Complete Commercial Finance, proud sponsor of Norfolk’s Business Breakfast Club
Connections and relationships are vital for every company – it’s the way most of us do business! When Norfolk’s Business Breakfast Club was established, Complete Commercial Finance was excited to get involved and become a sponsor of the monthly networking opportunity. We caught up with one of the organisers, Grace Waterfield-Nicholls, to find out about future plans for the club.
Anyone who establishes a business quickly realises that the old adage, ‘It’s who you know, not what you know’, is a truism. Building contacts and establishing yourself on the business map is key at the outset, but also as a company grows to ensure a continued flow of new enquiries and growth opportunities.
Unlike many urban areas, West Norfolk’s geography means that there are fewer business centres and outlets to regularly meet other companies, and it was this thought which inspired the team behind The Warehouse Taproom Bar & Restaurant to create a Business Breakfast Club.
The venue, which is located alongside Beers of Europe, Britain’s biggest online beer shop, and The Warehouse Antiques & Collectibles in Setchey, established the networking club, which meets on the first Tuesday of each month.
“We’re located just off the A10 and for most people we’re a place they pass on the way to the Norfolk coast,” says Grace Waterfield-Nicholls, who helps to organise the Business Breakfast Club. “But we wanted to connect with local businesses and create a community where like-minded individuals can exchange ideas, discuss trends and share their experience of running a business.
“We launched the Business Breakfast Club in March 2023 and, although we didn’t know what to anticipate, 20 businesses turned up, a mix of sole traders and small-scale businesses in the area. There was clearly an appetite among local business owners to be part of a networking group and we quickly established a core group of individuals who regularly attend.
“Several wanted to get more involved and we soon introduced them as sponsors who help us to fund the club’s activities. Largely through referral, the club’s visibility has grown and we now have a fantastic mix of businesses regularly attending.
“Networking opportunities in Norfolk are typically centred in and around Norwich, and King’s Lynn can often be overlooked, but it is a fantastic area with a wide spectrum of sectors. We have a port and harbour, and there are hubs of engineering, manufacturing and technology with many leading companies in the region. We’re well-positioned between Norwich and Cambridge and there is an opportunity to bring together an incredibly diverse group, from start-ups to larger organisations.”
Business networking in West Norfolk
Along with a raft of local companies including Complete Commercial Finance, the Business Breakfast Club is supported by the Federation of Small Businesses, the UK’s leading membership organisation for small business and the self-employed, and Iliffe Media Group, which publishes Lynn News and Your Local Paper.
“Their support is invaluable,” adds Grace, “and there are great opportunities to connect with a wide range of individuals and organisations in the room. It’s a very relaxed environment where everyone receives a warm welcome and there’s plenty of support, particularly if they are apprehensive about standing up and introducing themselves.
“We start each meeting at 9am with networking over tea and coffee, and then we have a guest speaker at around 10am. Following this, we invite everyone to introduce themselves with a short, 30-second presentation followed by further networking, so there is plenty of opportunity to connect with other visitors. There’s no membership fee, just a £5 charge to cover refreshments and a light breakfast.”
Sadly, The Warehouse Taproom Bar & Restaurant was damaged by a fire in December 2024 and sponsor King’s Lynn distillery WhataHoot generously stepped in to provide a temporary venue for the Business Breakfast Club, while repairs are being completed at the Setchey building. “We are really grateful for WhataHoot’s support,” says Grace, “and we’re looking forward to be able to return to The Warehouse Taproom Bar & Restaurant soon and see the Business Breakfast Club grow even further.”
Find out more and visit the Business Breakfast Club
