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Welcome to the most successful business networking group in Essex

We are the Essex Business Forum, an independent networking group made up of 30 or so members – from tradesmen, to professional services and everything in between. We actively promote each other by passing regular, high quality referrals and collaborate to grow our businesses.

Our dynamic approach works. We average around £100,000 in member to member referrals each month – and in the last 10-years, our referrals have boosted the local economy by more than £6.75 million of genuine local business generated between our members.

Our weekly networking meeting takes place every Thursday in Brentwood, and guests are always welcome!

Looking for a local business you know you can trust?

Essex Business Forum Mark of ExcellenceFrom accountant to architect, wine merchant to web designer, bookkeeper to builder. Our membership represents the very best of local business. With a thorough vetting process, and ongoing member assessment programme, we ensure that quality levels stay high.

Plus, our Essex Business Forum Mark of Excellence now provides an extra level of quality assurance,  meaning you can choose businesses with confidence, as listed businesses have been reviewed, tested and are actively recommended by our panel of local business experts.

View a meeting walkthrough

Our meetings are dynamic and friendly.  To learn more, take a quick Meeting Walkthrough.  Written by fellow members, it’s designed as a simple step-by-step guide to the meeting format.  Helping you to feel at ease from the moment you walk through the door.

Each week we follow the same agenda, with content kept fresh and engaging thanks to regular guests, outside speakers, education slots and varying members present.

Welcoming guests, no strings attached

It’s free to attend your first Essex Business Forum meeting, and visitors are under no obligation to join.

So, if you think EBF membership would benefit a business colleague or friend, please use our simple form to invite them to one of our meetings.  Better still, why not bring them along with you?

Just remember, guests should bring plenty of business cards so that they can actively promote their business!

Meet our members

The members of our business networking meetings cover a full range of professions including trades, finance, property, business-to-business and business-to-consumer. 

We’re always looking to grow our membership with more high quality, reliable business, so if you’d like to join or can recommend us to someone you know please do.

Click to browse our current member directory, where you can filter our members and view individual profiles containing reviews, photo galleries and of course full contact information.

Listen to our podcast, "The Referral Effect"

What our
members gain

By joining, and attending our weekly business networking meeting, members benefit from:

Regular business referral opportunities – on average each member receives more than £25,000 worth of new business each year because of their membership
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An ability to expand your network, and connect with like-minded business professionals who all want to help each other to improve
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Promotion of your business on our high traffic website. All members have their own dedicated profile page with direct enquiry forms and much more
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Weekly business development, education and training sessions. Our members and occasionally outside speakers educate us each week to help improve different aspects of your business
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Appearances on our popular business podcast "The Referral Effect", where our host chats and discusses your business and developments for all to hear
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Once members have been in the group for 12 months thay are eligable to apply for our Mark Of Excellence award. Our members show-off this achievement with pride!
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Equally as important as the business referrals, strong friendships and social connections are formed between members and we have an active social calendar
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