Big views, big insights and big-hearted giving at Shelter Hall

A round-up from the Big Business Breakfast Club’s May meeting.

On Friday, May 16, the Big Business Breakfast Club descended on Shelter Hall — our first time at this iconic seafront venue. With nearly 100 local business folk in the room, the vibes were high, the coffee was strong and the conversations flowed like a spring tide.

This month’s event was proudly sponsored by Streets Chartered Accountants, with Director John Donegan sharing how they support businesses across Brighton, the Southeast and London. Streets also selected our Charity of the Month: The Sussex Beacon, represented by CEO Rachel Brett, who spoke powerfully about their work supporting people living with HIV. Thanks to ticket donations, we raised £110, bringing our all-time total to over £7,500 for local causes.

Our headline guest, Leon Taylor, Olympic silver medallist, BBC commentator and all-round legend, joined Sam Thomas for a candid head-to-head chat. Leon reflected on the highs and lows of competitive diving, the mental toll of elite sport and his shift into public speaking and athlete mentoring. His message around resilience and identity struck a real chord with the room.

Alex Ryan brought the brains and buzz with May’s Big Steps for Small Business, walking us through top AI tools like OpusClip, Descript, NotebookLM, and Beesly.ai. It was a timely and practical deep dive into how AI can save time, boost reach and sharpen marketing content.

We also celebrated three of our Ambassador Legends — Jenny Legg, Mark Gibson and Vicki Etherington — each of whom has clocked an impressive 29 BBBCs. That’s some serious breakfast loyalty.

The business card draw saw five winners scoop prizes including print from The Print Lord, mugs, books, vouchers, and more. Big thanks to everyone who flung a card in the bag.

A nod to our visual wizards, Michael Cheetham, Ziggy Lyons and Howie McConnell, for capturing the magic behind the lens once again.

If you missed it, you missed out. But, fear not, we’re back on Friday, June 20, at the Leonardo Royal, sponsored by Evolve (Pipedrive CRM experts) and supporting Dad La Soul. Expect the usual blend of banter, bacon and business brilliance.

Book now at
www.bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk