On Friday night, Bournemouth’s NextGen business network hosted its latest event — bringing together a growing community of founders, freelancers, and ambitious professionals from across the area.
NextGen was set up to give younger business owners and self-starters a space to connect outside of traditional networking. The monthly events are relaxed, social in tone, but business in purpose — designed to create real connections, spark collaborations, and make it easier to navigate the early stages of building a company.
This month’s event took place at Neo in Bournemouth drawing attendees from industries including marketing, property, AI, packaging, and finance.
“We’re trying to build something that feels natural. No elevator pitches, no awkward name badges — just like-minded people figuring things out together,” said Elliot Hyams, who co-runs the network with Jack Maylon and Christian Farah as part of the Bournemouth Chamber’s efforts to support future business leaders.
NextGen forms part of the Chamber’s wider push to connect generations of business in the region, creating a bridge between established leadership and new energy.
