Sedgemoor Chamber

Somerset Business Expo: Networking Breakfast
2026-06-12 07:30 - 09:30 (Europe/London) | Junction 24, Market Way, North Petherton, Somerset, TA6 6DFTA6 6DF, United Kingdom
Start your Somerset Business Expo experience the right way by joining us for one of the most popular and well-attended events in the chamber’s calendar.
This morning breakfast brings together exhibitors, visitors and businesses from across Somerset before the Expo officially opens. It is the perfect opportunity to catch up with familiar faces, make new connections and start the day in a welcoming and energetic atmosphere ahead of a busy day at the Expo.
Guests will enjoy a breakfast bap along with tea, coffee and juices, while hearing from a special guest speaker, soon to be announced.
Whether you are exhibiting, attending the Expo or simply looking to connect with Somerset’s wider business community, this breakfast is a fantastic way to begin the day.
What to expect
– A breakfast bap with tea, coffee and juices
– A guest speaker sharing insight and updates with attendees
– An opportunity to connect with businesses from across Somerset
– A lively and welcoming atmosphere ahead of the Expo opening
This event has sold out in previous years, so early booking is strongly recommended.

This year’s Somerset Business Expo Networking Breakfast is proudly sponsored by BTG
BTG delivers strategic solutions that help businesses navigate complexity, strengthen resilience and unlock long-term growth. With expertise spanning financial advisory, restructuring, funding, insurance, deal advisory, property and asset management, their specialist teams support organisations at every stage of their journey.
Operating from more than 50 locations across the UK, BTG combines local knowledge with national expertise, helping businesses make confident decisions and plan for the future.

Somerset Business Expo: Free Visitor Tickets
2026-06-12 10:00 - 16:00
Visitor tickets for the Somerset Business Expo 2026 are now live and completely free. Booking in advance secures your place on the day, helps ensure smooth entry to the venue, and means you will receive important updates in the lead up to the event.
Join us on Friday the 12th of June 2026 at Junction 24, Sedgemoor Auction Centre, Bridgwater, for a full day dedicated to showcasing Somerset enterprise and supporting practical business growth.
For 2026, the Expo is expanding into a larger venue with 75 exhibition stands, creating a Somerset-wide event that reflects the ambition, growth and momentum across our local business community.
Throughout the day, visitors will be able to explore the exhibition floor, attend free practical workshops, hear from local business leaders, and access free business support sessions delivered by specialists from across the region.
Whether you are an established organisation, a growing business or a new start-up, the Somerset Business Expo is designed to help you raise your profile, discover new opportunities, meet potential customers and partners, and stay connected with what is happening across the county.
*Please note, entry to the Networking Breakfast and Networking Summer Feast is not included with your visitor ticket. Separate tickets must be purchased for these connecting sessions.
When you register for your free visitor ticket, you will hear about:
– Workshop announcements and schedules
– Guest speakers and business talks
– Business support sessions and event updates
– Key timings and important Expo announcements
The full event schedule will be announced next week. Registering for your free ticket is the best way to stay informed and plan your day ahead of time.
Find Out More About the Somerset Business Expo

Hope. Optimism. Belief.
2026-06-12 10:00 - 22:45
Can a motivational speaker really and positively change your life in just 45 minutes? You’re about to find out.
In this powerful keynote, Somerset-based international speaker Brad Burton shares the mindset, self-leadership principles and life experiences that helped him go from living on benefits and delivering pizzas to building 4Networking, one of the UK’s largest joined-up business networks.
Launched in Bridgwater in 2006, 4Networking grew into a multimillion-pound organisation, facilitating more than 68,000 real-life business meetings across the UK.
Through humour, honest storytelling, hard-earned business lessons and powerful perspective shifts, Brad will challenge attendees to think differently about confidence, pressure, resilience and decision-making. Inspirational, motivational and at times hilarious, this session is designed to leave people with greater belief, clearer thinking and renewed momentum in both life and business.

