From the outside, the factory of Oxley’s furniture looks like any other farm building, but, inside there’s a whole world of production and craftsmanship, and even a resident cat still hunting for mice in this repurposed grain store.

And recently it was also home to a new venture from Chipping Campden Business Forum, Campden Connect.

An informal ‘not networking’ event, Connect brought together business owners and freelancers from around the area and Cotswolds (helped by some bacon butties from Victor’s.)

Those who came have called for more people to come, and urged them not to feel intimidated by the challenge of networking.

Jenny Giddings runs 4ward physiotherapy and came to the connect meet-up at Oxley’s furniture. She set up on her own after working in the NHS for thirteen years, and now specialises in working with the elderly and those with long-term conditions. She recently won an excellence in service award from the business forum.

“Campden Business Forum is a lovely place to be. The award gave me the confidence to say ‘I do belong’! You don’t have to be a big organisation, or SME, to come to the meet-up (although you can be) and we all have the same feelings about going to a new event with new people.”

Jane Corner from Campden Yurts is playing host at the next connect meet-up (complete with pizza in her pizza oven). She set up her glamping site in 2017 and has two gorgeous yurts called Buttercup and Daisy, named after her dad’s pet goats.

“I urge others to come to Campden Connect,” she says. “It takes an ounce of courage but if you come along and put yourself out there you’ll find that we’re all friendly people and there will be someone you can help or that can point you in the direction of a new contact.”