Village Business Groups
These are informal groups of people who work from home in their village or rural community.
They tend not to be primarily for networking or referrals (there are a large number of business networking groups in Oxfordshire) but for enjoyable company and positive support. Most are created initially by a villager with the energy to organise an informal gathering of others they know who work from home. Each group uniquely reflects the character of their organisers and members.
“We’re not on a timescale so there is no need to pressure ourselves into growing the group faster than there is natural demand. We want to evolve in a way that makes sense.” Pete at Hook Norton
Informal village business groups are run by volunteers and are sometimes no more than regular meetings of friends in a village who have lunch or coffee and talk over the ups and downs of their businesses. Other groups structure their time together and organise workshops and talks to address their members interests and concerns.
Click on the group name below for some accounts of how some informal village business groups got started and what they do together.
ORCC have published a free resource How to Set Up a Village Business Group based on the practical experiences of these groups. You can find the resource online here or in a downloadable printable version here.
Launton "Switch Computers Off Tomorrow's Saturday" Club
Chilton Working From Home Group
Hook Norton Self-Employed Group
Please let us know if a group meets in your area, or if you would like to set up a group.