Brad Burton is an international keynote speaker, business author and founder of 4Networking. Known for his energetic and relatable presentation style, Brad has spent more than 20 years speaking for organisations across the UK and internationally on mindset, leadership, resilience, confidence and business growth.
Despite leaving school with no qualifications and spending years on benefits, Brad transformed his life through mindset and self-belief, later becoming the UK’s highest-rated motivational business author on Amazon and publishing four bestselling books.
Today, Brad works with organisations, leadership teams and audiences of all sizes, delivering thought-provoking and highly engaging talks that inspire action, challenge thinking and help people unlock their potential.
www.motivationalbusiness.network/

Want to explore the full Expo programme?
Find out more about the Somerset Business Expo, including exhibitors, workshops, business support sessions and connecting events below.
View the Somerset Business Expo Page

The Key to Growth and Mitigating Risk: Connection
2026-06-12 11:00 - 11:45
When businesses create genuine connections amongst their people, they reduce employment risk and unlock opportunities for long-term growth. This workshop explores how simple workforce behaviours and stronger communication can become one of the most powerful tools for improving performance, engagement and business resilience.
During the session, Karen Wellman and Dan Smith will introduce the Liberate Leadership & Management Flywheel and explain how creating a culture built around communication, curiosity, courage and candour can systematically strengthen teams and workplace relationships.
Attendees will explore how connection impacts decision-making, innovation, productivity and team performance, while also reducing employment risks and workplace challenges. The session will provide practical ideas and approaches that businesses can apply within their own organisations to help teams thrive.

Karen Wellman is Managing Director of Reframe HR, supporting organisations across Somerset through practical, performance-driven HR support. Reframe HR focuses on helping businesses proactively manage people challenges, reduce costs and improve engagement, productivity and long-term sustainability.
Dan Smith is Legal Director at People Law and combines employment law expertise with a passion for leadership and management training. After years of working within employment tribunals, Dan shifted his focus towards helping businesses prevent issues before they arise. Through People Law’s Liberate Management Training programme, he helps organisations embed cultures built around curiosity, courage and candour to support growth and reduce risk.

Want to explore the full Expo programme?
Find out more about the Somerset Business Expo, including exhibitors, workshops, business support sessions and connecting events below.
View the Somerset Business Expo Page

Disputes Without Drama: A Smarter Way to Handle Business Conflict
2026-06-12 12:00 - 12:45
Disputes cost businesses financially, disrupt operations and waste valuable time. In this practical workshop, Lisa Haywood will explore how to respectfully and efficiently defuse disputes to help businesses salvage relationships, save money and stay focused on what they do best.
Lisa promises this will not be a traditional legal talk. There will be no complicated legal jargon, latin phrases or case studies. Instead, she will draw on more than 20 years of litigation experience to share practical advice on getting to the heart of disputes quickly and tightening procedures to reduce the risk of conflict in the first place.
The session will cover different business risk areas, how to manage them effectively, and ways to strengthen processes, diligence and relationship management to protect your reputation, cash flow, and working relationships.

Lisa Haywood is the Founder of Stutt Associates, Cornwall’s Dispute Lawyers. She built the boutique law firm from scratch and, within just over 18 months of trading, established a strong reputation for handling complex property and commercial disputes.
Lisa is passionate about modernising dispute services and helping position Cornwall as a recognised legal hub for high-quality expertise. Known for her approachable style and strategic thinking, she is dedicated to helping clients achieve the outcomes they need while navigating disputes in a practical and commercially focused way.

Want to explore the full Expo programme?
Find out more about the Somerset Business Expo, including exhibitors, workshops, business support sessions and connecting events below.
View the Somerset Business Expo Page

Teach Your AI New “Skills” So It Works the Way You Do
2026-06-12 13:00 - 13:45
Most businesses are now experimenting with AI, but many still get mixed results because every task starts from a blank prompt. In this practical, demo-led session, Scott Quilter will introduce a new way of working with AI called “skills” and explain how businesses can make AI more consistent, useful and aligned with the way they actually work.
AI is rapidly moving beyond one-off prompts. The next stage is creating reusable AI skills, simple sets of instructions, examples and templates that help AI complete regular business tasks more reliably.
During the session, Scott will build a live example showing how an AI skill can turn conversation notes into follow-up emails, CRM updates and next actions. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where AI is heading, what practical opportunities exist for their business, and ideas for the first repeatable AI task they could create themselves.

