Basingstoke Biz

21/10/2026

Basingstoke Business Week: Wednesday is all about learning.

Workshop Wednesday brings together practical sessions designed to help businesses navigate some of today's biggest challenges and opportunities.

From AI and cyber security to employment law, workforce development and ESG, there's a session for business owners, managers, HR professionals, marketers and anyone looking to build new skills.

Highlights include:

- AI & Cyber Security: Is your business ready for what's coming next?
- AI in the Workplace: Helpful Tool or Legal Timebomb?
- Skills for Growth: Building a Future-Ready Workforce

Plus, six online workshops from SEEDL covering AI and ESG.

One day. Multiple free opportunities to learn something new and take back practical ideas you can put into action.

📅 Wednesday 11 November
📍 Various locations across Basingstoke and online

View the full programme: https://www.destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/business-week-2026/

21/10/2026

🌱 Are you a rural business in Basingstoke and Deane?

Whether you're based in Whitchurch, Kingsclere, Silchester or in another town or village across the borough of Basingstoke and Deane, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Green Team is here to support you.
Sustainability support isn't just for offices and retail businesses. The Green Team works with businesses across all sectors, from agriculture and horticulture to manufacturing, automotive, hospitality, logistics and professional services.

If you're looking to reduce energy use, cut costs, improve resource efficiency or understand your environmental impact, the team’s advisors would love to help.

📍 Wherever you're based in the borough, business can book a free green business review with the council’s Green Team. During this one-hour consultation, you'll receive practical advice on improving efficiency and reducing costs while helping your business grow greener. 🌱

20/10/2026

Basingstoke Business Week: Tuesday is all about sustainability.

Tuesday's programme features two events designed for anyone interested in sustainability, ESG, community impact and responsible business.

Start the day at Unlocking Hampshire's Green Potential, where you'll hear from experts and gain practical insights to support your ESG goals and sustainability journey.

Then join us in the evening for The BBfG Awards 2026 which will celebrate local companies who have been independently verified as a business for good. Listen to their inspiring stories of sustainability and community. The event runs alongside People Planet Pint, an established sustainability networking event.

📅 Tuesday 10 November
🌿 Unlocking Hampshire's Green Potential | 9am to 2pm | Apollo Hotel
🍻 People Planet Pint Basingstoke and the BBfG Awards | 6pm to 9pm | Alchemy W**e Bar

Whether you're just starting out or already leading sustainability initiatives, there's something here for you.

View the full programme: https://www.destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/business-week-2026/



Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

19/10/2026

⭐ Business Spotlight: A Basket of Bees ⭐

Founded by Jim in 2010, A Basket of Bees creates natural skincare and haircare products using honey and beeswax sourced from his own bees, which are sited in Basingstoke.

The inspiration for the business began more than 30 years ago when Jim and his wife moved into a home with a large garden, allowing them to pursue their passion for gardening. A visit to the Nature's Harvest event at Down Grange's Walled Garden introduced them to the Basingstoke and District Beekeepers Association, where a glass-fronted hive sparked their fascination with beekeeping.

After joining the association and eventually keeping their own bees they began creating products from their hive, which ultimately led to the launch of A Basket of Bees.

Starting with a small range of products designed for sensitive skin, the business has steadily expanded over the years. Today, its range includes natural soaps enriched with essential oils, alongside skincare and haircare products created to support a variety of skin needs.

When asked why Basingstoke is a great place to run a business, Jim said:
“Basingstoke has a strong sense of community and has great support for local businesses.”

From a chance encounter with a Beekeepers Association at a local event to a thriving natural skincare business, A Basket of Bees is a fantastic example of how a passion can turn into a business.

A Basket of Bees

19/10/2026

Basingstoke Business Week: Monday is all about connections.

We kick off Business Week with Chamber Connects!, bringing businesses from across Hampshire together for a morning of facilitated networking at Plant on Basing View.

Whether you're looking to grow your network, make new introductions, explore collaborations or simply reconnect with the local business community, this is a great place to start your week.

The facilitated format helps ensure everyone has the opportunity to meet a wide range of people, making meaningful connections in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

📅 Monday 9 November
⏰ 9.30am - 11.30am
📍 Plant

Start your Business Week by expanding your network and discovering new opportunities.

