Skip to content 
Bristol's Monthly Business Growth Meeting - Open to All
Join us every month – no membership needed to come along |
Running a business can feel lonely.
You’re making decisions that keep you up at night, dealing with challenges your friends don’t quite get, and sometimes wondering if anyone else understands what it’s really like.
We do.
And we meet once a month in Bristol.
Every month, ambitious business owners from across Bristol and the surrounding areas gather for the Entrepreneurs Circle Local Event – and honestly? It’s become the highlight of many of our months.
This isn’t networking where you awkwardly shuffle business cards and make small talk. This is a room full of people who get it – the wins, the worries, and everything in between.
Why I'm Inviting You to Join Us
When you’re building a business – especially as a solo founder – it’s easy to feel like you’re on an island. I’ve sold a business, grown multiple ventures, and navigated challenges that would’ve been infinitely harder without this community.
The EC Bristol meetings have given me:
- Accountability that actually gets things done (not the kind you ignore)
- Real strategies from people implementing them right now, not theories from gurus
- Community with people who understand the rollercoaster we’re all on
- Sanity when I needed perspective from people who’ve been there
I’m not exaggerating when I say this community has kept me sane, sharp, and moving forward.
My background might surprise you. I started as the BBC’s first female football commentator back in 1997. While breaking barriers in the commentary box, I noticed something crucial: the teams that won weren’t necessarily the ones with the most talented individual players. They were the ones where people just clicked.
That insight became the foundation of everything I do now at HFBAC (Hiring For and Building Awesome Companies), where I help founders build their dream teams using our Chemistry First methodology.
But there’s something even more important driving what I do. My son overcame cancer at age 3 with incredible support from Young Lives vs Cancer. Watching him fight taught me something profound about what really matters when the pressure’s on: it’s about having people who show up for each other, make each other stronger, and refuse to give up on the team.
That’s why Jason and I are so passionate about growing our Bristol group. We want more local business owners to experience what we have – genuine support, practical help, and a room full of people who are cheering you on while pushing you to be better.
Resources to Help You Grow (Right Now)
Before you decide whether EC Bristol is right for you, we want to give you something valuable.
These are the same resources our members use to get more customers through Facebook and TikTok ads:
Facebook Advertising Resources
TikTok Advertising Resources
Why are we giving these to you?
Because that’s what we do at EC.
We’re helpful first. We don’t expect you buy into our community off the bat!
Take these resources, use them, get results.
If you find them valuable, you’ll understand what our monthly meetings are like: practical, actionable, and genuinely useful.
Let's Be Honest... Most Networking Is Awful
- NO 6am starts (we value our sleep, thanks)
- NO awkward ice breakers (cringe-free zone)
- NO endless pitch-fests (we're not here to sell to each other)
- NO dodgy breakfasts (though coffee is always available)
- NO deathly dull presentations (we keep things moving)
What Actually Happens at Our Bristol Meetings?
'Who's Who in 22!'
You've got 22 seconds to tell us who you are and what you do. Short, snappy, and no pressure to be perfect.
Your Successes
Share what's working in your business right now. This isn't bragging – it's helping others learn from what you've done. (And it feels great to celebrate your wins.)
The Shiny New Thing
Every meeting, we share one practical tactic, tool, or strategy you can implement immediately to get more customers. You'll actually use this stuff.
Content Session
A focused session (with workbook!) on a specific aspect of business growth.
Real strategies, not fluff.
Your One Commitment
Here's where the magic happens: you commit to one thing you'll implement before next month.
The accountability makes sure things actually get done.
- "Hope is not a plan." – Jason Nichols, Co-Lead EC Bristol Local Events
Entrepreneur of the Month
We celebrate one member who's seen great results.
Certificate included. Yes, really.
Networking
Stay as long as you'd like.
This is where you really get to know your fellow members, make connections, do deals, and enjoy the social side.
Feeling nervous?
Don't be. You can participate as much or as little as you want. We don't pressure anyone – if you'd rather observe for your first meeting, that's absolutely fine.
Meet Your Bristol Co-Lead Ambassadors
Helen Sanders
Helen runs HFBAC, helping ambitious founders build their dream teams through co-founder matching and strategic hiring. With 20+ years of experience, she’s navigated the full entrepreneurial journey – from solo founder stress to successfully selling a business.
Her unusual career started as the BBC’s first female football commentator in 1997, where she discovered that winning teams aren’t built on talent alone – they’re built on chemistry. That insight became the foundation of her proprietary Chemistry First methodology.
Helen has been crowned Entrepreneur of the Month a total of three times (so far) at EC Bristol (November 2025, August 2024 and June 2023). She’s also a Delivery Partner for Virgin StartUp’s Empower100 programme and the British Library’s Business & IP Centre.
