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Find new markets

If you can't grow within your original market, expanding into new markets could boost your revenue and increase the profitability of your business.

You will need to consider those risks carefully when determining market profitability, but there are several ways to access new markets.

The first task is to make meaningful connections with influencers or decision makers, as they can help you to open doors into new markets or expand existing opportunities.

Upcoming in person business events

You can also search for local business events on these websites:

Business networking

Nottinghamshire County Council

There are a host of local business clubs operating across Nottinghamshire. If you would like to know more about those active in your area, please contact Nottinghamshire County Council's economic development team.

University of Nottingham Business Network

Connect with over 1500 businesses from all sectors across Nottinghamshire and beyond. This networking group is managed by the University of Nottingham; they provide a range of free events, including talks, workshops, and regular business breakfasts to create opportunities for local small and medium enterprises to connect and collaborate. You will also gain insight into the latest cutting edge research taking place at the university.

NatWest business builder

This is a free online portal which gives access to important business workshops, and also connects you to a Facebook community of over 6000 businesses across the UK.

Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 (MA2020)

Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 are a local not for profit organisation and help to connect people, build partnerships and help grow organisations across the Mansfield, Ashfield and surrounding areas. They run regular networking breakfasts, women in business luncheons and have an annual business awards dinner. If you are a local business, then you can also list your company in their directory and attend your first event for free.

B-Global – The BAME Business Network

B-Global are a black led business network that support start-ups, established and scale up businesses of African heritage and the wider BAME business community in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire. They provide free services from how to start your business through to help with marketing, finding finance, networking events and more.

Tech Nottingham

Tech Nottingham aims to create a community of smart people in and around Nottingham, providing an environment in which people can work together, share ideas, and get better at what they do. They hold regular events; these are free, and so you have an opportunity to connect with like minded technology entrepreneurs, and you can also present at these events.

Explore free PR opportunities

Love Business News

Raise your company profile with Love Business News.

Love Business News is the only digital media platform in the East Midlands to offer a free point of entry to all businesses to share their positive news stories to more than 21,000 monthly readers. It also offers a wide range of advertising solutions, campaigns and digital marketing solutions to help you increase sales, build brand awareness, engage new audiences, showcase your products and services, make vital new connections and accelerate your growth.

Explore trade associations

BE - Built environment networking

If you operate in the property or construction sectors, then you need to know about this networking organisation. BE Networking can help you find property investors and infrastructure organisations, in 2 ways, they provide networking opportunities, both in person and online. Their annual meeting is called UKREiiF and its attended by most local authorities across the UK and major property companies. You can also showcase your property for free on their database called REID. This database gives you access investors looking for opportunities.

Build UK

The leading representative organisation for the UK construction industry, delivering change and improving efficiency. They have members across the UK.

The Food and drink forum

An industry led, not-for-profit trade body, driving positive change within the food and drink industry. Whether you're a food and drink business or providing services to those within the food and drink sector, they offer a range of membership solutions to support business growth and grants.

Midlands Aerospace Alliance

A membership organisation that offers advice and guidance around developing aerospace market opportunities, identifying technology development partners, and improving operational performances, they also have access to some grant funding.

Make UK

Make UK are a national body and networking organisation for UK manufacturers. They operate a paid membership service, providing members with access to hundreds of industry events, and offers a voice to government. They can help to connect manufacturers to the latest innovative ideas, enabling businesses to achieve their manufacturing objectives and goals.

EMC North Nottingham Manufacturing Network

The East Midlands Chamber Manufacturing Networks builds on the success of the respected Nottingham Manufacturing Network (NMN). It is a peer to peer membership organisation consisting of a diverse range of manufacturing businesses. They are keen to promote growth in manufacturing and help members to address commercial problems. It’s completely free to join, but you must be a manufacturer.

The East Midlands Chamber of Commerce

The East Midlands Chamber of Commerce are a membership organisation offering businesses opportunities to establish connections locally, regional and nationally.

They run networking events, specialist industry forums and staff training workshops, in addition to providing advice on how to develop overseas trade and apprenticeships. They can also assist you to market your services between members and have access to several marketing databases which you pay to use. This can help you source businesses and email contacts to grow your customer base.

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) are a membership organisation that support small businesses. They offer a powerful voice heard in local, UK wide and devolved governments across the UK. They also run virtual events, including networking and business surgeries designed to help small business owners find advice, support and guidance. Events are free and open to all small businesses and self-employed.

Logistics UK

Logistics UK are a one of the biggest business membership organisations in the UK, representing the entire industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers. They help to keep logistics operations safe, efficient and compliant, focusing on critical services, support, and advice.

Medilink Midlands

Medilink Midlands is the Midlands Life Sciences industry association whose aim is to help companies establish, develop, and grow. It has a network of more than 8000 contacts in over 1700 organisations representing all aspects of the sector; from multi-nationals to high potential start-up companies, as well as the NHS and Universities.

Trade association regulatory body

Trade associations offer an excellent way to stay up to date with important changes affecting your industry, and offer access to networking events, domestic and overseas trade missions, business advice and information to help grow your operations.

Explore global markets

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

They can help you to develop relationships with overseas trade partners, negotiate trade agreements and provide businesses with information and guidance; please see their website. They often work through local partner organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce and have funding to support commercialisation, helping small and medium enterprises to access new markets – please visit the Trading overseas and Trade visits overseas pages on this website.

Explore new markets in the USA

We are working closely with the city of Mentor, in Ohio, USA, to assist local businesses that want to explore and access markets in the US. If you want to find a US distributor or partner, perhaps source a manufacturer to produce your products over there, or maybe you would like to explore what the city of Mentor can offer as a potential foothold in the US and to expand your operations, then our connections with the City of Mentor will be able to help you.

Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network provides support for small and medium sized Enterprises with international ambitions. Co-funded by the European Union's COSME and Horizon 2020 programmes, the Network's aim is to help businesses innovate and grow internationally. The Network is active in more than 60 countries worldwide, you can search for business opportunities, find partners and more.

Page last updated: 22 November 2023