Entrepreneurs across the country have come together in an unlikely alliance, to help fuel recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Thirteen businesses and a charity, from as far afield Kent to Liverpool, are focussing on collaboration rather than competition – forming a wide-ranging network to generate opportunities for each other.
The move has already triggered a number of ventures, including:
- The formation of a new company, Bright Stars Group – offering consultancy and specialist services to help established businesses grow further.
- The recruitment of regional directors to stage Business Live networking lunches in a dozen towns and cities – to launch next year.
- Global Business Wellbeing, a not-for-profit online world conference planned for 2021, on the subject of personal and business health following Covid-19.
- A special launch event in Milton Keynes scheduled for 19 November (Covid restrictions permitting).
Many of the companies involved are already profiting from referring work to each other.
The new Bright Stars Group (www.bright-starsgroup.com) is expected to become a focal point, drawing on expertise in the alliance to offer a menu of business-to-business support to clients, including: recruitment, growth consultancy, marketing and PR, graphic design, social media, websites, film and apps.
A key driving force behind the venture is Victoria Beale, a partner in the Bright Stars Group and owner of the Business Live UK brand, which uses events and other marketing to generate sales leads for businesses.
Victoria, a single mum of five children, said: “This started out as a group of like-minded business people, but it’s grown way beyond that. We’re diverse organisations, but we all want success for ourselves and each other.
“Working together like this has to be the way forward, considering Covid-19 and all the other challenges we entrepreneurs face.”
Transitions UK is the only charity involved, helping disadvantaged young people to get a successful start in life. It has projects in Milton Keynes and Hertfordshire, with more planned in North London, Leicester, Birmingham.
Founder and Chief Executive Ron Overton said: “We’re very happy to be part of this. There’s an obvious benefit to fundraising, but having positive business relationships is important to us anyway, since we’re trying to integrate young people into the world of work.
“Businesses can offer work experience and share their skills, while we can help them give back to their communities.”
The full list of organisations involved is:
- Advantage Business Partnerships (ABP), London – Business coaching and advice on mental resilience
- Arch Communications, Nottinghamshire – PR and marketing
- Big Voice, Milton Keynes – Social media, digital marketing
- Bright Stars Group, London/Milton Keynes – Business growth support
- Business Live UK, Milton Keynes – Lead generation
- Collaboration Junkie, Wiltshire – Business relationships
- Data Guardian, Warwickshire and Liverpool – GDPR training and consultancy
- it’seeze websites, Milton Keynes – Website development
- Poppy Design, Northants – Graphic design and websites
- Sheila Smith Sales and Events, Northampton – Business expos
- Socialviddy, Kent – Video production
- Spectrum Recruitment, Milton Keynes/Bedford – Recruitment
- The App Booth, Milton Keynes – App development
- Transitions UK, South Midlands/North London – Charity working with disadvantaged young people
For more information or interview requests, contact Matt Youdale at Arch Communications – matt@arch-comms.co.uk, 07850 743100.
