Charity lunch raises funds for Ty Gobaith & Hope House Children’s Hospices
2025 09 24
Delighted to have taken part in Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith “Let’s Do Dinner” – though in our case, it was lunch!
What’s really stopping you from starting your business?
For many aspiring entrepreneurs, the idea of launching a business feels exciting… and terrifying at the same time. Yet, most of the barriers are mental rather than financial. Here’s what I see holding people back—and how to overcome it:
1. Fear of Failure – Worrying that it might not work, or that you’ll lose money.
Fix: Start small. Test your idea with minimal investment. Every “failure” is a step closer to success.
2. Lack of Capital – Feeling you don’t have enough funds to launch.
Fix: Lean start-up approach. Use grants, small loans, or start from home. Many successful businesses began with very little.
3. Uncertainty About the Idea – Not knowing if anyone will buy.
Fix: Validate your concept. Talk to potential customers, run a pilot, or create an MVP (Minimum Viable Product).
4. Lack of Skills or Knowledge – Feeling unprepared to handle marketing, finance, or operations. Fix: Learn fast. Take courses, join networking groups, find a mentor. Outsource areas you’re unsure of—don’t let it stop you.
5. Overwhelm & Time Constraints – Life is busy; where will you find the time?
Fix: Break your plan into small steps. Prioritize revenue-generating activities first. Use productivity tools to focus.
6. Fear of Criticism – Worrying about what others will think.
Fix: Focus on your customers, not the critics. Test ideas with trusted peers first. Remember, every successful entrepreneur faced skepticism.
The truth? The hardest part is taking the first step. Once you do, momentum builds, confidence grows, and the path forward becomes clear.
If you’ve been thinking about starting your business but haven’t yet… maybe today is the day to move past the fear, take one small action, and see where it leads.
Action tip: Write down one concrete thing you can do this week toward your business idea—then do it. Tell someone, be accountable!
#Entrepreneurship #StartUp #BusinessGrowth #Mindset #Leadership #SmallBusiness #BigBusinessNorthWales #f2n
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Networking with Nina episode 3… Why DO YOU network?
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2025 08 11
Someone told me today…
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Networking with Nina - episode two | Why don’t you network?
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In this episode we’re going to focus on
Why DON’T you network ”?
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Before I start, I want you to think about…
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* Why don’t you network (if you currently don’t)
f2n Business Network was the 1st in the UK!
2025 08 01
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Welcome to a new series of posts….
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I’m going to be sharing some
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2025 07 02
Did you miss us? Well I missed you and I’m delighted to be relaunching the network this Autumn!
Winners of the 6th f2n National Business Awards Announced
2017 12 19
The 6th annual F2N National Business Awards took place on Friday 24 November at St George’s Hotel, Llandudno. The awards recognise business excellence, resilience and future growth.
Hosted and judged by Olympic downhill skier, Chemmy Alcott, the glittering event attracted a record number of entries from across the UK. The night was also an opportunity for the F2N network to continue to raise money for their charity of the year Ty Gobaith. The charity was selected by F2N members who pledged to raise £2,017 throughout the year and smashed their target by raising almost £3,000 (£2,926), the majority being raised during the awards.
We smashed our Charity of the Year target again!
2017 12 17
As a group, f2n Business Network is a business networking organisation which supports and hosts over 200 events each year for small and micro-businesses across North Wales & Cheshire. For the past five year’s our members have democratically elected a Charity of the Year for all members to support.
Congratulations to all this year’s f2n Business Awards finalists
2017 11 14
We would like to congratulate all this year’s f2n Business Awards finalists, UK’s elite businesses at the top of their game as chosen by this year’s Judge & Awards Host, four time Winter Olympian, Adventurer and Britain’s number one female Alpine Skier, Chemmy Allcott.
f2n Business Network is thrilled to announce that the 2017 business awards will take place on Friday 24th November 2017 from 7pm at The St George’s Hotel, Llandudno, North Wales. Limited tickets are now available: CLICK TO SECURE YOUR TICKETS
This glittering black tie gala event provides the ideal opportunity to recognise the success and reward the achievements of business men and women from across the United Kingdom. These are business people have succeeded and continue to succeed in their chosen field during such unpredictable economic times.
Being a Finalist in the f2n Business Awards is an incredible achievement, we received huge number of entries and our judge, Chemmy has only selected a handful of finalists per category.
In fact Chemmy was so impressed with your business stories that she told f2n Business Network, “the quality of nominations far exceeded anything I could have imagined. I feel I know all about you and your business and I can’t wait to meet you on November 24th. I can relate to many of your stories - you are truly at the top of your game!’
