Big Business Breakfast Club – March at The Grand

March’s Big Business Breakfast Club proved, once again, why over 100 business owners are willing to get up at the crack of dawn on the third Friday of every month.

Set against the backdrop of Brighton’s iconic Grand Hotel, this month’s event brought together 105 attendees – with an impressive 70% being business owners – for a morning of conversation, connection, and a few meaningful shifts in how the BBBC will operate moving forward.

From the moment guests arrived, coffee in hand and conversations already flowing, there was a noticeable buzz in the Pavilion. By 8:20am, the room was called to order and attention turned from networking to what has become a staple of the BBBC experience – a structured but relaxed format designed to spark opportunity.

This month, however, marked more than just another successful gathering.

It marked a changing of the guard.

A New Co-Host Takes the Stage

March was the first official event with Alex Ryan of Marketing 101 stepping into the role of BBBC co-host.

And what a debut it was.

Taking the reins with confidence, energy, and a touch of showmanship, Alex brought a fresh dynamic to the room. His first task – a head-to-head interview with guest speaker Sarra Hawes – set the tone for what’s to come.

Sarra, Managing Director of Hawes Construction, delivered a compelling conversation around leadership, resilience, and her role in championing women in construction. It was the kind of real-world insight that BBBC prides itself on – honest, grounded, and genuinely useful.

More Than Just Breakfast

While the bacon rolls and coffee certainly help, BBBC has always been about more than just a good breakfast.

This month saw 20 ‘Fresh Meet’ attendees – individuals new not just to BBBC, but in many cases, new to networking altogether. That’s a stat worth pausing on.

In a world where many businesses still operate in isolation, BBBC continues to attract those who’ve never stepped into a networking room before – and gives them a reason to come back.

Alongside the newcomers, six attendees were welcomed into the ranks of BBBC Ambassadors – recognised for their consistency, contribution, and presence within the local business community. With over 160 ambassadors now active across Brighton and Sussex, this growing group plays a vital role in maintaining the welcoming, inclusive atmosphere the BBBC is known for.

Business With Purpose

Each BBBC event aligns with both a commercial sponsor and a local charity partner – a model that continues to deliver impact beyond the room.

March’s sponsor, Acumen Law, supported the event while also spotlighting their upcoming Acumen Business Convention, offering attendees further opportunity to connect and learn at scale.

Meanwhile, charity partner The Starr Trust reminded everyone why business communities matter. Represented by Tracey Starr and Alex Lawson, the organisation shared its mission of removing barriers for young people across Sussex.

The result? £217 raised on the day, contributing to a running total of over £9,000 donated to local charities through BBBC events.

Not bad for a breakfast meeting.

Evolving the Format

Perhaps the most significant development from March’s event was the introduction of a refreshed format – designed to keep BBBC relevant, engaging, and genuinely valuable.

The long-standing marketing slot has now been reimagined as “Big Steps for Small Business” – an open opportunity for attendees to deliver short, TED-style talks to the room.

The brief is simple: educate, inspire, or entertain – but no selling.

This shift does two things. First, it gives the stage back to the community. Second, it ensures the content remains varied, practical, and rooted in real business experience.

Alongside this, the guest speaker slot will now welcome nominations from attendees, opening the door to a wider range of voices and stories.

In short, BBBC is doubling down on what works – community-led value.

Beyond the Room

One of the recurring themes throughout the morning was simple: networking doesn’t happen in two hours once a month.

To support that, BBBC continues to build out its ecosystem beyond the event itself.

A growing WhatsApp community aims to keep conversations, referrals, and introductions flowing between meetings – turning what could be a one-off interaction into an ongoing relationship.

At the same time, the introduction of a BBBC AI assistant signals a move towards smarter, more responsive event support. From answering attendee questions to potentially managing bookings and connections in the future, it’s an early step into blending technology with community.

And importantly – it’s being introduced with a sense of humour intact.

The Bigger Picture

What makes BBBC work isn’t just the numbers – although consistently selling out events for three years straight is no small feat.

It’s the consistency.

Same time, same energy, same commitment to showing up.

As Jim Cunliffe, founder of the Big Business Breakfast Club, often reminds the room – networking is a long game. You don’t win it in a day. You build it over months, years, and countless cups of coffee.

March’s event at The Grand was a perfect example of that philosophy in action.

Familiar faces, new introductions, evolving ideas – all under one roof, before most people have even opened their laptops.

And with the next event already lined up at the Amex Stadium, one thing is clear.

The BBBC isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk