06/05/2026
Next Friday, 15 May 2026, I will be celebrating two years of the Small Business Co-Llab, the networking group I set up to help local businesses connect, collaborate and build a small community.
The initiative developed from my time as Chair of the PTFA at my children's primary school in Epsom, Surrey. During that time, I met so many wonderful parents who ran their businesses from home. I found it fascinating - the depth and breadth of their knowledge and their expertise, as well as the variety of businesses.
I was keenly aware that so many of them would be useful resources to other parents and business owners in the school, and so I set up a networking group.
I, myself, had never done any networking! But I knew that the work I had gotten over the years was from the physical connections I had made.
I felt it was important to build a sustained local community, both for my well-being and for the well-being of the many others who were working from home, plodding on each day without much interaction with others.
My local Caballo Lounge on Epsom High Street was the ideal venue, with a large upstairs and a friendly staff that welcomed the opportunity to host our networking. The restaurant has been so welcoming and supportive over the past two years – and the coffees are excellent!
Over time, my little group expanded from parents at the school, to the wider community and some travel a distance to attend the meetings. Everyone is supportive and generous with their advice, contacts, and expertise. There are no egos here and everyone is keen to help, connect and champion each other.
From the beginning I wanted to host speakers that could inspire and give advice to the community and I have been so lucky in finding some great speakers including: Kelly Chandler, Sarah Collins, Cate Butler Ross, Jennie Powell, Leanne Davies and many others.
My group has learnt everything from how to write a great newsletter; to accounting advice; to Instagram tricks and many more fabulous speeches
In 2025 the group began hosting the LinkedIn local for Epsom and Ewell, which I have now expanded to Wimbledon, Wandsworth & Putney with Sarah Collins. This aims to help connect people online and offline and was about expanding our reach on LinkedIn, a platform I’d never used til then.
Sarah and I planned to make this group purely about networking for now, but, like my Epsom group, it’s low-key and relaxed. If you want the chance to talk about your business to the group, there is that opportunity.
I’d love to see you at the Small Business Co-Llab’s birthday party next week, Friday 15 May, 9-11am at the Caballo Lounge.
If you would like to come to our next Wimbledon Wandsworth & Putney events, we have one in Wimbledon on 22 May and a Summer Evening Special at the Boathouse on Wed 10 June. All tickets on poster attached.
