someone called ‘Jake’ who needed to boost his income and... --- --- ## FAQs We have a page that explains this – click here to view it. Basically you should being plenty of business cards (at least 50), and prepare a 60 second presentation of your business. --- Absolutely! Your first visit to our meetings is free of charge. If you’d like to attend as a guest for a second time, we ask that you pay a fee of £15 which contributes towards the breakfast and venue hire. --- If you decide to join EBF there is a one-time joining fee of £75. After this, we have a few options for the actual membership payment. Our most common is a one-off 6-month trial membership which costs £300. Regular membership is £450 per year however some members take out a 2 year membership for £750. There is no VAT applicable to these fees. --- As well as the membership fee, there is a weekly meeting fee that all members must pay. This covers the cost of the venue hire and the breakfast, and is applicable whether or not you attend the meeting. Members usually arrange to pay this on a monthly standing order which costs £50. --- Yes, you’re welcome to bring others with you to the meeting, however, as there is a cost for each person attending, EBF will only be able to pay for the first person from your business. Others will be asked to pay a £15 fee which covers the cost of breakfast and venue hire. Ultimately only one person from your business can join, but it makes sense for more than one person to attend sometimes to see which person has the best fit for the group. --- We run a standard agenda for most of our meetings. You can see roughly what goes on by visiting our meeting walkthrough page. We do however occasionally adapt this agenda to allow for outside speakers or special events. Even though the agenda remains largely fixed, our meetings are always fun and unique. --- As a new member, you’ll be partnered with a mentor. This friendly approach makes sure that you are comfortable and confident fromthe start. Your mentor will help you come up with short, snappy ideas for your 60-second round, meaning you can share all that’s great about your business, and fellow members can start finding you referrals straight away. Remember that 60 seconds is the limit and so, if you just want to say hello, who you are and the name of your business, that is just fine. --- EBF was formed in 2011 as a break-away group from an existing networking organisation called BNI. As members of BNI, we found that we were being restricted in what we could do and felt that we were receiving poor value for money. When we formed EBF, we decided to keep many of the good parts of BNI, but to introduce lots more fun and freedom. We pass a very healthy number of referrals and business among our members but do so in an environment that is lots of fun. Our members refer to each other as friends rather than “networking colleagues”, and as such, a better quality of business is done all around. EBF is also not run as a for-profit business unlike so many other networking groups. The money that members pay to be part of the group is spent on promoting the EBF business and its members. No part of the membership fees is paid as salary or commission to its directors. The more members who join EBF, the bigger and more effective it becomes. --- EBF is more than a referrals organisation. We’ll provide all sorts of other opportunities to assist you in your business development. Part of this is training in the methods and processes that we have proven are effective in EBF. Some of this will occur directly as an education slot within each meeting. Other times, you will be able to attend a special workshop. --- The great thing is we are all in the same boat. Very few of the members have had formal public speaking training. The worry soon disappears when we remember that we are only on our feet for 60 seconds and that we are each talking about something we are very familiar with ... our own businesses. Nobody is looking for polished speakers. The meetings are more practical and down to earth than that. Simply jot down a few words to remind you of what you want to tell us or, if you wish, write it out in full and read it out. Half an A4 sheet is usually enough to fill that minute and to tell us what sort of client you are looking for. We’ll also provide you with an effective outline, that many use, as it includes all the important bits. --- There will be members in related and associated trades and professions, but only you will occupy your specific business description. You’ll not be competing with others in the same field. The value of having related professions as members grows with the concept of “Power Groups” ... comprising business with complementary interests who can then increase their impact in the market place. --- EBF meets every week on Thursday mornings. We meet over a good breakfast just before the business day gets started so that it does not interfere with our usual work routine. We do take a week off over Christmas and the New Year. --- There will clearly be odd occasions when holidays, sickness or an important event will mean you miss a week at EBF. The good thing is we have a network which enables you to contact substitutes to ensure your message is always heard at meetings. You can also invite a work colleague, business client, friend or family member to take your seat on that occasion. We know you aim to be there every week and so we’ll understand when that odd occasion crops