Finalists include:
10 Top Tips for Creating Award Winning F2N Business Award Nominations!
2017 06 12
10 Top Tips for Creating Award Winning f2n Business Award Nominations!
By multi award winner Teresa Carnall of TBC Marketing and Press and PR Award Partner
National Business Awards Nomination Form
2017 05 23
Click below to complete your nomination and enter this year’s f2n Business Awards, the 6th National Business Awards which takes place each year in the beautiful seaside town of Llandudno, North Wales on Friday 24th November 2017.
Entries close on 21st September 2017 and all finalists will be notified in advance. Each Finalist will receive a certificate and the winners will receive hand-crafted awards made from locally sourced materials. All Finalists will have the opportunity to meet and have a photograph with this year’s Judge & Host, Four Time Winter Olympian Chemmy Allcott.
Nominate a business or business person who you think deserves national recognition!
* Top Tip - complete your nomination in a word doc. and save it on file for future entries then copy and paste it into the nomination form.
Conwy Businesses Leading Light is named…
2016 05 11
The Conwy Business Awards 2016 took place at Venue Cymru, Llandudno last Friday evening. There were over 350 guests in attendance including representatives from the Conwy business community, councillors and dignitaries. There were over 110 entries and the ion Leadership award was awarded to Nina Sardar, Founder of f2n Business Network.
f2n Business Network raises over £12,000 for charities!
2016 01 12
As a group, f2n Business Network is a business networking organisation which supports and hosts over 200 events each year for small and micro-businesses across North Wales & Cheshire. For the past three year’s our members have democratically elected a Charity of the Year for all members to support.
Businesses from Around the UK Get Recognition at the 5th Annual Free2Network Awards
2015 11 30
Over 150 businesses from all over the UK attended the recent Free2Network Business Awards held at the St George’s Hotel, Llandudno recently.
This is the fifth year of the awards and founder of Free2Network, Nina Sardar, said the support for the awards has never been higher.
“We received a staggering number of entries to the awards this year, each of them winners in their own right. I know that Margaret Carter, our judge and host for the evening had a mammoth task in choosing the overall winners.”
As well as winning a stunning award, hand crafted from Welsh slate embedded on a plinth of oak, each of the 12 award winners will receive a mentoring session from Margaret Carter herself. Margaret is a multi-award winner in her own right, business entrepreneur and self-proclaimed CEO – Chief Excitement Officer and founder of Patchwork Traditional Food Company.
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Event
2015 11 19
On Friday 13th November Free2Network members came out in force to support Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day.
Halloween Spooktacular!
2015 11 19
Free2Network members dressed up for networking on a Friday 30th November.
Finalists revealed….Free2Network Business Awards 2015
2015 10 25
This year’s Free2Network Business Awards finalists have been announced…
Why Entrepreneur of the Year 2014, Alice Murray owner of Giggles and Games knows you should enter
2015 10 15
Alice shares her story with you which shows the power of winning a National business award.
Why I’d strongly recommend you enter this year’s Free2Network Awards by Rich Brady, Recruit Packs
2015 10 07
Last year Rich Brady of Recruit Packs was crowned Free2Network Business Man of the Year, here’s why Rich would encourage you to nominate for this year’s Free2Network Business Awards.
Handcrafted Slate Awards produced in Wales
2015 10 05
Each of this year’s twelve Free2Network Business Awards will be produced with locally sourced Welsh slate and are handcrafted and engraved in North Wales.
National Biscuit Day donations to Conwy Food Bank
2015 06 10
Friday May 29th, Free2Network celebrated National Biscuit Day at the Afon Conwy, Llandudno Junction.
Free2Network Smashes it’s target for Charity of the Year!
2015 01 09
Last year Free2Network members voted for St David’s Hospice to be their chosen Charity of the Year and they raised an astonishing £3884.47, smashing their target of £2,014.
Businesses Celebrate Success at Free2Network Business Awards
2014 12 02
Businesses from all over the UK were honoured at the Free2Network Business Awards held at the St George’s Hotel, Llandudno on Friday 28th November.
TV Personality & Business Woman Saira Khan names this year’s awards finalists
2014 10 15
TV Personality has selected the finalists for this year’s Free2Network Business Awards.
Top 12 countdown is on!
2014 09 22
Would you like to be featured in the Free2Network Top 12 for one year?
Features end on January 31st 2016.
Featured with us for one year
Each “Top 12” feature includes click through to your own website
Free feature design included
Excellent and prolonged business exposure
Social media links to your feature throughout the year
Be one of only a dozen businesses each year in our “Top 12”!
Just £200 for one year’s exposure…
Businesses in our 2015 Top 12 include:
1. Cleaner Care Limited
2. Jacksons Accounting
3. Quality Acoustics Sound Services
4. Integral Life Centre
5. Tudno TV
6. Glasdir
...only six features remain!
