One of the greatest privileges of building GB Shared is the opportunity to spend time with the people, organisations and communities helping to shape the future of our regions.

Over the past few weeks, I've had the pleasure of meeting members, partners and supporters across the North of England, seeing first-hand the connections, opportunities and collaborations that continue to emerge through our growing network.

We were delighted to attend the Business Catalyst Club in Manchester, where several GB Shared members joined us as guests, including Morris Quality Bakers, Nicola Taylor, Bid Writing Services and Logma Systems. Events like these create valuable opportunities for members to raise their profile, expand their networks and form new relationships beyond their immediate geography.

It's always rewarding to see members thriving, and we're especially pleased to celebrate the success of Sushma Snacks, who recently secured £20,000 from the National Lottery. Sushma's mission to transform food waste into taste is a fantastic example of purpose-driven enterprise creating both social and environmental impact. Congratulations to Sushma and the team.

I was also honoured to be invited as a guest speaker at the Petty Pool Trust Conference at Chester Racecourse. The event brought together businesses from across Cheshire to explore opportunities surrounding SEND and inclusive employment. Conversations such as these are increasingly important as organisations look to create workplaces that are both productive and inclusive.

Closer to home, I enjoyed meeting with Lancashire member Dr Neil Calder of Engineered Capabilities. Like many conversations taking place across the GB Shared network, our discussion focused on growth, innovation and the opportunities that emerge when organisations collaborate rather than compete in isolation.

One particularly memorable moment was welcoming Her Royal Highness Princess Anne to Darwen during her visit to the Heritage Centre, where I proudly serve as a Trustee. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase local heritage, celebrate community achievement and recognise the importance of preserving the stories and places that make our towns unique.

Reflecting on these recent visits, a common theme continues to emerge. Every community already contains talented people, innovative organisations and significant opportunities. The challenge is rarely a lack of potential. More often, it's ensuring those opportunities become visible, accessible and connected.

That's why GB Shared exists.

Whether it's helping members meet potential partners, promoting funding opportunities, sharing jobs and tenders, supporting responsible business practices or strengthening local supply chains, our mission remains the same: connecting the pieces that already exist within our communities and helping more opportunity stay local.

As always, thank you to every member, partner and supporter who continues to share, collaborate and contribute. The momentum we're seeing across the network is a reminder that when communities work together, incredible things happen.