Background Information for Visitors

Wealden Business Group is an association of local business people, dedicated to the highest standards of service and professionalism.  Founded in 1999, it brings together expertise from a number of trades and professions with a view to mutual benefit.

Organisation
The group is a not-for-profit organisation, run by and for its members.  The elected officers are all unpaid volunteers and all members work towards raising the standards of service and expertise available for businesses and consumers in the local community

Activities
Though one of the group’s objects is to act as a networking organisation, encouraging members to introduce business to each other, this is certainly not its sole reason for existing. It also provides business-related support, training and other benefits for its members, promotes members’ businesses as providing good quality goods and services and provides a forum for discussion by local business people of business-related issues.  In addition, occasional social activities are arranged

Membership
Standards required for acceptance into the group are high.  For instance, references are taken up and at least 75% of the existing membership must vote positively in favour of a candidate before they can become a member. However, maintaining high standards means that anyone doing business with a member can expect prompt attention and expert advice at a reasonable price, which reflects well on all members.  Membership is limited to one representative of each business sector, but not necessarily one individual: a business can be a member and send whichever individuals it wants to attend particular group meetings. 

Meetings
The group meets each Wednesday, normally at 7am for networking before sitting down at 7.15 for breakfast. See this page for current meeting location.  Breakfast costs £10 per head - whether you choose a full cooked breakfast or cereals only.  

If you plan to attend a meeting, please tell me in advance, so that I can ensure you have a seat!

Members and visitors alike are expected to spend a minute or two introducing themselves to the meeting - saying who they are, what they do, etc. Visitors are encouraged to market their own business to members and other visitors, but not to compete against the business activities of a group member.  Details of all group members are available on the members page of our website

In addition, we normally have a 30-minute presentation, either by a group member or by a visiting speaker - details of past and planned presentations are available on the diary page of our website.

We also make a voluntary collection for charitable purposes at each meeting.  While this is not one of our core functions, many members find putting £1 or so in the “pot” as it is passed round the table a good way of accumulating a small fund to support the charities that the group comes into contact with.  This is very much an optional aspect of the group’s activities: members (still less, guests) are not required or “expected” to contribute.

We aim to finish the meetings promptly at 8:30am, so that they do not intrude too much into the working day

Justin Nelson - secretary
T: 0845 6340023    E: mail@justinnelson.co.uk