Walltham Forest Business Network
  • Welcome!
    • What Our Members Say
  • About
  • What We Do
    • Women In Business
      • Great Little Places to meet in E17
    • Business Directory
    • Creative Exchange
      • Expression of Interest
    • Small Business 100
    • WF Small Business Competition
      • 2014 Food Business Category Winner - Star of India Restaurant
      • 2014 Social Enterprise Category Winner - Significant Seams
      • Winner - 2013 Business Competition
      • 2014 Start Up Business Category Winner - Bestowed Kitchen
      • Winner - 2012 Small Business Competition
      • 2014 Retail Business Category Winner - It Does The Job
      • 2014 Creative Business Category Winner - Build
      • 2014 Professional Service Category Winner - Leyton Sports Massage
    • Networking, Events, Workshops
      • Christmas Networking 2017
      • Christmas Networking 2015
        • Past Events
          • 2014 Christmas Event
      • 'Network & Grow' summer 2014
      • 2012 Christmas Networking Event
      • 2012 Tea at the Town Hall
      • Workshops 2011
      • 2011 Summer Networking, House of Commons
      • Christmas Dinner at Eat17
      • Celebrating International Women's Day
      • 2011 E17 Art Trail
      • NEL Expo 2011
      • December 2010 Waterstones Christmas Networking
      • July 2010 Pimms O'Clock Summer Networking
      • April 2010 - Spring Speed Networking
      • February 2010 - Secrets to Success with NLCC
      • January 2010 - Facebook & Twitter -What's The Fuss?
      • Christmas 2009 - Christmas Networking at Waterstones
      • Summer 2009 - Networking, Health & Beauty
  • WFBN Blog
  • Waltham Forest Echo - Business Articles
  • Enterprise Nation
  • Privacy Policy
  • Enterprise Programme Support
    • Growth Vouchers - Cavendish Consortium
    • Fit For Legacy - East London Business Place
    • Waltham Forest Council - Small Business Saturday
  • Welcome!
    • What Our Members Say
  • About
  • What We Do
    • Women In Business
      • Great Little Places to meet in E17
    • Business Directory
    • Creative Exchange
      • Expression of Interest
    • Small Business 100
    • WF Small Business Competition
      • 2014 Food Business Category Winner - Star of India Restaurant
      • 2014 Social Enterprise Category Winner - Significant Seams
      • Winner - 2013 Business Competition
      • 2014 Start Up Business Category Winner - Bestowed Kitchen
      • Winner - 2012 Small Business Competition
      • 2014 Retail Business Category Winner - It Does The Job
      • 2014 Creative Business Category Winner - Build
      • 2014 Professional Service Category Winner - Leyton Sports Massage
    • Networking, Events, Workshops
      • Christmas Networking 2017
      • Christmas Networking 2015
        • Past Events
          • 2014 Christmas Event
      • 'Network & Grow' summer 2014
      • 2012 Christmas Networking Event
      • 2012 Tea at the Town Hall
      • Workshops 2011
      • 2011 Summer Networking, House of Commons
      • Christmas Dinner at Eat17
      • Celebrating International Women's Day
      • 2011 E17 Art Trail
      • NEL Expo 2011
      • December 2010 Waterstones Christmas Networking
      • July 2010 Pimms O'Clock Summer Networking
      • April 2010 - Spring Speed Networking
      • February 2010 - Secrets to Success with NLCC
      • January 2010 - Facebook & Twitter -What's The Fuss?
      • Christmas 2009 - Christmas Networking at Waterstones
      • Summer 2009 - Networking, Health & Beauty
  • WFBN Blog
  • Waltham Forest Echo - Business Articles
  • Enterprise Nation
  • Privacy Policy
  • Enterprise Programme Support
    • Growth Vouchers - Cavendish Consortium
    • Fit For Legacy - East London Business Place
    • Waltham Forest Council - Small Business Saturday

2019 Motivation

1/16/2019

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​It’s the start of the New Year and if you’re planning to start, grow or further develop your business there are so many brilliant events to attend!  Here’s our selection to get your business juices flowing: 
 Start Up Saturday
A full day of motivation and action at this annual orgy of business start up!  Whether you want to start your own business or side hustle, or simply want to improve your business skills, this is a good place to start.  You’ll be able to access over 100 inspirational entrepreneurs and small business experts across 11 stages and interactive zones.Taking place on Saturday 19 January at King’s College, London.
Take a look at the full programme here.  Book here.

Bread & Jam Fest 
This food founder’s festival has really established itself as one of the highlights of a food entrepreneurs calender.  The festival itself is 3rd – 4th October.  However there is a whole programme of networking events both free and paid throughout the year in the run up to this, offering (and these are just a few) opportunities to: pitch your products to stores, a food business bootcamp, monthly socials (next one explores attracting the right investors for your food business) and much more!   Booking info here.

