We're taking over new and stylish venues for a little relaxation as well as sharing opportunities and market gossip.
Take a look at our events calendar.
The GBA launches its new look and attitude, bringing together years of professional experience with modern day lifestyles. Visit our events section for networking opportunities and the chance of expanding your professional circle.
You could get £10 every new member you introduce at any of the networking nights
If you could not make it to a GBA event, or did and just want a reminder - here's a few words about some of our recent workshops and meetings.
Ask The Experts
Thursday 26 June 2008
Around 40 LGBT professionals came along to The ANDAZ Hotel in Liverpool Street to find help and advice, meet potential new customers, and test market perceptions.Among the issues discussed were:
- market research for a new gay board game. The project has already received a government grant for £6,000 to carry out market research.
- new social networking web sites looking to find ways of maximising revenue from advertising
- a firm of lawyers hoping to expand their services into business advice by partnering with suitable expertis such as accountants
- how to find a job with a gay firm
- a new lesbian 'brand' hoping to find help in marketing and sales, and help with web site design and hosting
- how to market accommodation, including bed and breakfast in London, and holiday villas in Spain and Marrakesh
- selling tailor-made tours for visitors to London
Among the expertise on hand was: - event management and party organisation; photography and design; accountancy, bookkeeping and business planning; executive coaching; web hosting and design; marketing and advertising; legal issues including wills and conveyancing; carpet fitting and property management; finance, mortgages and insurance.
GBA Annual General Meeting and Speed Networking
Thursday 29 May 2008
At the 2008 AGM at the Holiday Inn, Camden, the following committee members were elected:
Gino Meriano, David Sheppard, Laurie Powell, Ian Dodds, Mazz Image, Michael Cheetham, Mark Mackenzie, Simon Woods, Jean-Francois Dor, Mike Meriano, Richard Lowe. Stephen Coote is co-ordinator.
Grab your share of the £6 billion worth of London 2012 contracts,
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance for your business. And you don’t have to be a large contractor to win. Mike Mulvey, CEO of London Business Network told the GBA's AGM : "There are opportunities for ambitious smaller enterprises in London to supply a wealth of goods and services. Everyone should register at the CompeteFor web site."
From now until 2012, a wide range of contracts will be available. From construction to catering and security to printing, there’s something for every business in London. Not only has work already started to build all the venues and infrastructure for the Games, but the Cultural Olympiad begins in August, celebrating London’s diverse culture, people and languages.
This was followed by a very successful Speed Networking session lead by David Sheppard.
What now for the LGBT community?
Wednesday 23 April 2008
GBA members were joined by a range of other LGBT organisations to discuss what the GBA should focus on now that we have won significant equality through legislation, including Civil Partnerships and the Goods and Services Act, how are LGBT groups and businesses coping?
Using a new venue for the first time, TheNEW Venue City Inn in Westminster, the discussion ranged from helping other LGBT groups to fundraise and promote themselves, to working more closely with LGBT staff groups in larger organisations. Suggestions from the UK and North America were put forward to cover sponsorship, donations and other marketing initiatives.
LGBT Jobs Fair
Wednesday 5 March 2008
Over 30 companies exhibited their recruitment and diversity policies at the LGBT Jobs Fair at the Royal National Hotel, Russel Square, London. Banks, local authorities and gay organisations were represented, and included news of a survey about the barriers to inclusion for LGBT professionals being conducted by the London Development Agency.
Networking with an LGBT edge
Thursday 28 February 2008
This was just one of the issues discussed by GBA members at the Holiday Inn in Camden. Gay activist Gino Meriano highlighted the problems faced in Surrey where the manager of the local shopping centre refused a Red Ribbon stall because' it was a family venue' and whose decision was clearly homophobic.
Will the Crminal Justice Act include sufficient safeguards to both protect us against hatred, but at the same time preserve our freedom of speech?
MORE 4 NEWS - Are gay bars being affected by the growth of online dating?
During the GBA meeting, Stephen Coote of GAYtoZ and Gino Meriano of Gay Surrey ( co-ordinator and Chairman of the GBA ) were interviewed for a forthcoming report for More 4 News. In 1993 the first edition of the GAY to Z Telephone Directory there were 110 bars listed in London. This grew to 259 bars and cluvs in 1998, but since then the number has plateaued. Is this because everyone now cruises online? Coote felt there are a number of additional reasons including the success of our equality campaigning which helps younger people be comfortable in any bar or club, meaning they can to a large degree socialise wherever they want, and the fact that if it is now easier for everyone who wants to 'come out' to visit a gay bar, we have reached the level of demand for gay bars.
Benjamin Cohen of MORE4 NEWS interviews GBA Chair Gino Meriano.
We will let members know when a transmission date is known.
GBA new look, new attitude and new site preview
Thursday 16 February 2008
The 16th Jan saw the launch of the new look GBA logo, website and brand for 2008. The night sponsored by the Holiday Inn, Camden was a huge success. To set the scene overlooking the waters of Camden guests were welcomed by a fabulous live statue, a magician with a difference, champagne and canapés.
Gino Meriano, Chairman of the GBA says
Our new approach, brings together years of professional experience with modern day business. It presents our members improved visibility and greater chances to seize networking opportunities with other like-minded professionals in the industry.