Bloom North

What Bloom North does

Bloom North is a Manchester-based nonprofit professional network that supports and uplevels women working across the communications, media, creative, advertising, marketing, public relations, digital and design sectors in Northern England. The organization runs events, thought-leadership content, workshops, mentoring programs and networking activities, and structures its work around three pillars — Community, Development, and Drivers — with a dedicated early-careers track called Bloomers. Bloom North is part of the wider Bloom UK network and is led by President Beth Sutherland and Vice President Saskia Starritt.

The core product is the community itself rather than a software platform; the organization does not disclose any proprietary technology, API, SDK, or application. It distributes a portfolio of branded resources including The Bloom Menofesto (menopause support), The Great Return Playbook (maternity return), a Neurodiversity Handbook, and Accessibility and Inclusivity Guidelines, alongside partner-contributed content such as Working Wonder's Work Happiness Playbook and a 30-day journal from supporter Georgie Shears. Member acquisition runs through a free mailing-list signup on bloomnorth.org, organic social channels (LinkedIn and Instagram), and direct outreach to [email protected] for sponsors and collaborators.

The business model is that of a community interest-style nonprofit: no membership fees or commercial pricing are disclosed, and the only quantified financial signal in the data is £8,000 raised for the Miscarriage Association through 2024 fundraising. With 1–10 employees, no funding rounds, no disclosed revenue, and no parent company, Bloom North operates as a volunteer- and committee-led network whose "value" is measured in social and professional impact rather than commercial revenue.

Name

Bloom North

Website

https://bloomnorth.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bloom North is a Manchester-based nonprofit professional network that supports women in communications, media, creative, advertising, marketing, PR, digital and design sectors across Northern England through events, mentoring, and thought-leadership resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bloom North is a non-profit professional network that supports and uplevels women across the communications, media, creative, advertising, marketing, PR, digital and design sectors in Northern England. The network delivers free membership-accessible events, thought leadership, workshops, mentoring and networking activities structured around three pillars: Community, Development, and Drivers, plus an early-careers programme called Bloomers. Complementary offerings include a set of free downloadable playbooks and handbooks covering menopause, maternity return, neurodiversity, accessibility, and inclusivity, together with partner-contributed resources such as Working Wonder's Work Happiness Playbook and a 30-day journal.

Product overview

Bloom North is a professional networking organization rather than a software product. The core offering is a professional network for women in communications, media, creative, advertising, marketing, PR, digital and design sectors, organized around three pillars: Community, Development, and Drivers. The portfolio includes downloadable resources such as The Great Return Playbook (maternity leave guidance), The Bloom Menofesto (menopause support), Neurodiversity Handbook, Accessibility Guidelines, and Inclusivity Guidelines. Partner resources include Working Wonder's Work Happiness Playbook and the 30-Day Life Changing Journal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bloom North Professional Network Membership A free-to-join professional network providing events, thought leadership, workshops, mentoring and networking activities for women across the communications, media, creative, advertising, marketing, PR, digital and design sectors in Northern England.
• The Great Return Playbook A free playbook supporting employers, managers, newly returning parents and anyone interested in understanding best practice around maternity leave and the return-to-work experience.
• The Bloom Menofesto A free manifesto for change covering the language, support, and understanding given to women in the communications industry in the lead up to, during and after menopause.
• Neurodiversity Handbook A free handbook aimed at supporting the industry in hiring, retaining, and championing neurodiverse talent.
• Accessibility Guidelines Practical best-practice guidelines for providing events that are as accessible and comfortable as possible for all attendees.
• Inclusivity Guidelines Guidelines on how to communicate in a way that ensures impactful, inclusive communications.
• Working Wonder's Work Happiness Playbook (partner resource) A playbook of tools and tips to help individuals identify strengths, build mindset, define 'Work Happiness', and create an action plan to achieve it.
• 30-Day Life Changing Journal (partner resource) A free 30-day journal resource with daily AM and PM prompts designed to help manage stress and approach days with greater clarity and productivity.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Working WonderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorking Wonder collaborated with Bloom North to provide the Work Happiness Playbook to the Bloom North community. This resource helps members identify strengths, build mindset, and create action plans for career satisfaction.
• Georgie ShearsminorOthersGeorgie Shears, a supporter of Bloom North, provided free 30-day journal resources to Bloom North Connections with AM and PM daily prompts designed to help manage stress and improve clarity and productivity.
• The Miscarriage AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBloom North selected The Miscarriage Association as their 2024 charity partner, raising £8000 through fundraising efforts. This represents a charitable partnership for social impact.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• The Drum: Major UK media and events business covering the marketing, advertising and creative industries. Comparable as a hub serving professionals in Bloom North's target sectors, though operating as a publisher rather than a member-led community.
• The Marketing Society: Established UK membership body for senior marketing leaders with events, awards and thought leadership. Overlaps with Bloom North's audience in the marketing and communications sectors but operates at a more senior, broader industry level.
• CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations): UK professional body for the PR and communications industry with membership, training and regional networks. Comparable as an industry-wide community serving professionals in one of Bloom North's core target segments (PR and communications).
• BIMA (British Interactive Media Association): UK trade body for the digital and interactive media industry with member events, training and advocacy. Comparable as an industry networking and development organization covering digital sectors that overlap with Bloom North's audience.

Direct peers

• Creative Equals: UK organization focused on diversity, inclusion and talent development across the creative industries. Directly comparable to Bloom North in serving women and underrepresented groups in communications, creative and adjacent sectors through events, mentoring and resources.
• Bloom UK: The parent professional network of which Bloom North is a regional chapter. Directly comparable as the umbrella organization supporting women across the UK communications and creative industries with shared resources and publications.
• She Says: Global network for women in the creative and communications industries offering events, mentorship and community. Closely aligned with Bloom North's mission to uplevel women in creative, advertising, marketing and digital roles.
• WACL (Women in Advertising & Communications Leadership): UK-based membership organization for senior women in advertising, media and communications. Operates a similar mission of advancing women in the same target sectors as Bloom North, with networking, mentoring and recognition programs.

Emerging players

• Free The Work: Non-profit initiative focused on increasing representation of women and underrepresented talent in the creative industries. Shares Bloom North's mission to drive structural change in creative sector hiring and inclusion.
• Dots. (by Dots Community): Networking platform and community for women in creative and tech industries. Provides comparable networking, mentoring and resource offerings aimed at professional women in adjacent sectors to Bloom North.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bloom-north
• Instagraminstagram.com/bloomnorthnetwork
• Xx.com/north_bloom
• Facebookfacebook.com/BloomNorth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Bloom North