Weekly
The same faces every week, one seat per profession
You get to know people properly, and you're not competing with someone in the same line of work.
Exeter Business Club, BNI City Wall
Exeter networking guide
There's more choice than most people realise, from weekly referral breakfasts to monthly coffee mornings. Here's an honest look at the main groups meeting in and around Exeter, ours included, so you can find the one that suits you.
Start here
Most groups fall into one of four types. Knowing which you want saves a lot of early mornings.
Weekly
You get to know people properly, and you're not competing with someone in the same line of work.
Exeter Business Club, BNI City Wall
Monthly or occasional
No weekly commitment and a wider mix of people each time, but it takes longer to build real relationships.
Exeter Chamber, The Really Useful Network, The Business Network, Coffee & Connect, IoD Exeter Connect
Women and mums in business
Mid-morning meet-ups, often family-friendly, built around people juggling a business and everything else.
Lyme Bay Ladies, Freelance Mum
Early career or informal
Lower pressure, often free or low cost. Good for meeting people, less so for steady referrals.
XYBC, NOTWORKING, Jelly South West
At a glance
| Group | How often | Format | One per profession? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter Business Club | Weekly, Fridays 7:15am, ISCA Centre | Relaxed breakfast, 60-second intros, a speaker | Yes | Owners who want a small, steady group with no targets |
| BNI City Wall | Weekly, Wednesdays 7am, Sandy Park | Structured referral meeting | Yes | People who want a formal referral system |
| Exeter Chamber | Several events a month, different venues | Coffee mornings, evening socials, briefings | No | Broad networking and a voice on local issues |
| The Really Useful Network | Friday mornings, about monthly, Exeter Racecourse | Introductions, a speaker and games | No | A fun mid-morning format without a weekly commitment |
| The Business Network Exeter | Monthly events and seminars | Hosted lunch and talks | No | Directors who prefer a monthly lunch |
| Coffee & Connect | Monthly, Tuesdays 8:30am, Exeter Science Park | Short talk and coffee | No | A light-touch breakfast near the M5 |
| IoD Exeter Connect | Occasional mornings | Informal networking | No | Directors and senior leaders |
| XYBC (Ashfords) | Regular events, no fixed pattern | Talks, lunches and socials | No | Early-career professionals |
| Lyme Bay Ladies | About monthly, Rockbeare | Daytime networking and workshops | No | Women in business east of Exeter |
| Freelance Mum Netwalk | Monthly, Tuesday mornings, The Quay | A walk and a chat, child-friendly | No | Mums who run businesses |
| Jelly South West | Monthly, Tuesdays, The Generator | Free co-working rather than networking | No | Freelancers who want some company |
The groups
Part of BNI, the international referral organisation. Like us, it keeps one seat per profession, but the format is more structured, with a strong focus on passing referrals. It meets at the Courtyard by Marriott at Sandy Park, Exeter EX2 7NN. BNI's regional site says visitors can usually attend twice before deciding.
Visit BNI City WallNow run by Devon Chamber, with a mix of Coffee and Connections mornings, Thirsty Thursday evenings, leaders' breakfasts and NextGen events for young professionals. Most events are open to non-members, and membership also brings chamber services and lobbying on local issues.
Visit Exeter ChamberA lively two-hour morning with table introductions, a guest speaker and a few games. In October 2026 a visitor ticket was £25 plus VAT, or the same as a monthly membership you can cancel at any time.
Visit The Really Useful NetworkMonthly face-to-face events and expert seminars aimed at owners, directors and senior people. It invites newcomers to try an event before joining.
Visit The Business NetworkAn hour in The Atrium with a short talk and a coffee. It's low cost, booked through Eventbrite, and handy if you're near Cranbrook, the airport or the M5.
Visit Exeter Science Park eventsInformal networking for directors and senior leaders, recently held at the University of Exeter Business School. The October 2026 session was free for members and non-members.
Visit IoD Exeter ConnectRunning since 2002 for professionals in the early years of their careers, with talks, lunch-and-learns and socials around Exeter. Open to anyone in that stage of their career.
Visit XYBCA friendly network for women across East Devon, Dorset and South Somerset, with daytime meet-ups, workshops and socials. In October 2026 annual membership ranged from £15 to £60, with event tickets on top.
Visit Lyme Bay LadiesA walk-and-talk from The Quay for mums in business, with children welcome. Part of a national community with online sessions too, and a free trial for newcomers.
Visit Freelance MumNot networking as such, but a free, volunteer-run co-working day. A good way to meet other freelancers and home-workers without anyone pitching to you.
Visit Jelly South WestAlso worth knowing: NOTWORKING runs occasional social events with a no-pitching rule, and the Exeter Young Entrepreneur Group meets for evening drinks.
Being honest
We're a small, member-run club that has met every Friday since 2010. We'd rather you found the right group than joined the wrong one.
Questions
It depends on how you like to work. If you want steady relationships and referrals, a weekly group with one seat per profession, like Exeter Business Club or BNI, tends to work best. If you'd rather meet lots of people occasionally, a monthly event or the Chamber may suit you better.
Yes. Jelly South West's co-working days are free, IoD Exeter Connect has been free to attend, and many groups, including ours, let you visit before you pay anything. At Exeter Business Club your first two visits are free.
Referral groups meet regularly with the same members and focus on passing each other work, usually with one member per profession. General networking events are open to anyone, with a different mix each time. Both have their place.
Plenty of people do, often a weekly group plus the odd monthly event. Check each group's rules, as some referral groups ask you not to join a similar group at the same time.
Most breakfast groups start between 6:45am and 8:30am. At Exeter Business Club you can arrive from 7:15am, the meeting starts at 7:30 and we're done by 9:00.
Breakfast at the ISCA Centre, a friendly welcome and no pressure to join. Your first two visits are free.
Book your free visitFriendly, member-run breakfast networking for local businesses. Meeting every Friday in Exeter since 2010.
Book your first visitFridays
The ISCA Centre
Summer Lane, Exeter EX4 8NT
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Arrive from 7:15am
Meeting 7:30am to 9:00am
Visits by booking only.
Your first two are free.
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