Scottish business networking club appeals for new charity partner

A Scottish networking club has launched an appeal for a new charity partner, following a year of supporting Support in Mind Scotland, which helps people affected by mental illness.

Michelle Brown and Colin Leslie, fundraising manager at Support in Mind Scotland, taken in January 2020 to celebrate the Love Your Business and Support in Mind Scotland charity partnership. Picture: Andrea Thomson Photography

Love Your Business was founded in 2018 by Michelle Brown, founder of the eponymous PR agency, to help firms to build their network, share contacts and referrals, find collaboration opportunities and socialise – an aspect that has become even more crucial during the pandemic.

Formerly held at Black Ivy Hotel & Bar in Edinburgh, the club switched to an online model after the first lockdown last March, running online on the final Thursday of the month.

It continues to feature a host of high-profile speakers, including games guru Chris van der Kuyl and the entrepreneurial couple who appeared in Dragons’ Den – Ross and Kristen Hunter, founders of luxury pod accommodation business Armadilla, Whisky Frames and Barrelsmiths.

In 2019, the networking club launched its charity partnership programme with the aim of supporting a different charity every year with funds from a percentage of ticket sales and help to raise awareness via PR and marketing support.

The inaugural charity in 2019 was Make 2nds Count, a patient and family focused charity based in Edinburgh dedicated to giving hope to women and men living with secondary breast cancer, which was founded by Lisa Fleming who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2018.

Brown said: “This month we are delighted to celebrate the third anniversary of Love Your Business networking club.

“The aim since January 2018, which continues today, is to help businesses build their network, share contacts and referrals, find collaboration opportunities and meet people which has become even more important for so many businesses over the last nine months.

“The aim is also to support a new charity every year to help raise funds and awareness, which is why we are appealing to charities to get in touch if they would like to be our new charity partner and follow in the footsteps of Make 2nds Count and Support in Mind Scotland, which have both been an honour to support.”

This year Love Your Business will continue to run online on the last Thursday of every month.

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