This April, David and his friend Chris will walk the famous Wainwright Coast to Coast route, covering 192 miles in 10 days from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay. The route crosses three national parks, and they are making it even tougher by camping along the way and carrying their kit on their backs. Most people take around 14 to 17 days, so completing it in 10 is a serious test of endurance.
Our Blog - Sharing & Informing
Our blog is here to keep you informed about the WBC and to bring you articles and news on a variety of topics relating to our network and its members. Here you find out what makes the group tick, offer hints and tips about how to get the best from your networking journey.
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Business 10 Minutes – Paul Kielman from Kielman Mortgages
Strategic Financial Guidance for High-Value Homebuyers: Kielman Mortgages - A Niche Mortgage Advisory Model
Core Synopsis
Our 10 minutes speaker, Paul Kielman from Kielman Mortgages, has defined a clear strategic niche: targeting high-earning, self-employed individuals and upwardly-mobile employees who are ready to upgrade from their starter homes to larger, more expensive properties. This focus is a direct response to a market segment with growing profits or salaries but complex financial profiles that require specialized guidance on affordability, mortgage terms, and future earning potential.
What 600+ Use Cases Tell Us: Where AI Is Delivering Real Business Value
By Steve Nicholls – your strategic advisor from Bizedge.ai
When OpenAI recently analysed over 600 of its most successful customer use cases, the results were striking, not for their complexity, but for their clarity. Every use case fell into just six categories.
Not hundreds. Just six.
WBC Business Membership Opportunities
The Wednesday Business Club is currently seeking the following disciplines to join their existing one-member, per category, pro-active and supportive membership at their weekly meetings. (with a requirement for a 50% attendance over a rolling 3 month period.)
Interested in joining us?
Contact one of our team here and we'll assist you on your journey.
WBC history and structure
The Wednesday Business Club (WBC) launched in 2007 as a not-for-profit business networking group that is ‘one member per category’. It is now believed to be the longest running one-member per category business networking group in the town of Bicester in Oxfordshire. In fact, you may find it is the longest running
We were delighted to host Dementia Active at our January Open Meeting and it was great to see such a good turn out of members and guests.
Andy and Molly shared their family journey with us which was both moving and inspiring in equal measure. It was fantastic to hear how they help those with Dementia re-connect with forgotten neural pathways and in such a fun and musical way.
AI Literacy: The New Business Essential
Why Every Leader Needs to Understand Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence literacy has emerged as a critical competency for business leaders navigating today's digital landscape. While most executives may never need to code AI models, they must grasp the strategic implications, capabilities, and limitations of AI technologies (Brynjolfsson & McAfee, 2017).
Uninsured driving across the UK
Courtesy of Howden Insurance - Your local Insurance broker
New hotspots data has uncovered the worst offending areas for uninsured driving across the UK, with Birmingham leading the pack.
The data has been released by the MIB (Motor Insurers’ Bureau), the UK entity that exists to protect people from the devastation of uninsured and hit-and-run drivers, to coincide with their annual ‘Operation Drive Insured’ campaign.
Progress Meetings - Why we have them
It is so important for every business to review their progress against their goals and the Wednesday Business Club is no different. We strive to improve and have an ideal opportunity to do so with so many great businesses contributing.
We are delighted to welcome Paul Colley from Jeremiah Media to the Wednesday Business Club. Paul, publishes the newest local magazine for Bicester, Your Bicester.
Paul brings with him a vast knowledge of printed media and distribution having worked in the industry for many years.
Automate Your Marketing. Save 1 Day a Week.
Emma runs a graphic design studio. She is passionate about design, but the part she dreaded most was marketing. She spent evenings chasing social posts, writing emails, and following up with leads. It felt like a full-time job on top of her business. She believed that marketing automation was something only big companies could afford.
Grow with the WBC
The club aims to help you grow your business, your self-confidence, your communication and leadership skills, your connectivity and your understanding of the local business environment. This is done via active participation at meetings and behind the scenes.
Weekly Meetings to grow your business
The Wednesday Business Club meets weekly in Bicester, over breakfast with informal open networking before and after the main meeting. You will find the meetings at a local independent family run hotel. At these meetings the members, which could include you,
10 Minutes Summary - Dragonfly Framing Ltd.
Presentation by:
Owner / Founder Graham Perryman GCF
WBC Member since 2018
Services Dragonfly Framing offers
Dragonfly framming is a local picture framer based in Murdock Road, Bicester. Graham talked about the services offered to both private and commercial customers, summerised as follows:
AI on a Budget: How Small Businesses Can Compete Using AI
Think artificial intelligence is only for companies with deep pockets? Think again. As I explain in my book "The AI Business Opportunity," today's AI tools offer affordable solutions that give small businesses a competitive edge without breaking the bank. Here is how you can leverage AI on a limited budget.
The Power of Networking
Business networking is a powerful tool that often propels careers and businesses in ways that few other strategies can. While many associate networking solely with career advancement, its benefits reach far beyond this.
Are You Ready?
Understanding What Makes AI Projects Succeed or Fail
Two mid-sized manufacturing companies, both with around 150 employees, decided to embrace AI at roughly the same time. Both invested similar amounts. Both hired consultants. Both had ambitious plans.
Cherwell Business Awards
As sponsors for the Cherwell Business Awards "Small Business Award", on Wednesday 12th March we moved our meeting to Kindlington, so that our members had the opportunity to attend the launch event for the Cherwell Business Awards.The launch event offers an excellent opoportunity to gain insights from the CBA team and their sponsors about all of the award categories for the year ahead,
Marketing your business through networking
Marketing a local small business through networking is one of the most effective ways to build credibility, attract customers, and create long-lasting professional relationships.
By leveraging networking both online and offline, small businesses can grow their brand presence, raise their profile, and drive traffic to their website or physical location. Here’s a guide to maximizing marketing efforts through networking with simple yet impactful strategies.
WBC Open Meeting Presentation 24 September 2025: Zero-Waste Retail Business Model
Speaker: Dan Ludlow, Nothing But Footprints
Summary
This meeting was a presentation by Dan Ludlow, the founder of a zero-waste refill shop, Nothing But Footprints, and detailed his personal journey and the company's business model.
The Wednesday Business Club is seeking dynamic, engaging speakers for our open meetings,
held on the fourth Wednesday of each month (excluding December). If you have a passion for business and a story to tell, this is your chance to connect with an enthusiastic, growth-oriented audience and make an impact!
Effective Networking
For local small businesses, effective networking can make a significant difference in establishing a strong presence and creating valuable connections. But networking success is more than just exchanging business cards;