My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
2014 08 28
See Free2Network Founder Nina Sardar taking the #ALSIceBucketChallenge!
Former TV Apprentice Star to judge Free2Network Business Awards
2014 08 15
Apprentice star, TV presenter and entrepreneur Saira Khan has been named as this year’s celebrity host and judge at this year’s Free2Network awards. The celebrity entrepreneur first came to our attention as a contestant in the hit TV show The Apprentice in 2005 and has rarely been off our screens since.
Head of Network named as Rising Star 2014
2014 07 03
Each year Wales Business Insider magazine reveal the latest group of 25 enterprising people aged under 40 who think will shake up the Welsh business scene in years ahead.
Why Partner our Business Awards?
2014 06 13
Why would an organisation choose to partner our Free2Network Business Awards? We asked three time partner Gareth Jones, MD from Carbon Zero and this is what Gareth said…
Free2Network went all Dotty in April!
2014 05 15
Thanks to all the Free2Network members who came out to support our RNIB Dotty Days in April.
We raised £28.00 which will help to make a difference to the lives of blind and partically sighted people across the UK.
Free2Network Business Conference - What’s Happening for You!
2014 03 14
4th Annual Free2Network Business Conference
Friday March 21st at Glasdir Centre, Llanrwst
10am - 4pm.
Click to view the Order of Events
2014 Charity selected by Members!
2014 03 13
We asked our members to vote on our Annual Survey as to which Charity they would like us to support in 2014. The majority of votes came in for St David’s Hospice.
Free2Network raised £5,000 for charity in 2013!
2014 01 20
A local business networking organisation based in Llandudno was celebrating last week having smashed their target of raising £2,013 in 2013 for their chosen Charity of the Year for 2013.
Dragon’s Den star agrees to judge 2014 awards following Free2Network success
2013 12 05
ENTREPRENEUR and former Dragon’s Den star Rachel Elnaugh will judge the Free2Network Business Awards 2014 following the success of this year’s competition.
The announcement was made on the day twelve business leaders and organisations were announced winners and presented special trophies during a glittering gala dinner evening at St George’s Hotel in Llandudno.
Finalists from across North Wales gathered for the event hosted by Rachel who led the tributes to those named on the shortlists as well as winning awards.
Free2Network Supports BBC’s Children in Need 2013!
2013 11 15
Free2Network members and guests at the Quay Hotel, Deganwy had fun this morning raising much need funds for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal.
Former Dragon selects business awards shortlist!
2013 10 24
A former Dragon has selected the finalists for this year’s Free2Network Business Awards.
John Evans hits a Century!
2013 10 15
John Evans owner of Handy-Office based in Old Colwyn had only been a member of Free2Network for less than one year and last Friday he celebrated attending his 100th event!
Entering awards is a “no-brainer” for Free2Network winner Bryn Bella
2013 10 03
When does a five-bedroom guesthouse run by a husband-and-wife team get to compete with the likes of Brains Brewery and the Principality Building Society?
In business awards, of course.
Dragon urges Welsh businesses to enter awards
2013 09 25
FORMER Dragon’s Den star Rachel Elnaugh has urged North Wales businesses to enter a business competition she will judge and present in the region later this year.
The celebrated businesswoman described winning awards as “the pinnacle of the entrepreneurial journey” and believes her own successes led the BBC to cast her as the first female Dragon in the hit show. She will judge and present the annual Free2Network Business Awards in Llandudno this November and says North Wales businesses stand much to gain by entering.
THE GIFT - say thank you to someone who has helped you reach your business goals!
2013 06 14
Free2Network have been approached by television production Wall to Wall, one of the UK’s leading independent production companies with a reputation for making intelligent and sensitively made content. Wall to Wall are most well known for making programmes such as ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ and the hit family reunion series ‘Long Lost Family’.
Membership Honour given to Olympic Level Sailor
2013 06 03
Chris Russell is well-known in the sailing world. Based out of Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, Chris began sailing at the age of 5 and hasn’t looked back since. He progressed quickly to an International level as a youth in the Optimist, 420, Laser Radial, and later 470 classes.
Dress code violation in the Quay Hotel, Deganwy!
2013 05 24
Following my last article I’m delighted to say we’ve hit the £400 mark which mean’t I wore my bright pink onesie at Free2Network in Deganwy this morning!
Out in public in our PJ’s!
2013 05 14
Free2Network aims to raise £2,013 in 2013 for Hope House Children’s hospices by organising a variety of fundraising events, activities and donations. Please support us!
Hope House Children’s Hospice provide specialist nursing care and support to life-limited children, young people and young adults from Shropshire, Cheshire, North and Mid Wales.