Forge Creative Business Support Programme  
​Forge is a new creative business support programme running in Waltham Forest designed for freelancers, artists, makers, designers, producers, creative micro-enterprises and SMEs in the Blackhorse Lane Creative Enterprise Zone in the London borough of Waltham Forest.  It provides 12 hours of free support through tailored workshops, 1:1 advice and coaching, and events enabling networking, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and making new contacts. There will be 4 editions of the programme, starting from March 2019.  To Apply – Applications are now open, criteria do apply.  More here.

TableCrowd  
We love TableCrowd!   Imagine being able to dine and learn from entrepreneurs who have ‘made it’ or share a glass of wine with investors who are looking for the next big thing, or simply to network in a relaxed restaurant atmosphere.  That’s what TableCrowd offers, a chance to meet people over dinner.
Coming up, you could dine with a leading business journalist: securing press coverage for your business, an Angel Investor, investing in fashion, media & tech or the founder of Pure Gym: launching, scaling and selling, a British business success story.  Get dining! Book here
​

Happy 2019!
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Forge - Creative Business Support - Applications open

12/5/2018

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The Waltham Forest Business Network is working with Creative United in partnership with Slingshot Simple Venture Design and Hive Collective
on ​Forge, a creative business support programme providing 12 hours of free support through tailored workshops, 1:1 advice and coaching, and events enabling networking, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and making new contacts.  The  programme is now halfway through 4 editions of the programme, which started in March 2019.

Each edition includes:  
  • Workshops
  • 1:1 advice or coaching 
  • Networking events 
  • Making Connections events

To Apply
Applications are now open. To be eligible for the programme you must: 
  • be based in or around the Blackhorse Lane Creative Enterprise Zone, or be considering moving your business there
  • have been trading for at least 12 months
  • operate in a creative or cultural sector, such as design, craft, digital, performing arts, music, fashion, publishing, film and video etc.
If this sounds like you and you feel you need help to get your business to the next level,  start your application now.  

​The Forge Business Support programme is funded by Waltham Forest Council, supported by the Mayor of London, and delivered by Creative United in partnership with Slingshot Simple Venture Design, Hive Collective, Ayama Coaching, To Market and Waltham Forest Business Network. 

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FORGE - Launch Invitation

11/26/2018

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The Waltham Forest Business Network is delighted to be a partner in a new business support programme designed for freelancers, artists, makers, designers, producers, creative micro-enterprises and SMEs in the Blackhorse Lane Creative Enterprise Zone in the London borough of Waltham Forest.

The Forge business support programme is funded by Waltham Forest Council and delivered by
Creative United, Slingshot Simple Venture Design, Hive Collective, Ayama Coaching, To Market and the 
Waltham Forest Business Network.


If you’re based in the area, join us on 4th December at Switchboard Studios E17 from 9.30am – 11.30am to find out how this new business support programme could help you grow, increase your profits, improve your business skills and enable more people in the community to know about you and your work. 

Hear from Creative United and partners about the workshops, events and support which will be available on the programme, and how these could benefit you.

There'll be the opportunity to ask questions, network and enjoy tea, coffee and breakfast bites.

Register here to attend the event and find out how to apply for the programme! 

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Festive Networking at the Wm Morris Gallery

11/26/2018

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An enjoyable 90 minutes of networking for those who ventured out for our Christmas event last Friday, 23rd November - the Gallery was buzzing, see below just a snapshot of the evening!   Thanks to our event sponsors:  Wild Card Brewery and Adams Catering Hire. 

At this event we also announced WFBN's involvement in FORGE, a new business support programme designed for freelancers, artists, makers, designers, producers, creative micro-enterprises and SMEs in the Blackhorse Lane Creative Enterprise Zone in Waltham Forest  - find out more information about this here.  

​The Forge business support programme is funded by Waltham Forest Council and delivered by Creative United, Slingshot Simple Venture Design, Hive Collective, Ayama Coaching, To Market and the Waltham Forest Business Network.
                                                                                                                                         Images credit: Penny Dampier
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Christmas Networking 2019

11/6/2018

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​
Kickstart your Yuletide celebrations with the Waltham Forest Business Network at the Wm Morris Gallery
on Friday 23rd November. Exclusive access from 5pm until 6.30pm. Then join the Gallery's Night Market which includes E17 Designers, mulled wine and much more! Booking: https://bit.ly/2Oqi8Ad
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The Waltham Forest Business Network is 10 - so here are 10 highlights to celebrate our birthday!

8/13/2018

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1. Our very first meeting ...

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... was a networking dinner held at the fledgling Eat17 restaurant when Chris and James (founders) were a couple of years into building their foodie empire! Walthamstow Village was just beginning to establish itself, and  pedestrianising was on a wishlist far, far away! 

2. Our most successful events

We have literally had hundreds attend our business networking events!  They have been held all over the borough from monthly coffee catchups, to summer and winter affairs hosted at the Town Hall, Vestry House Museum and the Wm Morris Gallery, to name just a few.   A particularly memorable event was an amazing night of fun noisy networking at the House of Commons with Stella Creasy MP, Harriet Harman QC, MP and Baroness Oona King setting the tone of the evening.  More images here.

