Total Business Network has officially arrived in the Cotswolds – and our first Cirencester event couldn’t have given us a better introduction to the local business community.
We welcomed businesses from across the Cotswolds, Wiltshire and beyond to the beautiful Kings Head Hotel in Cirencester for our first TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds Networking Brunch.
And there was a real buzz in the room.
New connections were made, introductions were happening across the tables and we could already see conversations turning into genuine business opportunities.
Perhaps the best indication of how well the morning went came when the official event finished: nobody got up to leave.
Twenty minutes later, the room was still full of conversations, and some attendees stayed networking for almost another hour.
For us, that’s exactly what a great networking event should look like.
Why We’ve Brought TBN to the Cotswolds
TBN has grown into a business community spanning multiple locations, including Dorset, Hampshire, Bath, Wiltshire and now the Cotswolds, alongside our online networking events.
But we’re deliberately building something that goes beyond simply putting people in a room together once a month.
TBN is part of the wider Total Guide to network, which means our members can benefit from far more than face-to-face networking.
We proactively connect businesses where we spot opportunities, celebrate member news and successes, create introductions and give members opportunities to gain additional visibility through our social media, email marketing, PR and regional digital platforms.
Liz Hutchings, Founder & MD of Total Guide to and owner of Total Business Network, said:
“I acquired TBN because I could see the opportunity to create something that went far beyond traditional networking. Yes, I want people to walk into our events and make brilliant connections, but I also want us working for our members when they’re not in the room – introducing them to the right people, celebrating what they’re doing and using the reach of Total Guide to help get their businesses seen.“Our first Cotswolds event really summed that up for me. I could see business being done around the room, and when we officially finished, nobody left! People were still talking 20 minutes later and some stayed for nearly another hour. That’s the kind of business community we want to build here.”
Networking Designed to Get People Talking
One of the things that makes TBN different is the format itself.
Rather than spending an entire event sitting with the same group of people, our table-swap format gives attendees the opportunity to meet and have meaningful conversations with more businesses during the morning.
Our team and TBN ambassadors are also there to facilitate introductions and help people identify potential collaborations, suppliers, clients and referral opportunities.
Because successful networking isn’t about collecting as many business cards as possible.
It’s about meeting the right people and giving those relationships an opportunity to develop.
The Social Media Reality Check
Our first Cirencester event also featured a 10-minute Social Media Reality Check from Neav, Head of Social at Total Marketing.
Rather than another presentation telling businesses they need to post more, Neav focused on what actually makes brands memorable online.
She explored the importance of identifying what genuinely differentiates your business, creating recognisable content and finding the right balance between AI and human-led marketing.
AI can be an incredibly useful tool, but it shouldn’t replace the personality, experience and knowledge that make a business worth following in the first place.
Her message was refreshingly simple: stop chasing a “perfect” social media presence and concentrate on creating useful, distinctive content that actually sounds and feels like your business.
TBN Goes Beyond the Room
This is the part of TBN we’re particularly passionate about.
Joining TBN isn’t simply about attending a monthly networking event.
Our members become part of a wider business community, with opportunities including:
- introductions and referrals across our network; networking across multiple TBN locations and online; member features and promotion; social media and email exposure; PR and business-news opportunities; member offers; and additional visibility through the wider Total Guide to network.
It’s why we describe TBN as networking that goes beyond the room.
Our aim is to create a community where businesses don’t just meet each other – they actively support, recommend, collaborate with and create opportunities for one another.
Total Guide to the Cotswolds Is Here Too
Our expansion into the Cotswolds doesn’t stop with TBN.
We’re also launching Total Guide to the Cotswolds, bringing the model we’ve developed over the last 15 years to businesses across the region.
Total Guide to already helps businesses across the South West increase their visibility through local SEO and GEO, editorial content, social media, email marketing and established regional audiences. Cotswolds Flyer for TBN (1)
And because we want our TBN community to benefit from being part of that wider network, attendees at our launch were given first access to just 20 Total Guide to the Cotswolds Founding Partner places before the opportunity is launched publicly.
New to the Cotswolds. Not new to local marketing.
The launch package combines three months of visibility with professional content creation, including an SEO and GEO-optimised premium profile, inclusion within relevant guides and editorial, an on-location content shoot, two edited Reels, photography and video content, dedicated social promotion and ongoing opportunities across events, offers and newsletters.
What’s Next for TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds?
Our first Cirencester event may be over, but this is very much the beginning.
TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds will bring together businesses from across both regions, with events hosted at different venues to help our members continually widen their networks rather than repeatedly meeting the same people in the same place.
Businesses can also attend our other TBN locations and online events, opening up opportunities to make connections beyond their immediate area.
Whether you’re an established Cotswolds business, a growing SME, self-employed, part of a larger organisation or simply looking to build stronger connections across the region, we’d love to welcome you.
Join Our Next TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds Networking Brunch
Early Bird tickets are available now for our next TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds Networking Brunch.
Come along, meet the community and experience TBN for yourself.
We can’t wait to see where the conversations started in Cirencester lead – and to welcome even more businesses into the TBN community.
TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds FAQs
What is TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds?
TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds is a business networking community connecting businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals across Wiltshire and the Cotswolds. It combines face-to-face and online networking with wider opportunities for introductions, referrals, promotion and business visibility.
TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds is a business networking community connecting businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals across Wiltshire and the Cotswolds. It combines face-to-face and online networking with wider opportunities for introductions, referrals, promotion and business visibility.
What makes TBN different from other networking groups?
TBN is designed to go beyond the networking event itself. Alongside making connections in the room, members can benefit from proactive introductions, member promotion, social media and email exposure, PR opportunities and the wider reach of the Total Guide to network.
TBN is designed to go beyond the networking event itself. Alongside making connections in the room, members can benefit from proactive introductions, member promotion, social media and email exposure, PR opportunities and the wider reach of the Total Guide to network.
Where are TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds events held?
Events are hosted at venues across Wiltshire and the Cotswolds, helping members build connections across a wider geographical area. Our first Cotswolds Networking Brunch was held at the Kings Head Hotel in Cirencester.
Events are hosted at venues across Wiltshire and the Cotswolds, helping members build connections across a wider geographical area. Our first Cotswolds Networking Brunch was held at the Kings Head Hotel in Cirencester.
Can I attend TBN before becoming a member?
Yes. Businesses are welcome to experience TBN and see whether the community is right for them before joining.
Yes. Businesses are welcome to experience TBN and see whether the community is right for them before joining.
Can TBN members attend other locations?
Yes. One of the benefits of the wider TBN network is the opportunity to build connections beyond your immediate area through our other locations and online networking.
Yes. One of the benefits of the wider TBN network is the opportunity to build connections beyond your immediate area through our other locations and online networking.
How do I book the next TBN Wiltshire & Cotswolds event?
Tickets are available online, with Early Bird tickets currently available for the next event. Book your place here
Tickets are available online, with Early Bird tickets currently available for the next event. Book your place here