City Meets Corporate 2024: The free-to-attend networking event that showcases top suppliers in Cambridge

Quality local suppliers will be showcased to a professional audience at the City Meets Corporate networking event organised by Cambridge BID.

Supported again by the Cambridge Independent and iQ business magazine, the event returns for a second year to the Graduate Hotel in Cambridge from 3.30-7pm on Thursday, 19 September, and is free to attend. Whether you’re interested in hospitality, team building, professional development, volunteering or wellness, you can meet the people behind the company name.

Looking to book drinks or dining for a group? Sample delicious chai tea from Permit Room, and signature cocktails from Revolution.

Home-made treats from Fitzbillies and the University Arms will get your mouth watering.

People are a company’s greatest asset, and Mair Development is offering a free sense-check of your employee engagement. Volunteer Cambs, the local volunteering directory, needs you! Browse 600-plus volunteering opportunities.

If you’re looking for fun ideas for days and nights out, have you heard of Big Deal Comedy? It brings top comedians to local venues.

And Cambridge Rowing Experience can show you another, exhilarating side to the River Cam.

If you’re building a new team and need to get everyone working well together, then sample a workshop and consider booking the full package for your staff. Together Culture delves into psychology and self-reflection with ‘Is Imposter Syndrome a Superpower?’ Sleepy Bee Studio, offering wax seal making and calligraphy, and Small & Green, showing plant repotting and care, represent Indie Cambridge, an excellent directory of local independent suppliers who can cater to a corporate audience.

Jenny Granshaw, project manager at Cambridge BID, explains: “We recognise the growing number of corporate businesses who want to build engaged and resilient teams, support local suppliers and charities, and feel connected to their city. We hope this event will spark fresh ideas and new relationships.”

You can register on arrival. Or visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/city-meets-corporate-tickets-900162288637 to register in advance, and start making the most of working in Cambridge, and email jenny.granshaw@cambridge bid.co.uk if you have queries.

Here are some of the exhibitors.

Cambridgeshire Repair Café

Get hands-on with the volunteer repairers who support the Cambridgeshire Repair Café network. Does your home or office have a beloved but broken toaster, lamp, radio or any small appliance? Bring it along and challenge the team of repairers to revive it!

Big Deal Comedy

Cambridge’s multi award-winning comedy club showcasing the very best comedians in your local venue. It says: “Based in the city centre at the Town & Gown gastropub and theatre, we love to help companies host their own comedy nights and can cater to all budgets”.

Permit Room

Arched into the cobbled lane of Trinity Street, behind a mustard yellow door, is the recently opened an all-day bar-café from Dishoom. On the menu, knock-out cocktails rub up against snacks, savouries and curries.

Love Cambridge Gift Card

Buying a Love Cambridge Gift Card means more of your money stays in the local economy, which is a great thing to do to support the community and ensure our wonderful city is thriving for many years to come. Why not gift it to family, friends or colleague? Or use it as an employee or corporate incentive, or to mark a special occasion?

Pint Shop

Famous for their craft beer, delicious dining menu and bar snacks. Their townhouse building close to Cambridge’s market square dates back to 1830 and aims to offer an intimate dining atmosphere in the spirit of the ‘Tom and Jerry shops’ of the period.

Cambridge Rowing Experience

This is a thrilling new attraction in Cambridge offering an opportunity to experience the most iconic sport in the city – rowing! The experience is offered in the ‘eight’ person boat. Aimed at complete beginners, aged 13-85 years, subject to Ts&Cs.

Market House

Spread across five floors of an iconic grade II-listed building, Market House offers a distinctive setting for corporate gatherings and events. Menus feature hand-selected, predominantly local ingredients sourced from small, regional businesses committed to sustainability.

Hilton Cambridge City Centre

Hilton Cambridge City Centre offers 198 well-appointed bedrooms. Its facilities include five meeting rooms, with the largest suiting up to 220 guests, making it the perfect venue for corporate gatherings, conferences and events.

Smokeworks: SLINGERS

This is Cambridge’s first competitive smart darts bar and kitchen. A fun and unique venue for all from corporate clients looking for team building, to hen and stag dos looking to start their evening with a bang!

Love to Ride

Love to Ride is a friendly, fun, online community with one simple mission: to get more people riding bikes and making their local area more bike-friendly.

Together Culture

Together Culture aims to build a more inclusive and ecological creative economy in Cambridge. It will be offering a shortened edition of its workshop designed for corporate and other private bookings: ‘Could Imposter Syndrome be a Superpower?’

Revolution

Specialising in dynamic corporate events, including cocktail masterclasses, painting, quiz nights, and Free Drink Fridays for after-work socials. It hosts seasonal celebrations and offers day delegate packages for meetings and conferences, or it can tailor-make a bespoke offer for you.

Mair Development

Mair Development offers an insight into a company’s greatest asset: their employees. Drawing from operational, strategic and people development experiences, they share fascinating insights from leadership and organisational culture. Don’t miss your chance to visit the stall and receive a free review exercise that you can apply within your business.

The Regent

As you come off the lively Regent Street and into the Georgian building, you’re welcomed by the listed staircase winding up the centre of The Regent. You’ll have taken your pick from The Classic, The City, The Park, or The Loft, so head up the meandering staircase. Your studio apartment or classic hotel-style room is filled with rich colours and modern shapes.

University Arms

It says: “The University Arms hotel seamlessly blends historic charm with modern amenities, offering a haven for corporate travellers and events alike. Boasting 189 luxurious bedrooms, the hotel ensures a rejuvenating stay for every guest. Guests can also indulge in culinary delights at Parker’s Tavern restaurant and bar, where British-inspired cuisine takes centre stage amidst an inviting ambiance.”

Volunteer Cambs

Volunteer Cambs is the project of Support Cambridgeshire. Together, both the Hunts Forum of Voluntary Organisations and the Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services work under the Support Cambridgeshire branding.