When she’s not matching co-founders, helping entrepreneurs and business owners to hire well or leading EC Bristol meetings, Helen is working toward her mission to raise £1 million for Young Lives vs Cancer – inspired by her son’s journey overcoming cancer at age 3.
Jason has spent nearly a decade helping professionals escape unfulfilling jobs and turn their ambitions into thriving businesses. Since 2015, he’s been coaching and mentoring founders through the full entrepreneurial journey – from launch and product-market fit to leadership and scale.
With experience as both a startup founder and a senior leader in large corporates, Jason brings a rare blend of strategic insight and hands-on know-how. He’s calm, methodical, and supportive – the kind of person who helps you cut through the fog and see what really matters.
Currently an Innovation and Growth Specialist with Innovate UK, and previously, Lead Business Coach on the Natwest Accelerator, Jason supports ambitious SMEs across the region to scale and overcome barriers to growth. He’s also a certified Flow Consultant, helping entrepreneurs work in their natural strengths rather than fighting against them.
His approach is simple: it’s not just about strategy, it’s about execution – with support and accountability.
As one client said: “Jason has been an incredible help to our startup, guiding us to find direction and focus in times of uncertainty.”
Our Strict 'No A**holes' Policy
We’ve all been to events ruined by people who suck up everyone’s time and energy, treat it like their personal pitch session, or disappear after their bit is done.
Not here.
We make sure you’re surrounded by like-minded, ambitious business owners who are here for all the right reasons. We’re a genuinely friendly group, and we pride ourselves on making everyone – especially new members – feel immediately at home.
We’re a diverse bunch, but what unites us is this: we’re all building something, and we all want to do it alongside people who understand the journey.
How to Join Us in Bristol
Our door is open.
You don’t need to be an EC member to come to your first meeting. Just register below and show up.
Here’s how to get started:
Tell us who you are and save your seat
Quick Questions Answered
Do I need to be an Entrepreneurs Circle member to come?
No. Our door is open.
Register above and come along to your first meeting – no membership, no card details, no obligation.
EC membership is something you can explore after you’ve experienced the room.
Is it really free to come along?
Yes, always.
Coming to the EC Bristol meeting is completely free.
There’s no catch and no pressure to join EC.
Some of our regulars have been coming for months (and some for years!) and get enormous value from the meetings alone.
If you decide EC membership is right for you, great – but it’s entirely your call, in your own time.
What should I bring?
Just yourself. You don’t need to prepare anything or bring any materials.
If you want to make notes, we even provide you with the workbook / note book so maybe a pen is a good idea (although we bring plenty of those too!)
We’ll take care of everything for you.
What if I'm nervous about walking into a room full of people I don't know?
Completely understandable – and very common.
You can participate as much or as little as you want.
If you’d rather just observe for your first meeting that’s absolutely fine.
Jason and Helen will make sure you’re introduced and looked after from the moment you arrive.
How do I find out about future meetings?
When you register, you’ll be added to our list and we’ll let you know about upcoming meetings by email. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Can I bring a friend or colleague?
Absolutely. Just share this page with them and they can register the same way you did – free, no commitment.
What does EC membership include?
EC membership (£99 + VAT per month, cancel anytime) gives you access to 100+ EC Local meetings across the UK, tools, templates, training, and a national community of thousands of business owners. It’s brilliant if you want to go deeper – but entirely optional.
Come to the meetings first and see how you feel.
Can I attend other EC Local Meetings outside Bristol?
If you’re an EC member, yes – you can attend any EC Local meeting anywhere in the UK.
If you’re not a member, the Bristol meetings are always free and open to you.
The Bottom Line
Jason and I are building something special here in Bristol – a community of business owners who genuinely support each other, share what’s working, and celebrate each other’s wins.
We’d love for you to be part of it.
Come to one meeting. If it’s not for you, no problem. But we think you’ll find what we found: a room full of people who get it, strategies that work, and accountability that moves you forward.
Helen Sanders &
Jason Nichols
Co-Lead Ambassadors, Entrepreneurs Circle Bristol and Bath
P.S. Still on the fence?
I understand.
Here’s what I’d ask you:
What’s one business challenge you’re facing right now that would be easier if you had a room full of experienced business owners to help you solve it?
That’s what we do every month.
Give us 90 minutes, and let’s see if we can help.
2026 Meeting Details
Date
Tuesday, April 14th, 2026
Time
6pm for a 6.30pm start, networking and drinks from 8.30pm
Location
Ruby Jeans Cafe and Restaurant, Shirehampton, Bristol
Cost
Our meetings in Bristol are alwasy free and non-EC members are always welcome.
To benefit from the whole of what the EC has to offer you, our first month's on us.
After that, it's £99 + VAT per month.
Not working out? Just give us a month's notice.
We’re here every month. So is your seat.
Running a business is hard enough without doing it alone. Come along, meet the room, and take something useful away.
Our monthly meetings cost you nothing and it always will.
