This Month’s Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

Hi ,

As part of our incredible 100,000-strong network of entrepreneurs, you’re at the heart of a community dedicated to celebrating and championing entrepreneurial success.

This year, we’re focused on bringing you even more tangible opportunities to meet, network, and learn, tailored specifically to your needs.

That’s why, within this newsletter, you’re invited to fill in our short subscriber survey asking a few quick questions to learn more about you and your goals. By understanding your needs better, we can send you the updates that truly make a difference to your entrepreneurial journey.

This email is packed with information, but more importantly, we’re working to identify which initiatives best suit our subscribers so we can add rocket fuel to the opportunities we offer. Many have said that being part of our programmes has been life-changing, and by using your input and data, we’re committed to creating even more transformative moments for entrepreneurs like you.

Warm wishes,
Francesca
Founder, Ideas Forums
Let’s Connect on LinkedIn

🌍 Regional Map of StartUp Awards

Know a new business in your region that deserves recognition? Send them the application link and encourage them to apply.

Our Live StartUps Map is now live and already tracking where the first applications for the UK StartUp Awards have come from! So far, we’ve seen entries from across the UK, including Manchester, Cardiff, and Edinburgh, but we’re on a mission to reach even more regions.

We want to celebrate start-ups not just from traditional entrepreneurial hubs, but from every corner of the UK. Whether it’s a game-changing tech company, a standout local business, or an ambitious social enterprise, encourage businesses in your area to get involved.

👉 Explore the Map
📣 Start an Application Here

🎉 Ideas Fest 2025: First Look Schedule

We’re thrilled to launch the first look schedule for Ideas Fest 2025. From inspiring keynotes to hands-on workshops, this year’s festival is designed to inspire and connect an audience of 4,000 of the most ambitious entrepreneurs.

👉 Discover the Schedule
🎟 Have you got your ticket yet?

📞 If you’d like to explore trading opportunities you can book a call with Annabelle in here

🤖 AI for Entrepreneurs Event: Join the Waitlist

Grow your workforce, not your payroll

Our upcoming AI for Entrepreneurs event will explore how entrepreneurs can grow their workforce but not their payroll.

Whether you’re looking to increase productivity across your sales or customer support teams, reduce costs, or free up valuable time to focus on strategy, discover how you can seamlessly integrate AI into your business and unlock new opportunities.

We anticipate this event will be popular. Would you like to receive a priority booking link to this event?

🍽️ Join the Waitlist for Our Exclusive Ideas Tables

We’re bringing our Ideas Tables initiative to cities across the UK later this year—a series of intimate dinners designed exclusively for entrepreneurs.

Each dinner will bring together a carefully curated group of founders, innovators, and leaders for:

• Meaningful connections: Meet like-minded entrepreneurs in a relaxed, high-impact setting.

• Inspiring conversations: Share challenges, successes, and ideas around the table.

• Exclusive opportunities: Access insights and connections that could transform your journey.

Whether you’re looking to expand your network, exchange ideas, or simply connect with others who understand the entrepreneurial journey, these dinners are for you.

👉 Join the Waitlist Now to be the first to hear about dates, locations, and how to secure your seat at the table.

🤩 Community Perk: 50% off for Elite Business Live

As official partners we've secured a limited number of exclusive on-site studio tickets with 50% off for Elite Business Live (12th & 13th March 2024), tickets start at just £49.

Attending this event is a golden opportunity to gain insights from world-class speakers, forge valuable connections, and access game-changing strategies. Don't miss out on this chance to supercharge your business! We'd love to see you there!

Use promo code: ELITEBL50 here.

🏆 Great British Industry Awards: Now Open

We’re celebrating mid-sized businesses that are driving the UK economy. If your business has a turnover between £10 million and £200 million, this is your time to shine!

👉 Learn More & Register

🚀 Join the UK Fast Growth Index Waitlist

Are you leading one of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses? The UK Fast Growth Index celebrates companies driving economic growth across the nation.

Minimum criteria to qualify:

• Achieved a minimum turnover of £250,000 in 2022

• Reached a minimum turnover of £1 million in 2024

Joining the Index means:

• Recognition: Get your business listed alongside the UK’s most dynamic and high-performing companies.

• Opportunities: Access valuable networking events and connect with other fast-growth leaders.

• Visibility: Showcase your achievements to potential investors, partners, and customers.

Be part of a community that collectively represents £14 billion in turnover and employs 25,000 people nationwide.

👉 Join the Waitlist Now and secure your chance to be recognised as one of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses.

🙋‍♀️ We’d Like To Get To Know You Better

We’re committed to providing you with opportunities, connections, and resources tailored specifically to your entrepreneurial journey. But to do this, we need to know more about you!

Take just 2 minutes to complete our subscriber survey to help us ensure we’re sending you the most relevant opportunities and making valuable connections for entrepreneurs at every stage.

💡Spotlight: Community Success💡

🍗 Wingstop UK’s £400M Success: The Power of Investing in Culture

Great British Entrepreneur Awards alumni Tom Grogan, Herman Sahota, and Saul Lewin have just made history, securing one of the largest takeovers of a restaurant brand in the UK. Their business, Wingstop UK (Lemon Pepper Holdings Ltd), has sold a majority stake to US private equity firm Sixth Street for over £400 million.

But the real story? How they got there.

This wasn’t just about selling chicken wings, it was about making Wingstop cool. The team cracked the code by investing in culture. From partnering with youth icons like Stormzy and AJ Tracey, to tapping into trends and creating a brand people could connect with, they turned their restaurants into more than a place to eat, they became part of the culture.

And it worked. Wingstop UK reported:

• £86.4M in revenue in 2023

• £150M turnover in 2024

The takeaway? People don’t just buy products, they buy into stories, experiences, and values. When your brand feels real, relatable, and relevant, they show up.

Could your business be the next Wingstop UK? 👉 Join the Great British Entrepreneur Awards waitlist and start your journey to recognition, connections, and growth today.

🚀 Tool of the Month: Why We Love Notion

As entrepreneurs, staying organised is half the battle. That’s why we’re big fans of Notion, the all-in-one workspace that helps you manage projects, collaborate with your team, and bring clarity to your goals.

From creating to-do lists and managing workflows to building knowledge hubs, Notion makes it easy to keep everything in one place. It’s flexible, powerful, and surprisingly simple to use—perfect for founders and teams of any size.

Free Notion and Unlimited AI

Thousands of startups use Notion as a connected workspace to create and share docs, take notes, manage projects, and organize knowledge—all in one place. We’re offering 3 months of new Plus plans + unlimited AI (worth up to $3,000)! To redeem the Notion for Startups offer:

1. Submit an application using our custom link and select Beehiiv on the partner list.

2. Include our partner key, STARTUP4110P67801.

Learn More

If you’re looking for even more insights, inspiration, and exclusive updates, don’t miss out on our dedicated Ideas Fest newsletter 👇

It’s your front-row ticket to exciting announcements, first-look schedules, and the stories behind the UK’s most creative and ambitious entrepreneurs.