Urbano Members Connections

Most new members who join Urbano come through introductions of existing members. Hopefully, their enthusiasm for the network and how they and their companies benefit from being as part of the community has led you to this page.

It is difficult to summarise for those who haven't been to an event - especially a Top Table which are for members only - how Urbano works, but please read on for some information.

For new joiners, we put a link to your company's profile on our weekly Opportunities Notices to introduce you to the network for around two months. I also connect with you on LinkedIn, which I use to share information that I think may be of interest to you and act as a catalyst to connections with other members as the person at the centre of the Urbano web.

If the idea of being a member excites you, you will find a link to my email below to answer any specific questions and hopefully welcome you into the community.

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 membership 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 90 companies which are members and these 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 recruitment to management consultants. Most have a base or focus on London, as there is where we host nearly all our events, but we have members from Cheshire, Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford, and Somerset.

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.

Urbano’s mix of member companies, for the most part SMEs, and the diversity of their services, plus our own experience running Talent Lab and working with a mix of PLCs and SMEs, helps us deliver a business community that is an active valuable resource for our members. Being a catalyst to a rich mix of connections between a diverse range of companies remains and will remain at the heart of what we try to encourage and facilitate at Urbano.

Urbano Top Tables
My primary focus at Urbano has been to connect those that create and lead our member companies to share knowledge and explore new business relationships in relaxed circumstances. 

These Top Table events are usually hosted monthly and connect those who face the challenge of helping their own businesses grow while dealing with important aspects like sustainability and employment. I like to think Top Tables offer these time-poor people a chance to escape the office for a few hours, meet old friends and make new ones, and enjoy themselves while chatting business.

We choose great restaurants for our Top Tables. Previous venues include The Hide, Café Murano, Café Du Marche, Quo Vadis, Social Eating House, 110 Taillevent, Bleeding Heart and OXO Tower. Up to two directors or partners per company can attend (subject to space).

Many members go to MIPIM and REiiF, plus other industry shows and conferences here in the UK and abroad. We create events and online groups to members meet each other during this events and encourage collaboration, including hosting their own events together.

And MOST Top Tables, which see between 18 - 40 attendees depending on venue space and time of year, SELL OUT.

Our upcoming Top Table events are as follows:

Thursday December 12^th – Urbano Christmas Top Table – Anise event space at Cinnamon Kitchen, City of London

Thursday January 23^rd – Urbano Top Table, Oliveira Kitchen Shoreditch

Thursday February 27^th – Urbano Build (Pre MIPIM) Top Table, Café Du Marche, Clerkenwell

My other focus at Urbano is to use speaker breakfast events to investigate a range of critical 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 in January. I also hope to host a pre live Procurement Act update session as it becomes law in February. I am always happy to take suggestions from members on topics to explore and speakers to invite.

The calendar of confirmed Urbano and member events can be viewed here: Events @ Urbano

Tendering
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