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Business Buzz was created back in 2012 when the first event launched in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. At the time there was very little on offer in the area other than early morning breakfast events and evening meetings for networking. These events had a structured format, guest speaker, the dreaded 60 second pitches and you had to be a member to access which usually came with a high price tag.
Open and Inclusive
We wanted networking to get back into the heart of the business community, with no barrier to entry in terms of cost or commitment, a space where collaboration was encouraged and networking with other businesses even from the same sector could meet, exchange ideas and grow together.
Genuine Connections
Buzz facilitated the opportunity to meet up and have meaningful conversations over coffee with no-fuss, pomp and circumstance. We decided to meet in the town centre, with the foresight of bringing people into the town or walk from their offices, enabling attendees to pop into the local retailers and run errands at the same time.
The informal and relaxed atmosphere proved popular and we were soon approached by other business owners wanting to run a Buzz event in other towns.
We shortly launched Hemel Hempstead, with Janice O’Neill and grew quickly across Hertfordshire. This was followed by our second region, Bedfordshire run by Leigh Frost. Today we have 12 Regions and run over 40 events a month.
Supportive
We love working with, and help wider community projects; supporting, promoting and encouraging businesses to get involved with local charity causes, raising awareness of council initiatives, our team work with many local chambers of commerce and have connections with local colleges and universities. Creating a really vibrant space for the benefit of all.
Meet the Founders:
Simon George: “When we started Buzz, I was running a successful translation business which enjoyed many corporate and international clients; however, I felt I was missing out on local business and meeting local fellow business owners. I was looking for a way to get more involved in the local business community. I had recently acquired a Hertfordshire focused business magazine and was also looking for opportunities to meet our readers.
Setting up Buzz was a way for me to be more involved in the local business community, and although we have grown across the UK now, one of our core values remains connecting businesses locally.
The opportunity for our hosts is to replicate what we started in Harpenden, and be able to gather local businesses in their own home town.”
Katrina Sargent: “Business Networking for me has played a big part in my 30 year B2B sales career. Building connections and nurturing relationships has been invaluable to my success.
I have always recognised the importance of community connections. Knowing who the best person to go to when you need a service that is trustworthy and won’t rip you off. It was instilled in me from an early age, back in the day where socialising in the local pub was the best form of marketing there was for a local business!
It is important to me to use local business and help contribute to the local economy; the more successful the areas in which we live the better the infrastructure and investment, helping the town and the community to thrive. For me this is what Buzz is at its core.
I am immensely proud of our team that has helped us to grow our brand to where we are today; We all genuinely care about the people that come and network with us, and hear many stories of how attending a Business Buzz has helped a business owner grow their business. We have a simple but effective approach and facilitate events to help people on many levels, not just in business but personally too. When lock-down hit many people turned to the connections they had made through Buzz for emotional support and advice and that reminds me why I love what we do.
I hope I live to see the day when there is a Buzz in every key town in the UK.”