up. --- Although important, referrals are only one facet of the EBF meetings. You can make valuable contributions every week by holding one-on-one meetings with other members, bringing visitors, and by giving written testimonials for work done by other members. --- --- ## Testimonials 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 --- Great network group very friendly and welcoming --- 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. --- Having started our own business in October 2019, a friend invited me to attend Essex Business Forum as a guest. I was unsure what to expect but I found it incredibly friendly, informative and useful. I subsequently joined EBF and, even despite meetings moving, temporarily, "online" because of the pandemic, it has been invaluable. EBF has helped me grow my business through referrals from fellow members and I have become part of a network of high quality, trustworthy and interesting local businesses who help and support each other at every step. I have also made some fantastic friends. I can't recommend EBF highly enough. Joining has, without a doubt, been one of the most important business decisions I have made as a new business owner. Even if you are only slightly interested, come along and see what it's all about. It could be one of the most important things you do for your business. --- 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. --- First reviewed this group a year ago and it is still Fantastic business networking group. The quality of referrals is exceptional With the broad base of business help and advice they can give is outstanding . A very friendly group of people. --- 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 . --- EBF is an excellent networking group. A friendly and relaxed environment, but still with a lot of business being passed. --- Great networking group. Friendly fun and informative. I have developed my business and myself since joining. The contacts you make are priceless. Would recommend any business owner to join. I wished I had joined sooner. --- Probably the best business networking group around. Plenty of quality referrals and most importantly great business relationships built with good people. --- Great Networking group, most welcoming, would recommend to all. --- Business-focussed but lots of laughs and supportive camaraderie too. The perfect mix for a networking group! ! --- Fantastic networking group and its been a real help to my business, both in acquiring new work and lots of support and guidance from members --- Joining EBF 12 months ago was a great decision for me. I’ve made some great contacts, some great friends, and as a bonus I’ve banked £10K of business that I would not have received had I not been a member. Highly recommended as a networking group. --- Still such a great business networking group - my favourite ever and I've been networking for decades! Great for my business but also fun, supportive and full of camaraderie. I'd be proud to bring a visitor along as I know they would love it. --- My name is Nick Cooke and I’m a Structural Engineer. I am a member of the Essex Business Forum (EBF). It really is the best business networking group ever. And I know because I have been to plenty of them. I have been a member of EBF since its inception in 2010. Joining EBF was one of the most important business decisions I have ever made. My membership and the relationships that I have developed the other members of the group has helped my business generate a very significant proportion of its annual income. The weekly breakfast meetings are well structured as indeed is the entire EBF organisation. I can thoroughly recommend EBF to anyone who is serious about making their business work for them. --- Such a great group of people! Have tried other networking groups but EBF smashes them out of the park! --- Essex Business Forum has been excellent for my business since i started it, not only for referral of business to me but for knowledge and help from other members which is invaluable. If you want to generate new business and get a great network of people to help support you this is the networking group for you. --- Amazing group, as a first time small business owner I have learned a lot from the fellow members. Can't recommend enough! --- I've been a member of EBF for several years now, I've made some wonderful friends, and gained valuable repetitive business, one of the best things I have ever done as a sole trader. Thank you EBF a very happy member here! ! ! --- Fantastic and welcoming group which has benefited me both professionally and personally. --- My business has increased since Scott redesigned my website. I highly recommend him My business has increased since Scott redesigned my website. I highly recommend him --- I have been very impressed by Eseyo's grasp of social media, how to improve my social media and developments in what is a fast moving area. I have been very impressed by Eseyo's grasp of social media, how to improve my social media and developments in what is a fast moving area. --- The team at Eseyo Ltd are extremely professional and very creative. They are currently working on improvements on our website. Would and have recommend them to all of our clients and business associates. The team at Eseyo Ltd are extremely professional and very creative. They are currently working on improvements on our website. Would and have recommend them to all of our clients and business associates. --- ---