Bringing businesses together

Todconnect Is Taking A Break In 2023

Despite our best efforts throughout 2022, we have unfortunately been unable to reignite enough interest in local business networking, post-pandemic. This is both from the perspective of attracting new members to the organising committee – and also people to attend meetings. Although I’m sure that if we could have achieved the former and attracted some ‘new blood’ and fresh ideas then the latter would have taken care of itself.

Therefore we have taken the very difficult decision to take a break throughout 2023 and then come back in early 2024 to see if there is any renewed enthusiasm to pick things up once again.

During this time there will be no meetings or email communications to our network, or any facilitation of local campaigns, activities, or events. The hello@todconnect.co.uk email address will still be monitored however, and if we can help you to connect directly with a person or organisation then we will.

If during this time anyone has the desire to get people re-engaged with the business network then please DO get in touch.

Finally, if you’re currently not subscribed to our mailing list then please do so below and we’ll be back in touch when we have any future news.

All the best until we meet again – Alan & Angela

Better Together

Running your own business can be a solitary and lonely life at times, even if you do have people working with you.

Getting together and chatting with other business owners gives us an opportunity to talk through issues, share ideas and even uncover possibilities for exciting collaborations.

However it always works best when everyone approaches it with the attitude of ‘going to give’ and helping others first rather than themselves.

Todconnect provides a way for businesses to come together, to get to know each other and form stronger relationships which will hopefully develop to benefit not only their own businesses but the town as a whole.

It also aims to forge closer links with other local associations & groups such as Todmorden Information Centre, Incredible Edible, Tod Civic Pride & Todmorden Town Council.

When businesses and communities connect and work together with common goals and a unified approach then only good things can happen.

Why Todconnect?

Todconnect was established in 2018 to facilitate networking and mutual support between businesses of all types based in and around Todmorden.

Todconnect also aims to provide a forum through which local businesses can engage with other bodies.

Its principal aims are to:

• Provide a forum for members to network – giving peer support and advice, and potentially gaining business through this networking
• Provide information useful to members – at meetings, through member mailings, social media and the Todconnect website
• Promote Todmorden and the community with an aim to improve the visitor economy.
• To link and create connections with events, activities and groups through the Calder Valley
• To aid and inspire businesses in Todmorden

Why Todconnect?

Todconnect was established in 2018 to facilitate networking and mutual support between businesses of all types, who are either based in the town of Todmorden or for whom the town is their principal trading area.

Todconnect also aims to provide a forum through which local businesses can engage with other bodies.

Its aims are to:

• Provide a forum for members to network – giving peer support and advice, and potentially gaining business through this networking
• Provide information useful to members – at meetings, through member mailings, social media and the Todconnect website
• Promote Todmorden and the community with an aim to improve the visitor economy.
• To link and create connections with events, activities and groups through the Calder Valley
• To aid and inspire businesses in Todmorden

Some of Todconnect’s Activities &  Achievements 2018 – 2022

– Held approx. 20 meetings in the first two years since foundation in Jan 2018 until the start of the Covid pandemic in early 2020

– Helped to drive the Great British High Street 2018 campaign – which the town won

– Led an extended campaign to help businesses ‘get online’ and become more digitally aware

– Helped to create and launch the ‘There’s MORe in TodMORden’ campaign

– Shared relevant information forwarded by the council, or from other organisations and sources

– Shared information about grants and loans etc throughout Covid 19. Overall, 54 emails were sent in 2020 and 17 in 2021.

(During the early months of the pandemic we connected several business owners directly to council staff to process their grants. Some were at the end of their tether both financially and emotionally by the time they got in touch).

– Initially held a position on the Town Deal Board upon its outset, as representation for local businesses

– (Successfully) lobbied the council for the extension of Christmas Lights in the Town Centre from 2022

– Facilitated a meeting with the Project Managers of two of the largest and ‘most contentious’ projects of the Town Deal for local business owners to voice their opinions (June 2022)

– And more besides…

There’s more in Todmorden

… is a brand new initiative & video which gives everyone an opportunity to promote Todmorden and attract more people to the town.