New Forest Business Partnership

What New Forest Business Partnership does

New Forest Business Partnership (NFBP) is an incorporated Community Interest Company (Company No. 12879742) headquartered in Lymington, Hampshire, that operates as a not-for-profit business forum for the New Forest region of southeast England. Founded in 2000 and incorporated as a CIC in 2020, the organisation is governed by volunteer Directors who are themselves local business owners, with an Advisory Group that seats local authorities, education providers, and strategic economic partners into programme design. NFBP supports a claimed base of 9,000+ businesses — predominantly SMEs and micro-businesses — through a community-led, event-driven go-to-market built around 140+ annual business support and networking events, both online and in-person.

Its product surface is anchored on the Whitefuse platform (used for event ticketing, membership management, and directory) layered on a WordPress CMS with WooCommerce. Core offerings include the Business Support Events Programme, flagship annual events (New Forest Business Show, Brilliance in Business Awards since 2006, International Women's Day Business Lunch), recurring networking formats (Business Breakfast, LinkedIn Local New Forest, Lunch & Leads), the New Forest Apprenticeship Hub (a multi-partner skills programme with Brockenhurst College, Solent University, and others), Marketing Masterclass training, a member directory, and a weekly business-support email newsletter. Distribution is multi-channel: weekly email, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, press releases, print and social advertising, plus the physical event network across member venues.

NFBP's revenue mechanics blend three streams: (1) recurring membership fees that unlock enhanced benefits and sustain operations, (2) event fees that are partially free and partially charged "at cost" (typically £100–£1,500 depending on format), and (3) tiered sponsorship packages ranging from £100 for Business Support Hours to £2,500 for headline event sponsorship, with £1,250 per award-category sponsorships on a multi-year cadence. The organisation has 7 employees, no disclosed external funding, no subsidiaries, and no parent entity; it is not backed by private equity or venture capital.

Name

New Forest Business Partnership

Legal name

New Forest Business Partnership CIC

Website

https://nfbp.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Forest Business Partnership is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that supports 9,000+ local businesses across the New Forest, UK, through 140+ annual networking events, training workshops, apprenticeship programs, the annual Brilliance in Business Awards, and a member directory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lymington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Paid membership unlocks additional benefits while helping to sustain the work for the business community. Membership provides access to enhanced benefits and networking opportunities.
2. Event Fees: Some events are free of charge while others are charged 'at cost'. Full payment required at time of booking for paid events.
3. Sponsorship: Sponsorship packages ranging from £100 for Business Support Hours to £2,500 for headline event sponsorship. Award category sponsorship at £1,250. Sponsorship provides ongoing visibility to 9,000+ local businesses through newsletters and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NFBP is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that supports more than 9,000 local businesses in the New Forest, Hampshire area through business membership packages, over 140 business support and networking events per year, training workshops, and promotional opportunities. It is governed by volunteer Directors who are local business owners and funded through membership fees, event charges, and sponsorships.

Product overview

New Forest Business Partnership is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that serves as the definitive business forum for the New Forest region. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected services including a core Business Support Events Programme (140+ annual events), flagship events (New Forest Business Show, Brilliance in Business Awards, International Women's Day Business Lunch), networking formats (Business Breakfast, LinkedIn Local, Lunch & Leads), the New Forest Apprenticeship Hub for skills development, Marketing Masterclass training, and communication services including a weekly newsletter and member directory. Everything operates as a unified offering focused on connecting and supporting local businesses to grow the New Forest economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9,000 businesses supported across the New Forest region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brockenhurst CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner in the New Forest Apprenticeship Hub, providing pathway development and professional qualification pathways for apprentices and businesses in the New Forest region
• Totton CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical and vocational education partner offering programmes for 14-16 and adults across apprenticeships and skills training
• Southampton Solent UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner providing progression pathways and opportunities into and out of apprenticeships at all levels
• University of SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner supporting apprenticeship pathways and professional development opportunities
• New Forest District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner supporting the Apprenticeship Hub and providing business communication channels for skills and apprenticeship messaging
• DWP Jobs CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment employment partner providing job seeker support and apprenticeship placement assistance
• Evolution 4 BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness support partner providing leadership and people development services through the apprenticeship hub
• Fareport TrainingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining provider partner delivering apprenticeship and skills training services
• Smart Training and RecruitmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining and recruitment partner supporting apprenticeship placements and workforce development
• Youth OptionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services partner providing work experience and placement promotion through the apprenticeship hub
• Get SetminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSkills and training partner in the apprenticeship ecosystem
• Skills for BusinessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness skills training partner supporting the apprenticeship hub delivery
• New Forest National Park AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner on the Advisory Group influencing local planning and economic strategy. Collaborates on sustainable business initiatives and environmental awards
• Go New ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism promotion partner represented on the Advisory Group, working on visitor economy development
• New Forest MarquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal provenance champion organization chaired by NFBP partner, promoting local food, drink and craft businesses
• Solent PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional business support partner providing enterprise and skills development programs

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Enterprise First: Not-for-profit enterprise agency providing business advice, training, and start-up support to small businesses across the South East of England. Closely comparable mission and operating model to NFBP's business support programme.
• Dorset Chamber of Commerce: Adjacent county-level chamber of commerce providing membership, events, training, and business representation for Dorset-based SMEs. Highly comparable regional business membership and networking structure.
• Hampshire Chamber of Commerce: County-level chamber of commerce operating in Hampshire, providing similar membership, networking, training, and policy advocacy services to local businesses. Directly comparable regional business membership organization.
• Solent Partners: Regional economic development partnership covering the Solent area including parts of Hampshire, providing enterprise and skills development programs for local businesses. Direct strategic partner of NFBP with overlapping regional business support remit.
• New Forest Marque: Local provenance scheme promoting New Forest food, drink, and craft businesses. Operates as a small regional membership/certification body with overlapping local-business support mission and shared Advisory Group representation with NFBP.

Broad incumbents

• British Chambers of Commerce: National umbrella body accrediting UK chambers of commerce. Provides the broader chamber network context within which NFBP and its chamber peers operate, and competes indirectly for member mindshare and policy influence.
• Federation of Small Businesses: UK's largest membership organization for small businesses, offering networking, events, training, lobbying, and member benefits. Operates at national scale versus NFBP's regional focus, but serves overlapping SMB audience with similar value proposition.
• Institute of Directors: UK-wide professional membership organization for company directors offering networking events, training, policy voice, and director-level resources. Overlaps with NFBP's training and policy advocacy functions but at a national, higher-tier audience.

Emerging players

• Enterprise Nation: UK membership community and platform supporting small businesses with events, content, and government-program partnerships (e.g., Help to Grow). Competes for the same time-poor SME audience with a digital-first, broader-reach approach than NFBP's regional model.

Regional players

• Go New Forest: Destination management organization promoting the New Forest as a visitor destination, working closely with hospitality and tourism businesses. Sits on NFBP's Advisory Group and serves overlapping member base in New Forest's tourism economy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCI2ZpMbhL8LUrjohFTEYacQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/newforestbp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-forest-business-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/newforestbp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Forest Business Partnership