Urbano - Connecting Companies Facilitating Opportunities

Introducing Urbano
20 years + of running Urbano (including its earliest iteration, Shoreditch Business Network) have shown me that whilst I can’t prove the tangible or even intangible benefits of being a part of our business before anyone has joined, I am lucky that very few members leave and even then only because their business circumstances changed rather than their opinion about Urbano.

Membership is by company and nearly all of our events are aimed exclusively at connecting directors of member companies. No Urbano event ever has the same mix of attendees.  Every Urbano event, including our speaker breakfasts, is relaxed, informal and sometimes even fun.

We have around 100 member companies which vary in size from individuals to those with up to 250 employees. Our sweet spot of members is SMEs, most of which work in our Build, Create-Media, and Tech communities, though we have others from beauty recruitment to management consultants. Most have a base or focus on London, as that is where we host nearly all our events, but we have members from Birmingham, Nottingham, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Oxford, and Somerset.

Urbano’s mix of member companies and the diversity of their services, plus our own experience running Talent Lab which itself works with with a mix of PLCs and SMEs, helps us deliver a business community that is a pro-active valuable resource for our members.

I like to think Urbano offers any business – especially those that run and create them - the kind of conversations, connections, information and support not easily found elsewhere.

However, we are also open that if you only believe the value of networking is judged by sales, Urbano is not the network for you. Ouyr focus is on encouraging the kind of relationships between companies that do lead to opportunities to become suppliers, associates or to collaborate on projects and tenders.

But Urbano also allows those that run companies to relax, make friends and share the challenges that come with running a business in warm and relaxed circumstamces, while our speaker events allow them and their team members to engage and learn about a diverse range or relevant issues.

Being a catalyst to a rich mix of connections between a diverse range of companies remains at the heart of what we try to encourage and facilitate at Urbano.

Urbano Top Table networking events are exclusively for Urbano Member Companies' founders, owners, and directors.

Urbano Top Tables happen monthly, except August, and are hosted at great restaurants. Previous Top Table host venues have included The Hide Piccadilly, Café Murano, Quo Vadis, Anise at Cinnamon, 110 de Taillevent, Cafe Du Marche, The Social Eating House) and OXO Tower Brasserie.

For each event, we offer a three-course lunch, complimentary drink and usually for between 20 - 40 attendees, depending on space in our host venue's private room.

Top Table Calendar, 2025

Thursday January 23rd - Oliveira Shoreditch

Thursday February 27th (Pre MIPIM) - Cafe Du Marche, Clerkenwell

Urbano also has a proud record in championing issues like sustainability, diversity, ESG, wellbeing and opportunities for SMEs in the supply chain way before they became mainstream.

Our speaker breakfast events examine relevant topics of interest to businesses. Recent events have included AI in construction, the modern workplace, ESG and greenwashing, etc.

Our next speaker event is with Alex Partridge, author and podcast broadcaster on ADHD on Thursday January 9th.  ADHD breakfast event

All upcoming Urbano events and those of our corporate members can be found here:  https://www.urbanonetwork.co.uk/london-networking-events/list

Tenders
We continue to press for SMEs to be given a fairer chance at winning public sector work, including as part of project and Tier 1 supply chains.

As Talent Lab, we have over 10 years experience helping all sizes of companies win places on frameworks and tenders, including Urbano members.

You can view our combined expertise and experience as Talent Lab and Urbano here: https://www.talentlab.co.uk/projects/tendering/the-new-procurement-act-and-smes-turn-words-into-actions/

The latest list of live tenders and frameworks be found here: Tenders @ Urbano

Urbano - The Sustainable Business Network
We call Urbano ‘The Sustainable Business Network’, not just because we have hosted speaker events on ‘sustainability’ stretching back to 2004 and challenged companies and individuals to make active changes on this front, but also because of our experience of bringing together those that create and run companies to help them adapt to the ever-changing challenges of running a successful enterprise.

I believe it is the diversity of our member companies, our own experience of running an SME – www.talentlab.co.uk - and the mix of people and events that makes Urbano unique.

We continue to develop this commitment, inviting event speakers to share with us their knowledge on ESG and their own company journeys on the pathway to net zero carbon. Membership and sponsorship of Urbano can also be used to demonstrate elements measured under social value for use on bids.

Fees
Members can choose which type of membership suits them best according to their size and needs, and whether to pay on an annual or monthly payment scheme. Details of options, including relevant services for each level of membership, available here: Urbano Membership

It is our members, event sponsors and especially our community supporter Stewart Title that allow Urbano to exist and fund the services we offer to the community. Often, the value of membership can be measured by one conversation and connection which Urbano creates during the year.

To start your journey with us, or to ask specific questions not answered here, click the link below to send me an email.

Best

Mark

Mark Herring