Business Growth & Networking Event for UK Business Owners in Manchester (CPD-Accredited Learning & High-Value Networking)

Business Growth & Networking Event for UK Business Owners
Manchester | Thursday 12 February 2026
CPD-Accredited Learning & High-Value Networking

Event Overview

Business Growth & Networking Event: Learn Strategy, Build Visibility, Scale with Confidence

Headlined by Vicky Owens
Inside Reach and Hapn HQ invite UK business owners, founders, and entrepreneurs to an evening of CPD-accredited learning, practical strategy, and high-quality networking in the heart of Manchester.

Taking place at Joshua Brooks on Thursday 12 February 2026, this event combines expert-led talks with structured and informal networking, giving attendees both clarity and connections they can act on immediately.

This is not surface-level motivation or generic networking. You’ll leave with sharper positioning, clearer messaging, practical social and content systems, and meaningful connections with other ambitious business owners.

Ticket options available:

• Full Event Ticket – Learning sessions plus networking, early evening through late night
• Social-Only Ticket – Entry from 9pm for the late-evening business mixer

Why This Event Is Worth Your Time

Strategy, Confidence & Execution — In One Room
This event brings together Inside Reach’s 54,000+ UK business owner network and Hapn HQ’s award-winning creative and marketing expertise to create a practical learning environment focused on real business growth.

You’ll gain:

• Clear frameworks to improve visibility and show up confidently online
• Practical social media fundamentals you can implement immediately
• Brand positioning insight to help you stand out and attract the right customers
• Actionable guidance on messaging, content structure, and consistency
• Direct access to other UK founders who are actively building and scaling

VIP attendees also receive personalised support, including one-to-one consultations, audits, and a defined action plan.

High-Value Gift Bag for Every Attendee

Every attendee receives a curated gift bag designed to support business growth beyond the event. Expect access to premium digital resources, exclusive partner discounts, and hand-picked tools from Inside Reach, Hapn HQ, and event partners that you can put to work straight away.

Photo Booth – There will be a backdrop featuring all sponsors for the event and an iPad Photo Booth. These photos will be instantly downloadable, and we may use them throughout our event social media @ignitionnetworking.

A Surprize Giveaway

• Prada Sunglasses
• Apple AirPods
• Tiffany Necklace
• Small bottle of Bubbly
• Strategy Session (90 minutes) with Alice Potter @AJPSocialStudio

Who Should Attend

This event is ideal for:

• Business owners looking to strengthen online visibility and credibility
• Founders who know social media matters but feel stuck or inconsistent
• Entrepreneurs building a personal or business brand
• Leaders who value practical learning and genuine connections

This event is not for:

• People chasing quick wins or viral shortcuts
• Attendees avoiding practical, honest business conversations
• Anyone unwilling to engage, learn, and apply what they hear

Meet the Speakers

Vicky Owens – Headline Speaker
Founder, Socially Speaking Media | Virality & Audience Growth
Vicky Owens (Socially Speaking Media) is an award-winning social media virality specialist, Forbes Business Council member, and founder of one of the UK’s fastest-growing social media agencies. Known for her signature Virality Method, she grew her own audience from 0–10,000 followers in just 10 days and has since generated hundreds of millions of organic views for clients including Netflix, TikTok, GHD and other global brands.

In her headliner keynote, Vicky will walk you through the practical steps behind going “mega viral” on social media — how to engineer demand, turn views into followers, and build a community that doesn’t just watch, but buys.

Ellie Blakeney – Special Guest Speaker
Founder, Illogical Success | Brand Authority & High-Ticket Sales
Ellie Blakeney is the owner of award-winning agency Illogical Success, helping founders build brands that don't just look good, but convert into high-ticket sales. Recently awarded Most Innovative, Illogical Success is known for rethinking how branding directly drives revenue. Today, Ellie is here to share what truly moves the needle when selling at a higher level with brand association and brand authority.

Alice Potter – Keynote Speaker
Social Media Confidence Coach | AJP Social Studio
Alice Potter (AJP Social Studio) is a Social Media Confidence Coach with over 11 years’ experience in social media content creation, coaching, and strategy for brands and entrepreneurs. Attendees will learn how to simplify their social media, build confidence showing up online, and turn content into a consistent growth engine rather than a last-minute task.

Emma Anne Rae – Keynote Speaker
Founder & CEO, Social&Co. | Social Media Strategy & Execution
Emma Anne Rae (Hello Social & Co) is a social media specialist and agency owner focused on helping small businesses build purposeful, results-driven content and social strategies. Her session will help you tighten your messaging, improve your content structure, and create social campaigns that attract the right customers instead of chasing vanity metrics.

VIP Ticket Benefits

VIP tickets are designed for founders who want tailored guidance and faster implementation.

VIP includes:

• Premium welcome drink and priority check-in
• A 1-to-1 consultation with Roy (Inside Reach) or Paige (Hapn HQ), focused on your marketing, offers, or growth strategy
• A personalised social media audit with actionable recommendations
• A website user-journey audit focused on clarity, conversion, and lead capture
• Lifetime free access to the UK Small Businesses Network (54,000+ members) via Inside Reach
• Priority Q&A seating and early access to selected resources and session summaries

Event Details

Date: Thursday 12 February 2026
Time: Early evening through late-night networking
Social-Only Entry: From 9pm
Location: Joshua Brooks, 106 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6NG

Joshua Brooks is a long-established Manchester venue with recently renovated spaces, a licensed bar, and dedicated areas for learning and relaxed networking.

CPD Accreditation

This event is CPD-accredited through Hapn HQ and certified by The CPD Group. Attendees can count their learning time towards professional development.

Tickets & Enquiries

Tickets are available now via Fatsoma.

For partner and sponsor opportunities, reach out to info@insidereach.co.uk to discuss tailored packages aligned with your brand and growth objectives.

Current Event Vendors:

• Harriet @Theempoweredgoddess_retreats