The Northampton Connections Club is a structured format, membership-based business networking group. We meet each month at Delapre Abbey, Northampton. If you would like to join us or come along as a guest attendee, then please do contact Barbara Hodgson. You can also click the links in the next meetings table below to book your spot at a meeting.
How to Book?
If you would like to join the Northampton Connections Club or would like to come along as a guest attendee, then please check your slot is free and contact Barbara Hodgson. You can also click the links in the next meetings table below to book your spot at a meeting. The visitor meeting fee is £33 plus VAT (£39.60 including VAT) and covers the meeting, a one course lunch which is pre ordered and refreshments. Or you can make a direct payment. Email barbara@yourbusinessmatters.co for details or book through our visitor hub.
Next meetings
| DATE | BOOK NOW |
|---|---|
| 02 Dec 25 | Event finished |
| 06 Jan 26 | Event Finished |
| 03 Feb 26 | Event Finished |
| 03 Mar 26 | Event Finished |
| 07 Apr 26 | |
| 05 May 26 | |
| 02 Jun 26 | |
| 07 Jul 26 | Event Finished |
| 04 Aug 26 | Book Now |
| 01 Sep 26 | Book Now |
| 06 Oct 26 | Book Now |
| 03 Nov 26 | Book Now |
| 01 Dec 26 | Book Now |
Meet Your Chair
Barbara Hodgson
Job title: The Business Connector
Company: Your Business Matters
Website: Your Business Matters
Contact No: 01933 652 884
Profession: Training & Networking
Connect on LinkedIn
About Barbara
Barbara is the networker’s networker – a professional business connector with extensive experience of matching businesses with the right connections and resources at the right time.
She brings a strategic approach to networking, understanding that successful business relationships are based on trust and understanding, not on a quick-sell approach.
With an innate ability to spot potential collaborations between businesses, a natural interest in people and business and extensive experience of the corporate world, she enables businesses to maximise their potential through her training and networking business, Your Business Matters.
Members are listed alphabetically by first name.
This is a list of the current members of our Connections Club Northampton. They are senior leaders, business owners or decision makers in SME businesses across Northamptonshire.
Name: Barbara Hodgson
Job Title: The Business Connector
Company: Your Business Matters
Profession: Training & Networking
About: Barbara Hodgson is a business connector with 10+ years experience in matching businesses with the right resources and connections at the right time. She has worked with 200+ different businesses during her tenure owning a one profession-only networking group business since 2007.
Name: Chris Billington Hughes
Job Title: Director
Company: Profitable Marketing Limited
Profession: Marketing Strategist
About: Since 92, Chris has worked globally, helping educate target markets, achieve objectives, and maximise returns. Half his career was as owner and Director of a European marketing plc. He has a strong track record of delivering practical, proven support from a position of knowledge and experience.
Name: Chris Peck
Job Title: Director
Company: Evans peck Mortgages & Insurance
Profession: Mortgage Broker
About: Chris has over 25 years experience in the finance sector, having specialised in investments, mortgages, pensions, critical illness protection, as well as managing his own business for eight years. Chris particularly enjoys building positive relationships with clients.
Name: Chris Potter
Job Title: Corporate & Community Lead
Company: Northampton Hope centre
Profession: Charity Worker
About: Chris Potter, is new to the charity sector as a part of the Hope Centre Engagement team, has extensive knowledge working within the corporate sector as part of global facilities teams.
Name: Claire Shelswell
Job Title: Owner
Company: Voyant Design
Profession: Graphic Design
About: Claire delivers expert graphic design solutions across all platforms including print, digital and online, ensuring your brand really stands out from the crowd. She examines all the psychological influences of design to ensure you're sending the right messages to your target audience.
Name: Dawn Exley
Job Title: Director
Company: Gravitas HR Solutions Ltd
Profession: Human Resources
About: Dawn Exley is an MCIPD qualified HR professional. She is a Co-owner/Director of Gravitas HR Solutions and has over over 25 years experience working across a variety of sectors. Dawn prides herself in offering honest, straight-talking advice to their Clients.
Name: Faye Rodney
Job Title: Portfolio Director of Finance
Company: Faye Rodney Consultancy Ltd
Profession: Chartered Accountant
About: Faye Rodney is a portfolio Director of Finance, and for over 15 years has lead financial strategy and management in the private and not-for-profit sector. She now uses this experience to support SMEs to strengthen their financial understanding, maximize their profit and achieve business goals.
Name: Greg Du-feu
Job Title: Managing Director
Company: Dufeu IT Solutions Ltd
Profession: IT
About: Greg Du-feu is an owner of multiple businesses, including Dufeu IT Solutions. Greg is passionate about helping companies use IT solutions to improve efficiency, scale up their operations and stay safe from cyber threats. Greg has a young family and in his spare time he is extremely active.
Name: Helen Russell
Job Title: Founder/Director
Company: The Right Track Consultancy Lt
Profession: Apprenticeship & Early Careers
About: Helen is a Apprenticeship & Early Careers specialist, with over 16 years experience in educational & commercial settings. Helen's aim is to work with business to create successful early careers strategies providing a talent pipeline that meet future business needs. Including App'shp Levy utilisation
Name: Helen Staniforth
Job Title: Director
Company: UpSkillion
Profession: Training
About: Helen founded UpSkillion to help professionals speak with confidence, feel prepared, and communicate clearly. She offers presentation training, 1:1 coaching, and supports organisations to design, create and deliver their own CPD programmes, including achieving CPD registration.
Name: Julie Futcher
Job Title: Business Owner
Company: The Sales Ace
Profession: Sales Strategist
About: Julie Futcher, known as the Sales Ace, is one of the East Midlands most respected sales trainers and sales strategists. She has over 32 years of varied experience in both B2B and B2C sales, and has helped over 250 SME's achieve their revenue growth goals.
Name: Karl Hobbins
Job Title: Associate Partner
Company: CFW Accountants
Profession: Accountant
About: Karl joined CFW Accountants in 2011 as an Accounts/Audit Senior and promotions lead to him becoming an Associate Partner 2019. Karl has worked with businesses operating in many sectors and has specialities in Audit, Accounts, VAT, tax for owners managed businesses and accounts software and systems.
Name: Naomi Butters
Job Title: Co-founder & CEO
Company: ICENA Ltd
Profession: Training and EDI
About: Naomi is co-founder and CEO of ICENA, a leading training provider ranked top five in the UK by Social Enterprise UK in 2025. She is Vice Chair of the South Midlands Business Board and a member of the South Midlands Growth Hub Board, advancing gender equality and safer workplaces.
Name: Paul Drake
Job Title: Company Director
Company: WhiteStar
Profession: Web Developer
About: Paul Drake owns WhiteStar - a forward-thinking website agency founded in 2012. Before that he spent 30 years in large corporate IT departments, often acting as a bridge between business and technical people. In his spare time he loves fencing, Sci-Fi, his Wife Jacky, and 2 cats Poppy & Merlin.
Name: Philippa Cutler
Job Title: Managing Director
Company: Pyke Smith & Cutler
Profession: Insurance Broker
About: Philippa is an experienced general insurance broker with over 30 years experience in advising and arranging personal and business insurances. As independent brokers with access to the whole of the market, Pyke Smith & Cutler are proud to offer a complete and bespoke service to their clients
Name: Sally Robinson
Job Title: Partner - Family Law
Company: HCR Hewitsons
Profession: Solicitor - Legal
About: Sally Robinson is a family law specialist, providing strategic advice to clients entering a relationship or already in one to protect their wealth or position. She also advises on divorce, property disputes and children cases; including surrogacy and fertility law. Her advice is clear and pragmatic.
Name: Sharon Hartley
Job Title: Director
Company: enapay Consulting
Profession: Coach - Business Improvement
About: Sharon is a business improvement consultant, coach & leader. Sharon partners with organisations to inspire growth, foster innovation & drive performance across operational excellence, leadership development & continuous improvement. Committed to integrity, collaboration & impactful results.
Name: Susie Mitchell
Job Title: Director
Company: Florence & James Marketing
Profession: Marketing Strategy & Social Media
About: Susie is an insight led brand and marketing strategist with over 25 years' experience working with both B2C and B2B brands across a wide range of sectors. She helps businesses build their brand and use their marketing to connect with their customers in the right way to deliver growth and ROI.
Name: Tom Green
Job Title: Director
Company: The Workhouse Group Of Compani
Profession: Co Working Space
About: Tom Green is the owner of Square Feet Cowork. The business has been established 5 years and we have become the leading supplier of serviced offices and meeting room hire in Northamptonshire. At Square Feet you will be given the warmest welcome to our thriving community.
Name: Zoe Langton
Job Title: Company Director
Company: Hazard Heroes
Profession: Cleaning Services
About: Zoe Langton is a company director of a specialist cleaning company. She offers Domestic and commercial contracts and is also Biohazard trained. Biohazard Services includes hoarding solutions, trauma and crime scene cleaning, fire restoration, mould remedial services and unattended death cleans.
