The North West England Business Group hosted its first in person networking event this week at Brockholes Nature Reserve, bringing together businesses from across the region for an afternoon focused on meaningful connection and collaboration. Great businesses joined us from 4 out of the 5 counties from across the region, Lancashire, Manchester, Cheshire, and Liverpool

Organised by Danny Davis and Jaydee (Davis) Kay, the event marked a key milestone for the growing business community, which has already built strong engagement through its online sessions.

Set against the natural backdrop of Brockholes, the event offered a relaxed and informal environment that encouraged open conversation and genuine relationship building. Attendees were guided through a structured format designed to move beyond traditional networking, placing emphasis on shared experiences and human connection before business discussion.

Breakout sessions formed a central part of the afternoon, with high levels of engagement across the room. Participants were encouraged to connect on a personal level before exploring business opportunities, resulting in a more authentic and productive networking experience.

A series of guest speakers added further value to the event, each offering practical insight and expertise:

- Sarah Griffin from Smile Mediation shared perspectives on mediation and conflict resolution in business environments.

- Catherine Dobson from Quality Time PA Services highlighted ways businesses can reduce stress and reclaim valuable time through effective support.

- Cornel Sampson from Revive Mind Body introduced approaches to wellbeing, including natural nutrition and body reset strategies.

- Philip Jepson from Amplifyy AI presented the concept of the “Board, Coach and Engine,” demonstrating how artificial intelligence can support business growth and decision making.

- Robert Cassidy & Sam Wells from Orca Finance delivered a clear and informative session on business finance, outlining how organisations can better manage and plan their financial future.

The event was supported by headline sponsor GB Shared.  Founder Lisa Edge, shared her journey from creating Lancasahare through to GB Shared, a digital ecosystem powered by businesses of each county and backed by Innovate UK.  GB Shared membership is uniquely mapped to a global sustainable accreditation, helping SME's to share, access shared opportunities such as funding and tenders and become greener and bid ready.  GB Shared is scaling and now spans 10 counties across the UK. Her contribution provided both inspiration and practical insight into building a purpose driven business community and how businesses themselves can drive positive change.

Feedback from attendees highlighted the quality of conversations, the welcoming atmosphere, and the effectiveness of the event format. Many noted the difference compared to more traditional networking events, with a stronger focus on genuine engagement rather than transactional interactions.

Join the North West Business Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/811347/
Book on the next event here https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GJSV
All the photos from this event can be viewed here https://www.flickr.com/photos/204528288@N03/albums/