Celebrity Guest Judge & Host soon to be announced!
2013 05 02
Free2Network Business Awards Black Tie Dinner…
Free2Network Business Awards 2013
2013 02 26
Join us in honouring the 2013 Free2Network Business Award Winners and Finalists
Business Awards…. Free to enter!
2012 09 13
Car Sharing
2012 06 26
At Free2Network we are keen to protect the environment for future generations so we encourage our Members to car share whenever possible. Other than the environmental benefits car sharing is a great way develop the relationships between members…. more time to network!
.... Free2Network Passionate about Car Sharing!
Fit for Work Service “Red Carpet Breakfast”
2012 05 02
SHOW….BUSINESS SELLING!
Wednesday 16th May, 8.30 - 10.30am
St George’s Hotel, Promenade, Llandudno
Attend this lively breakfast event with self made multi-millionaires Nicky Pattinson.
You will not need to attend any other sales training course again!!!
Free2Network Spring Conference 2012
2012 04 05
You are most welcome to download and/or forward our Free2Network Spring Conference Flyer. Alternatively email nina@f2n.co.uk for a copy in PDF or jpeg formats.
The conference is taking place on Friday April 20th at The Interchange, Old Colwyn.
Over 250 business men and women are booked to attend, so this is set to be a superb day for networking, developing, empowering and motivating yourself and your great business future.
Spring Your Business into Action!
2012 03 21
Make the most of this great day for business hosted by Free2Network on April 20th at The Interchange, Old Colwyn. We have over 200 booked to attend - so don’t miss your chance to shine!
Networking with local business men and women
Afforable Full Day Conference Ticket
Public & Private Sector Trade Stands
Practical Workshops designed with SME’s in mind
The opportunity for 1-to-1 Meetings
Refreshments served throughout the day including a Buffet Lunch
Why Free2Network?
2012 03 14
We asked some our our attendees and Free2Network Members to tell us why they attend Free2Network events.
“Show Off!”
2012 02 22
Come and “show off” your businesses at the forthcoming Free2Network Spring Conference 2012
Fancy Kokonoir Chocolate with your pancakes?
2012 02 10
We’re delighted to be joined by Jo Beevers, Founder of Kokonoir Chocolates for this year’s Free2Network Pancake Day Business Lunch at the St Georges Hotel on the Promenade, Llandudno on Shorve Tuesday, 21st February 2012.
Free2Network Night at the Movies Event Sponsor
2011 12 09
Would you like to have the opportunity to promote your business to Free2Network members at the first BIG event of 2012?
A look back at Free2Network Events 2010/11
2011 12 06
Here’s a look back at Free2Network Events which took place in 2010/11….
Prize Draw at Supertemps Conference
2011 11 21
Thank you to Computer Solutions Cymru who are offering a prize draw to win the software “Sage ACT!” to all attendees of the Supertemps North Wales Autumn Conference this Friday!
T Mobile & Orange at the Supertemps North Wales Conference 2011
2011 11 16
I’m delighted to annouce that Everything Everwhere (T Mobile & Orange) will be taking a trade stand at next Friday’s Supertemps North Wales Autumn Conference 2011.
Tim Smit on Networking
2011 11 06
Last Friday I attended Spotlight North Wales, a conference held annually in North Wales. Tim Smit KBE, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of the Eden Project was the keynote speaker and I adored Tim’s honest and jargon free presentation. Thank you Tim, you made my Spotlight 2011!
Free2Network Awards 2011 - Winners & Finalists revealed!
2011 10 17
Taking place on Friday 14th October was the inaugural Free2Network Awards. With over 120 Free2Network guests from businesses from across North Wales this gala black tie evening was set to recognise the most celebrated businesses and entrepreneurs in our region.
“We were inundated with nominations in all categories from across the region, judging was made difficult because of this, so to be announced as one of our finalists was an incredible achievement. The winners shone as the finest businesses and entrepreneurs from across North Wales.” Nina Sardar, Founder Free2Network
Nominations for Free2Network Awards 2011
2011 09 06
Nominations are coming in from across the region for this year’s Free2Network Awards.
The Free2Network Awards are designed to recognise, celebrate and promote the achievements of businesses and entrepreneurs from across North Wales.
[Your Business Name] North Wales Conference 2011
2011 08 11
The first [Your Business Name] North Wales Conference will take place at the Conwy Business Centre, Llandudno Junction on Friday 25th November 2011.
If you are interested in sponsoring this event and would like [Your Business Name] to be associated in helping to develop over 150 local business men and women then please email nina@free2network.co.uk for more information.
Free2Network Awards & Website Launch
2011 07 25
The Free2Network Awards & Website Launch took place in the Garden Room at the Royal Hotel, Llandudno on Thursday 28th July