Why I host Networking Events 

(And Why They Look Different Now)

Published: 11 March, 2026 | by Viktoria Cowley, Your Friendly PA

Interestingly, as the reviews became more popular, local businesses started approaching me asking if I could review them.

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work like that.

As a single person without a bottomless budget, there are only so many haircuts, bouquets, manicures and pairs of shoes you can realistically buy. And while I might eventually need a new roof or driveway one day, I wasn’t quite ready to start reviewing those either.

That’s where the first networking events came in.

I began hosting a few small evening meetups in a local café and wine bar at around 5:30pm after work, and they worked really well. The events gave me an opportunity to meet business owners I might never otherwise cross paths with, and they created a lovely sense of community between local businesses.

Over the course of a few years I ran three events in total — small but successful gatherings.

Then, of course, Covid arrived and everything stopped.

When the world began reopening, something had changed. People were Zoomed out. After months of screens and virtual meetings, the appetite to meet people face-to-face had never been stronger.

That’s when I launched Business Local Network, which grew into a structured membership programme with founding members and regular meetings.

For a while it went incredibly well. We were running weekly meetings across three towns, and the network became a lively and supportive community.

But there was a downside.

Running frequent meetings across multiple locations began to take up a significant amount of time — time that I also needed to dedicate to my core Virtual Assistant work.

So over the winter I paused, reflected, and decided to simplify things.

Networking didn’t need to disappear — it just needed to evolve again.

That’s how Let’s Meet Up was born.

Instead of memberships and weekly commitments, the idea now is much simpler:

• One meeting per month
• Free to attend
• A relaxed, conversation-led environment

Another important ingredient is the venue.

I’ve discovered that luxury care homes are actually perfect networking spaces. They offer quiet, comfortable environments without the noise and distractions of cafés or busy venues, often with complimentary refreshments and parking.

In return, we bring new people through their doors and give local businesses a glimpse inside places they might never otherwise visit.

It’s a wonderful exchange.

Images of the networking space at Alice Court, Luxury Care Home, Bedfordwell Road, Eastbourne

And today’s meeting at Alice Court in Eastbourne was a fantastic start.

As a new venue, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the room quickly filled with conversation and it became clear that everyone there had skills and businesses that naturally complemented each other.

Joining us today were:

• Viktoria Cowley – Virtual Assistant, Your Friendly PA 

• Richard Hollands – Business Development Manager, Trinity Homecare
• Lisa Khan – Aloe&Lisa, Forever Living Health & Wellness Coordinator 

• Sacha Baldock – Sparkle & Soul, The Seaside Celebrant 

• Caroline Small – Pushing Up Daisyz, Will Writing, LPAs & Estate Planning 
• Toonu Sunny – Toonus Digital, Creative Agency, Photography & Digital Marketing 

It was a small but mighty group, with plenty of shared knowledge, ideas and connections.

For me, networking has never been about standing up and delivering a polished 60-second pitch. It’s about conversations, curiosity and discovering how people’s businesses can support one another.

That’s what today felt like.

And if that’s the kind of networking you enjoy too, you’d be very welcome at the next meeting.

📅 Wednesday 8 April
🕙 10am-12pm
📍 Alice Court, Eastbourne

You can book your place here:  https://lets-meet-up-april.eventbrite.co.uk

I’ll look forward to seeing some new faces — and some familiar ones too.