June’s Big Business Breakfast Club – sunshine, soul and serious connections

By Jackie Ashwood.

June’s Big Business Breakfast Club (BBBC) gathered the tribe in the stylish seaside setting of the Leonardo Royal Hotel on Brighton’s waterfront. Nearly 100 attendees packed into the basement ballroom, with over a third brand new to BBBC – or as we fondly call them, ‘Fresh Meet’.

We kicked off with the usual blend of banter, bacon and business buzz, thanks to hosts Jim ‘Print Lord’ Cunliffe, Sam Thomas and the irrepressible Steve Darby. The scent of sizzling breakfasts and the clatter of networking filled the air before the morning unfolded with some truly memorable moments.

Our sponsor this month was Evolve, the Pipedrive CRM Experts. Bruce Bignell took to the mic to share how Evolve helps businesses get the most out of their CRM strategy. Attendees were also treated to a generous 50 percent ticket discount for the Silicon Brighton event ‘Evolve #25’, as well as a digital promo deck to dive deeper into their offering.

In line with BBBC’s mission to do good while doing business, June’s charity partner was Dad La Soul. Dan Flanagan shared the success of the charity’s recent ‘Live and Loud’ Father’s Day event at the Amex Stadium and his plans for more. Thanks to your generous ticket donations, we raised another £134, pushing BBBC’s running total for local charities to over £7,700.

Special guest Marina Lazaris, author of The Love Bible, joined Sam for a thoughtful and timely conversation around Men’s Mental Health Awareness Week, encouraging open dialogue, emotional honesty, and a shift away from the silence that so often harms.

BBBC regular Alex Ryan returned for his Big Steps for Small Business slot, offering a practical masterclass on email marketing. He focused on subject lines that hook, timings that work and how to make newsletters worth reading.

We also welcomed two new BBBC Ambassadors, Kerry Jones and Lauren Stoney, both now proud badge-holders recognised for their loyalty and enthusiasm across the networking circuit.

Prize draws brought a touch of sparkle, including Print Lord business cards, a signed book, Laughing Seagull gifts, and an overnight stay at the Leonardo.

Finally, Sam Thomas launched his deeply personal project, Little Lunchbox Letters. A daily ritual of love, courage and curiosity he’s now sharing with the world in printed form. A touching reminder that business can carry heart and purpose.

Next stop: BBBC July at the Hilton Metropole, sponsored by Base Insurance and supporting the Russell Martin Foundation. Book your seat now.