Summer is here, and everyone from CEO to CFO is in vacation mode. Business networking in August is a chance to loosen the tie and let down your hair a bit, as those months spent shivering in the office give way to pub gardens and barbecues in the park.
Whether you’re starting a business or already running one, attending business events is a great way to forge valuable connections, practise your pitching skills, and — perhaps most importantly — get away from the business plan for some time out of the office.
August is a quieter month for mingling, but there’s still plenty going on for UK founders. Below, we’ve listed the best free conferences, workshops, and seminars for business owners taking place this month across the country’s 14 largest cities.
Jump to your closest city:
Free business events in London this month
- Grow London Locals Coffee at Triton Square Work Cafe (2 August at 10am) forget the elevator pitch, this event is an hour of friendly conversation, knowledge sharing and great coffee (and cake). Grow London Local’s support team will also be on-hand to listen to your business goals and answer questions.
- Queertopia Business Forum at Shoreditch Town Hall (7 August at 2pm) is an opportunity for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and allies to network and collaborate. The event includes a community forum, perfect for conducting some market research.
- City Venture Accelerator Programme at City Launch Lab (8 August at 12pm) will see participants pitch their business for the first time. It’s a chance for fellow newbie entrepreneurs to network, meet mentors, and understand the pitching process.
- From Passion To Profit Virtual Workshop (20 August at 6pm) is a 90-minute session for women entrepreneurs run by ‘success coach’, Nathalie Pincham. It will cover how to design a mission statement that aligns with your personal goals.
- City Ladies Women in Business Networking at Hilton Hotel, Tower of London (29 August at 9:30am) a regular monthly breakfast event designed to connect “like-minded, ambitious and fun women”. August’s guest speaker will be Laura Shimili Mears, who built her own photography business from the ground up.
Free business events in Newcastle this month
Things definitely quieten down in Newcastle over August but the city will throw several, three-hour introductory sessions for locals looking to dip their toe into the entrepreneurial space.
Organised by the PNE Enterprise team at Turners Building on Pink Lane, which offers business support and guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs, there will be three seminars run in total, with the first event happening bright and early on 1 August.
These will cover:
– Introduction to social media and canva (1 August at 10am)
– Introduction to sustainable marketing (12 August at 10am)
– Introduction to business tax and maths (29 August at 10am)
Other free Newcastle business events in August include:
- Earthlings in Business at the Earthlings Healing Cafe (8 August at 10am) a meet-up event for purpose-led, wellbeing focused businesses or entrepreneurs to share insights on balancing social impact with entrepreneur targets.
- PLATFORM at Crowne Plaza Newcastle (23 August at 9am) a new, monthly event for 2024 from the organisers of the Newcastle Startup Week festivals. Expect tea and refreshments, a fireside chat with a famous face (TBC), and even some inspiring presentations from like-minded founders to get your pitching brain whirring.
Free business events in Leeds this month
- Business Networking Event at Revolution Call Lane (8 August at 6pm) connections, canapes, and prosecco; this event really has it all. Open to all sectors, it’s the ideal, informal space for founders to socialise and swap business cards.
- Startup Business Support Huddle at The Reginald Centre (5 August at 9:30am) delivered by Leeds Council, this event is part of the ‘Startup and Grow’ series. Run by business coach Gareth Allen, it covers all the startup fundamentals such as sales, marketing, cash forecasting, and even how to manage your time as a founder.
- Ladies’ Networking Event at Skylight Lounge (9 August at 10am) taking place in the new Skylight Lounge cafe in Bradford, this event will include plenty of free coffee and cakes as owner Fallaq Ujjala talks attendees through her business journey.
- She Can Shine Founders Book Club at Shine (22 August at 5:30pm) tickets are selling out fast for this event for female founders in Leeds. This month’s event includes an extended hangout session running until 7:30pm.
Free business events in Sheffield this month
The second leg of Business Sheffield’s popular ‘power hour’ business growth sessions starts in August. Hosted online, each hour-long workshop is designed to upskill entrepreneurs on what they need to grow their company.
Other free Sheffield business events in August include:
- Sustainability Netwalking at Victoria Quays (21 August at 9:15am) sign up for a casual walk around the gorgeous Sheffield Canal Basin, with guided introductions to fellow business owners, and then connect with a casual coffee mid-afternoon.
- Working Mums Social Club at TBC (22 August at 11am) got the little sprogs with you for their summer holidays? No fear, you can bring them along to this child-friendly networking event, designed to help working mums and founders forge a supportive community (email mumsinleadership@gmail.com for location details).
Free business events in Manchester this month
- Innovating in the UK in 2024 at Piccadilly Gardens (6 August at 10am) software firm, Bluethink presents a day-long workshop with speeches from tech leaders, showcasing the best of UK innovation and how it can be applied for business growth.
- Scaling your business at Manchester Central Library (7 August at 8:30am) GM Business Growth lays on tens of business workshops each month. This one will cover the core concerns of hiring, as well as the bits you might not have considered, such as how, and why, to define your company culture when recruiting.
- Manchester Creative Meetup at Foundry Project Manchester (8 August at 6pm) an event for crafty founders to get down to the knitty-gritty of running a creative business, before you down pins and unwind with some free nibbles and drinks.
- Startup Law 101 at Colony One Silk St (14 August at 6pm) spend an evening tackling the biggest legal hurdles new founders face, such as how to register a trademark, led by experts and topped off with plenty of free pizza.
Free business events in Liverpool this month
Each month, Liverpool City Council (LCC) hosts various support sessions for local entrepreneurs at Liverpool Central Library. Designed to be attended consecutively, the entire programme gives green founders the tools they need to get started.
Other free Liverpool business events in August include:
- Finance Breakfast Club at The Wilson Club (8 August at 8:30am) is a morning well-spent for finance geeks. Discuss the biggest finance topics of today, such as Bitcoin, with fellow industry professionals and CPD-accredited training experts.
- Summer Special Netwalking Tour at Exchange Flags (13 August at 12:30pm) get some fresh air by taking an educational tour of the city centre led by a Blue Badge-certified tour guide, followed by a trip to the pub (to talk shop, obviously)
- World Photography Pop Up at The Liver Building (19 August at 10am) dreaming of a life behind the camera? This pop-up is a chance to chat to professional snappers about how to get into the sector (stick around for the group shot at the end).
Free business events in Birmingham this month
Brummy entrepreneurs are incredibly lucky to have STEAMhouse, a support service run by Birmingham City Council and located at Birmingham City University, on their doorstep.
Throughout August, STEAMhouse will host four events, courses, and workshops for SMEs. That includes a development session on how to find your voice for entrepreneurs interested in developing a personal brand on 7 August at 2pm.
Other free Birmingham business events in August include:
- Everything an SME needs to know about HR at Millennium Point (13 August at 9am) as it says on the tin, this is a five-hour long course expanding on the big topics and workplace trends and DEI concerns that are shaping people teams today.
- Brummies Networking at Grosvenors Casino (13 August at 11am) a monthly networking session for ‘stripped-back’ conversations fuelled by free teas and coffees. No need to impress; just turn up and meet with local, friendly founders.
- Entrepreneur Business Social Group at O Bar (22 August at 5:30pm) a zero-pressure networking event. Founders are encouraged to leave the jargon at the door and forge genuine, meaningful connections (but bring your business cards!)
Free business events in Nottingham this month
- West Bridgford Networking at Portello Lounge (2 August at 8am) a networking group with a diverse guest list that covers every industry from marketing gurus to accountants. Grab a coffee and get chatting (hard pitches are banned).
- Carbon Management in Business at Delta Hotels (7 August at 9:30am) a chance for eco-conscious founders to get started on their journey to Net Zero. Sustainability expert, Dr Rose Deakin will cover carbon footprinting and performance reporting.
- KuKu Connect at Spice Cay (14 August at 6pm) is a monthly event that takes place in a different local business. This month, Spice Cay chefs will be on-hand to offer attendees a special cooking demo of Jamaica’s national dish, Ackee & Saltfish.
Free business events in Cambridge this month
- African Business and Innovation Summit at Aru Cambridge (3 August at 12pm) the city’s first ever event for African entrepreneurs and students in the city. Hosted by the African student union at Cambridge University, it features six keynote speakers.
- “So, what do you do?” at Ely Library (12 August at 2pm) feeling a bit daunted by the networking events in this list? Visit this short workshop to learn how to introduce yourself, and tell your business story, with confidence (it’s harder than you think!)
- Lunch and Learn at Together Culture (14 August at 12pm) a guided tour for entrepreneurs after their first premises to explore the facilities on offer at coworking provider Together Culture. And, if you stick around, there’s also a watercolour painting class later in the evening.
- You can also become a Cambridge student for an hour by signing up to the many free lectures and talks available on the University of Cambridge event website.
Best free business events in Oxford this month
- OxBOoSt Network at The Oxford Retreat (6 August at 4pm) a networking club in Oxford which takes place on the first Tuesday of each month. Apply to practise your public speaking skills in front of a friendly crowd of Oxfordshire founders.
- Startup Huddle Networking at Oxford Business & IP Centre (15 August at 6pm) invites two participants to present their business, followed by a Q&A and mingling time, during which attendees can trade local knowledge, tips, and insights.
- Entrepreneurs should also check out the University of Oxford’s free public lectures for business tips and talks from the experts.
Free business events in Bristol this month
Bristolians can attend three back-to-back intensive business workshops at Bristol Central Library as part of the city’s ‘Ready, Steady, Grow’ series. Titled Introduction to starting a business the series is led by local experts, and covers fundamental topics such as:
- Getting Setup (Legal and Intellectual Property)
- Business and Marketing Planning
- Budget and Forecasting Figures
Other free Bristol business events in August include:
- NatWest Showcase at NatWest Accelerator Hub (6 August at 10am) in this exciting event, six founders go behind the mic to tell their business story. Founders are invited to ask questions and see things from the investor’s side of the table.
- Community Summer Meet at Society Cafe, NARROW QUAY (31 August at 11am) is a sun-soaked social. Weather permitting, attendees can go for a coffee and cake-fuelled walk, or stay inside and hobnob, before grabbing lunch together.
Free business events in Cardiff this month
- Diverse Founders Networking Night at Cardiff Eagle Lab (6 August at 6pm) sponsored by Barclays Black Founder Accelerator, this event is aimed at minority business owners and addressing the unique barriers they face to access support.
- Workshop for F&B Startups at Cardiff Met University (13 August at 1pm) a special event for food and drink manufacturers to soak up business tips. Includes advice on sourcing ingredients and scaling production (and, of course, free snacks).
Free business events in Edinburgh this month
August signals the start of the Edinburgh fringe festival, which means thousands of SMEs will be descending on the city to flog their food, drink, and wares. In between the comedy and drama, there’ll be plenty of time for mingling with entrepreneurs at these events:
- Unfiltered Edinburgh at 37a Castle Terrace (7 August at 8:30am) a deliberately unorganised opportunity to connect with tech entrepreneurs in Edinburgh. Run by CodeBase Edinburgh, founders can drop-in for a casual chat, and then hotdesk.
- Quiz at CodeBase Ltd (29 August at 5:15pm) hosted by Dave from Barclay Eagle Labs, this event brings together the Edinburgh business gang for a bit of fun away from the office desk. And yes, free swallies and snacks are provided!
- August’s Collaboration Club at Hotel Indigo Edinburgh (28 August at 8pm) there’s been plenty of dressed-down networking events in this list. Collaboration Club is a chance for women entrepreneurs to dust off their party wear and head out to meet with, and celebrate, a supportive group of female founders.
Free business events in Glasgow this month
- 8 Networking Coffee Morning APR at The Alchemist (14 August at 9:30am) a business club organised for those who love community, coffee, and cocktail bars. If you’re visiting the 8 team for the first time, you’ll also be able to attend for free.
- People, Planet, Pints™ at Malones Irish Bar (15 August at 6pm) working late, or spending a refreshing evening rubbing shoulders with fellow entrepreneurs in the beer garden of an Irish pub. We’ll let you decide..