Following a successful first event in 2024, inspired by the Heritage Open Days festival theme of ‘routes, networks and connections’, Vision Buxton’s September members meeting will once again be a pure networking meeting co-presented with Business Peak District, hosted by The Palace Hotel in Buxton.
All businesses, organisations and professionals in the High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands, and further afield, are invited to attend the networking morning, which will take place on Thursday 11 September 2025 between 8am-10am.
“As an organisation with a focus on supporting and representing the views of businesses across the Peak District, Business Peak District (BPD) is committed to collaborating wherever possible with other organisations that engage with the Peak District’s business community. Moreover, our members have called on us to schedule meetings that attract a Peak District wide audience, as well as locally focused business meetings. It is for these reasons that BPD began collaborating with Vision Buxton to deliver a Buxton and High Peak-focused networking event last September, and it proved such a success that we’ve committed to making this an annual event. ”
Pete Dewhurst, Chair of Business Peak District
Feedback from last year’s event included:
“Super event” | “Really useful, will attend again” | “A great mix of people” | “Excellent event, great networking” | “Great event, made some super connections” | “Lovely event, very useful and social”, | “Really beneficial”
“It was brilliant. Really good to see everyone – and meet lots of new people with new businesses, Same again next year please.”
Ok then!
Format
“I didn’t know what to expect with the format, but I think it worked well and wasn’t too formal”,
The meeting will keep its informal speed dating format, with a bell rung every 4-5 minutes, encouraging attendees to move on to a new conversation. However, as with last year, one does not have to respect the authority of the bell!
Schedule
Arrival is from 8am with short introductions at 8.15am. The ‘speed dating’ will commence around 8.20am.
Whether you need to attend before work, after you’ve dropped the kids off at school, or as part of your working day, you’re welcome any time between 8am and 10am. And you can stay for the whole two hours or leave early, as time allows around your commitments.
Tours around The Palace Hotel, to see the facilities available, are offered at 10am.
Venue
“The Palace is delighted to welcome back Vision Buxton and Business Peak District for their networking meeting. We are always especially happy to welcome local companies, big and small, and to be part of the diverse and creative business community that exists in The Peak District.”
Philip Whelan, The Palace Hotel, Elite Venue Selection
The meeting will take place in the High Peak Ballroom of The Palace Hotel, which is at the end of the corridor to the left of reception.
If arriving by car and parking in the hotel’s car park, please be sure to enter your registration details on the tablet at reception, otherwise a parking charge will be incurred.
If arriving by public transport, the hotel is adjacent to the railway station (Buxton line from Manchester) with bus stops opposite the station (Stop IDs: dbsgjpat/dbsgjpap) serving most Buxton buses including 58, 65, Skyline 199, 441/442 and Transpeak (view on Google maps here).
Toilets are en-route to the ballroom.
Wheelchair access to the hotel is around to the left of the main entrance, near to the ballroom.
On Arrival
Please sign-in at the registration desk in the foyer to the ballroom. This serves as our attendance register in case of fire and records photo and data permissions.
Please bring at least one business card for the ‘in attendance’ board. There will be tables inside the ballroom for further leaflets and business cards.
On Departure
Please indicate on the sign-in sheet that you are leaving and write any comments about the event on the feedback forms.
“This is an important event and I would urge you to attend if you can. As Vision Buxton steps aside and finds new homes for its tangible activities, such as the Visit Buxton website, so it will be up to Buxton’s business community to find new ways to engage with each other and with the wider, district and regional, community. Business Peak District is a key ally in this and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Buxton once again.”
Roddie MacLean, Chair of Vision Buxton
Key Event Details
Thursday 11 September 2025
8am-10am
The Palace Hotel, Palace Road, Buxton, SK17 6AG
Free, all welcome, no need to book. Please provide your own name-badge.
Refreshments will be served
Any questions, please contact administrator@visionbuxton.co.uk or suzanne.link@emc-dnl.co.uk.
More information
Vision Buxton is a Buxton-based business network and community forum which aims to be a voice for local businesses and improve the town for residents and visitors alike. We also operate the Visit Buxton tourism platform, website and social media. For more information, click here. Please note, the organisation is to close at the end of October 2025.
Business Peak District is a free membership organisation with over 700 members which seeks to act as a single voice for businesses in and around the Peak District and as a representative of their interests to their partner organisations. For more information, visit https://www.businesspeakdistrict.com/.
