
Get Connected.
Free Business Networking near You.
It’s Networking. But not as you know it.
Get Connected brings together business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs at monthly meetings across the UK.
There are no formal agendas, no pressured pitches, no referral targets and no awkward icebreakers. Just a friendly space where people can meet naturally, support one another and build relationships that genuinely last.
Whether you are completely new to networking or a seasoned networker looking for something more authentic, Get Connected offers a welcoming environment where everyone belongs.
Drop in. Stay for ten minutes or two hours. Bring business cards or just yourself.
It is free, open to everyone and entirely about connection.
In Partnership with Metro Bank
Get Connected is hosted by Get Ahead VA in partnership with Metro Bank, whose community-first approach is a natural fit with everything we believe in.
Most meetings take place in a local Metro Bank branch, where the team are genuinely part of the community we are building.
In many locations the Metro Bank relationship manager joins us and is a familiar face at the meetings – someone well worth knowing.
What people say about Get Connected
What people see at a Get Connected meeting
Find your nearest Get Connected
| Location | Host | Co-Host | Venue | When | County | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basingstoke | Kristy Roff | Julita Roberts | Metro Bank | 2nd Thursday 9:00-10:30am | Hampshire | See dates |
| Chelmsford | Dave Webster | Kel Tan | Metro Bank | 2nd Thursday10:00-11:30am | Essex | See dates |
| Colchester | Sarah Yandell | Neethyan Anandan | Metro Bank | 3rd Wednesday 10:00-11:30am | Essex | See dates |
| Guildford | Kristy Roff | Molly Howard | Metro Bank | 4th Friday 9:00-10:30am | Surrey | See dates |
| High Wycombe | Vicky McKenna | Saiqa Raja | Metro Bank | Quarterly (Mar / Jun / Sep / Dec) 1st Thursday 9:30-11:00am | Buckinghamshire | See dates |
| Kingston upon Thames | Natasha Doran | Metro Bank | Ad Hoc | Surrey | See dates | |
| Leeds | Fiona Ibbetson | Clockwise Leeds | 3rd Thursday 10:00-11:30am | Yorkshire | See dates | |
| London Cheapside | Rebecca Newenham | Metro Bank | London | See dates | ||
| London Fulham | Rebecca Newenham | Metro Bank | London | See dates | ||
| London Liverpool Street | Rebecca Newenham | Metro Bank | London | See dates | ||
| London Moorgate | Rebecca Newenham | Evan Fusco | Metro Bank | London | See dates | |
| London Piccadilly | Rebecca Newenham | Metro Bank | London | See dates | ||
| London Putney | Rebecca Newenham | Metro Bank | London | See dates | ||
| Maidstone | Hazel Hall | Chris Dickman | Metro Bank | 2nd Tuesday 9:30-11:00am | Kent | See dates |
| Newbury | Suzanne Evett | Khizer Iqbal | Metro Bank | 1st Thursday 9:00-10:30am | Berkshire | See dates |
| Orpington | Hazel Hall | Metro Bank | 3rd Thursday 9:00-10:30am | Kent | See dates | |
| Oxford | Vicky McKenna | Metro Bank | TBA | Oxfordshire | TBA | |
| Reading | Suzanne Evett | Nadine Ramawther | Venues in Green Park | 3rd Thursday 9:30-11:00am | Berkshire | See dates |
| Southampton | Lisa Middleton | Metro Bank | 1st Wednesday 10:00-11:30am | Hampshire | See dates | |
| Southend | Dave Webster | Ashlea Cole | Metro Bank | 3rd Wednesday 10:00-11:30am | Essex | See dates |
| St Albans | Vicky McKenna | Metro Bank | Special Events | Hertfordshire | TBA | |
| Tunbridge Wells | Hazel Hall | Lohit Chadda | Metro Bank | 4th Thursday 9:30-11:00am | Kent | See dates |
Upcoming Meetings
Tue
13
Oct
Get Connected | Maidstone
Thu
15
Oct
Get Connected | Reading
Thu
15
Oct
Get Connected | Orpington
Thu
15
Oct
Get Connected | Leeds
Thu
29
Oct
Get Connected | Tunbridge Wells
Fri
30
Oct
Get Connected | Guildford
Thu
5
Nov
Get Connected | Newbury
Thu
12
Nov
Get Connected | Basingstoke
FAQs
Yes, completely. There is no charge to attend any Get Connected meeting.
Get Connected is open to everyone, whether you bank with Metro Bank, have worked with Get Ahead before or have never heard of us.
We recommend it so we can keep an eye on numbers, but you are welcome to drop in. Check the individual event listing for details.
No. There are no 60-second pitches, presentations or pressured introductions. We believe the best conversations happen naturally.
The only thing you may be asked is whether you would like a tea or coffee.
Yes. If you travel for work or have contacts in other areas, you are welcome at any Get Connected meeting across the country.
Most are hosted in Metro Bank stores, but some meetings take place at alternative venues where branch space is limited. Venue details are always clearly shown on each event listing.
Business cards if you have them, but mostly just yourself. Some people bring a notepad. Most bring an open mind.
Definitely. Many people attend Get Connected because they find traditional networking uncomfortable or intimidating. Our relaxed, informal approach is designed to help people feel at ease, make genuine connections and grow in confidence naturally.
Get Connected is built around conversation, not performance.
There are no membership fees, no lockouts by profession, no referral pressures and no rigid structure. Instead, we focus on creating welcoming spaces where people can connect authentically and support one another.
That difference is exactly why so many people return month after month.
