View the full programme: https://www.destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/business-week-2026/

16/10/2026

🏆 Congratulations to the following Basingstoke and Deane based businesses shortlisted in the Hampshire Business Awards 2026: 🏆

💼 New Business of the Year: Raai - Traditional Indian Street Food

💼 Retail, Leisure & Hospitality Business of the Year: The Parlour Tearoom & Teabarn

💼 Taste of Hampshire Award: BON & ROSE, Hornet Chilli

Read the full shortlist here: https://www.insidermedia.com/news/south-east/hampshire-business-awards-2026-finalists-revealed

14/10/2026

🚀 Ready to future-proof your business?

As part of Basingstoke Business Week, Workshop Wednesday brings together three in-person workshops and six online sessions, all focused on some of the biggest topics shaping business today: AI, Skills and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).

Learn new skills, discover practical tools and gain insights you can put into action straight away.

AI and Cyber Security: Is your business ready for what’s coming next?
📅 Wednesday 11 November
⏰ 8.30am to 10am
📍 The Square, Basingstoke
Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-cyber-security-is-your-business-ready-for-whats-coming-next-tickets-2000262446824?aff=oddtdtcreator

AI in the Workplace: Helpful Tool or Legal Timebomb?
AI is Changing the Workplace. What Employers Need to Know to Understand the Risks facing Businesses
📅 Wednesday 11 November
⏰ 11am
📍 Belvedere House, Basingstoke
Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-in-the-workplace-helpful-tool-or-legal-timebomb-tickets-2000275665361?aff=oddtdtcreator

Skills for Growth: Building a Future-Ready Workforce.
📅 Wednesday 11 November
⏰ 3.30pm to 5pm
📍 IncuHive, Basingstoke
Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/skills-for-growth-building-a-future-ready-workforce-tickets-2000264609292?aff=oddtdtcreator

SEEDL will be hosting six free live online workshops on Workshop Wednesday. Covering AI and ESG, these practical sessions are designed to help businesses gain valuable insights, develop new skills and stay ahead in a changing business landscape. Register here: https://www.seedl.com/o/basingstoke/courses

14/10/2026

The council is asking residents, businesses and community groups to help shape the local plan. Details below.

Help to shape our new Local Plan
We’ve started work on a new Local Plan for Basingstoke and Deane, which will guide where future homes, jobs and infrastructure could go.
We want residents, businesses and community groups to help shape it from the start through our new scoping consultation.
We’ve also launched a call for sites, inviting landowners and developers to put forward land that could potentially be considered for future development.
Work on our existing draft Local Plan had to be halted earlier this year after concerns were identified around the capacity and long-term resilience of the water supply network serving large parts of the borough.
While the delay effectively prevents the council from progressing the previous draft plan under the Government’s current planning system, we’re keen to take forward the work already done and move quickly to develop a new Plan

14/10/2026

📢 Are you a small business owner? 📢

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Green Team is offering a free green business review to help your business improve efficiency and find cost and energy saving opportunities.

The Green Team has already supported over 40 business across the borough, helping them to:

1. Save money by identifying ways to reduce energy, water and waste.

2. Get practical advice suited to your business, including sole traders and home-based businesses.

3. Know what to do next with a simple action plan that helps you prioritise manageable changes.

Interested? Click to book a free appointment with one of the council’s advisors. You’ll receive a tailored report along with a Green Action Plan to help you track your progress. 👇
https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/green-business-review

13/10/2026

Looking to upskill yourself or your team? This week's Tuesday Tools is all about skills and training.

- BCoT's Aspiral Learning team offers a range of free and flexible distance learning courses where study can be undertaken at your own pace, starting at any time and an allocated individual tutor will support you throughout your learning journey: https://www.bcot.ac.uk/online-and-distance-learning/distance-learning/

- BCoT offers part-time professional courses in subjects such as finance, human resources and business administration: https://www.bcot.ac.uk/subject-areas/business-and-professional/

- Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council offers local businesses and employees access to a free online learning platform with SEEDL with courses covering topics such as AI, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sales: https://www.lovebasingstoke.co.uk/work/seedl

- The University Centre, Basingstoke offers higher-level study programmes: https://www.bcot.ac.uk/university-centre-basingstoke/

For other learning and training opportunities visit our website: https://www.lovebasingstoke.co.uk/work/working-here/learning-training-and-careers

Basingstoke College of Technology SEEDL Learning