Scott Quilter FBCS is the Co-Founder and Chief AI & Innovation Officer at Techosaurus, an award-winning EdTech consultancy helping businesses make AI, automation and modern workplace tools practical and accessible.
With more than 20 years of experience in technology, digital transformation and training, Scott is known for his jargon-free, hands-on approach to making emerging technology useful for real people and real businesses.

Want to explore the full Expo programme?
Find out more about the Somerset Business Expo, including exhibitors, workshops, business support sessions and connecting events below.
View the Somerset Business Expo Page

Every big opportunity starts with a little conversation
2026-06-12 14:00 - 14:45
In this practical and energising session, Stefan Thomas will show you how to walk into any room, work it with confidence, and leave with real connections, opportunities and sales that move your business forward.
Most people think connecting is about collecting business cards or delivering the perfect pitch. It is not. Stefan will share simple mindset shifts and conversation techniques that help turn awkward small talk into genuine business relationships.
Attendees will leave with practical approaches to starting conversations, following up naturally and making the most of every opportunity to connect. Whether you are completely new to business events or have been attending them for years, this session is designed to change the way you approach connecting with others.

Stefan Thomas is the author of Business Networking for Dummies, Instant Networking and Win The Room. A professional speaker and MC with more than 20 years of experience, Stefan has attended over 1,500 business events and built a reputation for helping people connect more effectively and confidently.
He has spoken for organisations across the UK including BT, Lloyds Bank and The Loo of the Year Awards, helping businesses and professionals improve their communication, confidence and relationship building skills.

Want to explore the full Expo programme?
Find out more about the Somerset Business Expo, including exhibitors, workshops, business support sessions and connecting events below.
View the Somerset Business Expo Page

37,000,000 views in 6 Months: How to grow your business with social media
2026-06-12 15:00 - 15:45
Most businesses post content that gets ignored. This workshop will show you how local businesses are using simple video content to build trust, increase awareness, and stay top-of-mind with customers at scale.
In today’s market, attention drives trust and trust drives business. Yet most local businesses are still creating content that gets ignored, feels overly promotional, or never reaches the right audience.
In this workshop, Jacob Sotiris, Founder of SHOUT agency, will share the practical strategies behind generating over 37,000,000 local business views for clients in the last six months, alongside more than 190,000,000 views generated online overall.
Attendees will learn how to create simple short-form videos that stop people scrolling, position their business as the trusted local expert, and turn everyday customer questions into content that drives real awareness and enquiries.

Jacob Sotiris is the Founder of SHOUT agency, helping local South West businesses generate more awareness, trust, and enquiries through simple short-form video content on social media.
Through strategic, conversational content creation, Jacob has generated over 190 million views online, including more than 37 million local business views in the last six months alone. Known for his direct, lighthearted and practical approach, Jacob specialises in helping businesses become the recognised and trusted choice in their area through authentic content that connects with customers.

Want to explore the full Expo programme?
Find out more about the Somerset Business Expo, including exhibitors, workshops, business support sessions and connecting events below.
View the Somerset Business Expo Page

Somerset Business Expo: Networking Summer Feast
2026-06-12 16:00 - 18:00
After a busy day of workshops, exhibitors, conversations and connecting at the Somerset Business Expo, join us for our Networking Summer Feast to round off the day in a relaxed and sociable atmosphere.
Whether you’ve attended the Expo from the very start or are joining us later in the afternoon, this event is the perfect opportunity to continue conversations, catch up with fellow professionals and reflect on the day’s highlights over great food and good company.
The Summer Feast brings together exhibitors, visitors, sponsors and businesses from across Somerset for an informal end to one of the region’s biggest business events.

What to expect
– A relaxed afternoon with great food and conversation
– The chance to continue connecting after the Expo
– An informal setting with businesses from across Somerset
– The perfect way to wrap up your Expo experience

Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards Launch
We’ll also be officially launching the 2026 Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards during the event, including the first opportunity to hear about this year’s categories, timelines and plans for the awards celebration.
If you are thinking of entering this year’s awards, or simply want to find out more, this will be a fantastic opportunity to get an early insight and celebrate the launch alongside the local business community.