3. A mammoth workshop series

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The network has facilitated a number of workshops over the past 10 years.  This has included those for creative businesses with Artillery (founders of the E17 Art Trail) and The Growth Series, with Enterprise Nation & THP Accountants. However by far the biggest programme was with Waltham Forest Central Library where a whopping 30 workshops were run. 

4. Our supporters: Adams Catering Hire says ...

PictureThe Health Works. Image: Paula Smith
"It was lovely to relax and socialise (with the prospect of business).  The Indian Head Massage was wonderfull – should have lasted all evening.  Will definitely do again!  The network gives me an excuse for a chat (sometimes about work) with other women in EXACTLY the same position as me – family/work conflicts. Never enough time, what comes first etc etc.   Thanks for organising." 
Stef Adams, Adams Catering Hire 

5. Our supporters: InView Photography says ...

PictureThe Health Works. Image: Paula Smith
"As my first time meeting this network, I really enjoyed the informal and friendly atmosphere. Having a taster back massage treatment and a little 'Sweet Feet' ointment goody bag, were really nice touches.  I want to build local business relations, and this network offers just that ... I see it as a great way to support and encourage strong local working relationships, and make some new friends on the journey."   Claire Byrne  www.inviewphotography.co.uk 

6. Creative Exchange

With so many creative business owners in the borough, it makes sense to make ourselves known and see how we can collaborate.  Creative Exchange has aimed to do that, bringing together creative professionals at three events so far hosted by Blackhorse Ateliers, Elbow Creative and Gnome House.​  Read more.

7. First business competition winners

Nick Bertram of Stow Film Lounge and his then business partner became our very first overall Waltham Forest Small Business Competition winner.  Their business polled 234 votes our of 640 to win! There are six category winners and then one overall winner that have won prizes, publicity and a much coveted promotional banner they can include in their marketing.  Previous winners have included Build, Paul Henry Architects,   Read more here.

8. Writing about local business

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We've always known that there thousands of brilliant small businesses in our borough.  So when the opportunity came up to write about them, it was an opportunity we could not miss!  The Waltham Forest Echo is distributed throughout the borough and the business column showcases great businesses and their owners throughout.  See who's been featured: WF Echo Business Column

9. Our top supporters

So many people have helped to make the network happen! Big thanks to Sunita Gangoo who has been there from the start, Stef Lowry, Pat Howie and Liz Fenton for encouragement, the Wm Morris Gallery for collaborating with us on Christmas events, Stella Creasy and Clare Coghill, and many, many more who have supported the network over the years.

10. Working with enterprise organisations

One of the outcomes of being a well connected network has been to attract opportunities with organisations who wish to engage with SMEs in Waltham Forest.  This has given us the opportunity to work with organisations such as East London Business Place, Cavendish Consortium (now NWES) and Waltham Forest Council, Newham Council, University of East London to name a few.
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Hungry for success - My Gammies

8/1/2018

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Waltham Forest Echo Business Feature - ZED

7/10/2018

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Waltham Forest Echo Business Feature - Elbow Creative

6/5/2018

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Waltham Forest Echo Business Feature - Gilli's Flowers

5/5/2018

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  • Welcome!
    • What Our Members Say
  • About
  • What We Do
    • Women In Business
      • Great Little Places to meet in E17
    • Business Directory
    • Creative Exchange
      • Expression of Interest
    • Small Business 100
    • WF Small Business Competition
      • 2014 Food Business Category Winner - Star of India Restaurant
      • 2014 Social Enterprise Category Winner - Significant Seams
      • Winner - 2013 Business Competition
      • 2014 Start Up Business Category Winner - Bestowed Kitchen
      • Winner - 2012 Small Business Competition
      • 2014 Retail Business Category Winner - It Does The Job
      • 2014 Creative Business Category Winner - Build
      • 2014 Professional Service Category Winner - Leyton Sports Massage
    • Networking, Events, Workshops
      • Christmas Networking 2017
      • Christmas Networking 2015
        • Past Events
          • 2014 Christmas Event
      • 'Network & Grow' summer 2014
      • 2012 Christmas Networking Event
      • 2012 Tea at the Town Hall
      • Workshops 2011
      • 2011 Summer Networking, House of Commons
      • Christmas Dinner at Eat17
      • Celebrating International Women's Day
      • 2011 E17 Art Trail
      • NEL Expo 2011
      • December 2010 Waterstones Christmas Networking
      • July 2010 Pimms O'Clock Summer Networking
      • April 2010 - Spring Speed Networking
      • February 2010 - Secrets to Success with NLCC
      • January 2010 - Facebook & Twitter -What's The Fuss?
      • Christmas 2009 - Christmas Networking at Waterstones
      • Summer 2009 - Networking, Health & Beauty
  • WFBN Blog
  • Waltham Forest Echo - Business Articles
  • Enterprise Nation
  • Privacy Policy
  • Enterprise Programme Support
    • Growth Vouchers - Cavendish Consortium
    • Fit For Legacy - East London Business Place
    • Waltham Forest Council - Small Business Saturday