Business workshop announced to help SMEs ‘win at networking’
A new business workshop launching in Shrewsbury this spring is aiming to help small and medium-sized enterprises strengthen one of their most valuable growth assets: trusted professional relationships.
Networking with Purpose, a half-day networking skills workshop, will take place on Tuesday, 25 March 2026, from 9:30am to 12:30pm at The Flaxmill Maltings, Shrewsbury. The fully funded session is open to people starting a business and SMEs based in the Shropshire Council area (excluding Telford & Wrekin), with places limited to 16.
As local businesses continue to navigate economic uncertainty, supply chain pressures, and increased competition, the workshop positions effective networking as a strategic business skill rather than a social exercise. The session focuses on helping business owners and leaders build purposeful, long-term partnerships that support resilience, collaboration, and sustainable growth.
The workshop will be led by Ruth Martin, Director at Martin & Jones Marketing Ltd, who works closely with SMEs across the region to develop stronger marketing strategies and commercial partnerships.
“Strong relationships are often the difference between businesses that simply survive and those that grow,” said Ruth Martin. “For many SMEs, opportunities come through people, not platforms. This workshop helps businesses approach networking with clarity and confidence, so they’re building partnerships that genuinely support their commercial goals, rather than relying on chance encounters.”
Rather than focusing on traditional networking formats, the workshop encourages participants to understand where meaningful connections are most likely to be formed and how to prepare effectively for events, meetings, and informal conversations. It also addresses common barriers faced by business owners, including lack of confidence and imposter syndrome, which can prevent them from fully engaging in relationship-building opportunities.
By the end of the session, attendees will have a clearer understanding of how to identify the right networks for their business, how to communicate their value more effectively, and how to move beyond transactional interactions towards partnerships that deliver long-term value.
The event is fully funded through Shropshire Growth Hub and is free to eligible businesses. Due to limited capacity, early booking is recommended.
