This month marks 15 years since our first ever guest event in Oxford and it’s a moment I’m genuinely proud to shout about

What started as a simple idea has grown into a strong, established business community built on trust, shared experience and real human connection. Over the years, Opendoorz has become far more than a place to network. It’s a community where members support one another, learn from one another, and lean on each other for expert advice, encouragement and friendship. Our values are strong and our focus continues to focus on becoming better and more able to support our existing members… we strive to create a network where magic happens.

I believe it is the depth of relationship that makes the difference. It’s why business opportunities flow naturally, collaborations form easily, and introductions are made with confidence. Collectively, those relationships have created a significant amount of new business, not through pressure or transactions, but through trust built over time. It quite simply alleviates those ‘it’s lonely at the top’ moments.

As Opendoorz grew I could feel the power of our network and wanted to extend the support to charities local to our businesses. We have supported countless charities and causes over the years, offering not just fundraising, but skills, advocacy and genuine care. It’s a reminder that doing good business and making a difference can be interwoven throughout a business and without doubt something that we will continue to do.

Fifteen years on, for me not too much has changed… the heart of Opendoorz remains the same, a community of generous, committed professionals who continue to inspire and support one another.

We’ve had great success and that is fantastic, but we also recognise the importance of upholding our values and not losing sight of what makes us special. We will be reviewing the recent member survey to make sure we have a clearer understanding of what you our members need and addressing areas we feel we can improve on.

With Kate and Caroline by my side I know the future is brighter than ever. There will be new groups emerging, an opportunity for new Associate Directors to join our team, further development of our second region in Gloucester and a continued drive to get all groups to thriving status (16+ members).

There are so many people who have shaped Opendoorz along the way, who I remain very grateful to. Thank you for being on this journey with us, for believing in it, supporting one another, and helping to build something that continues to make a real difference.