GUEST COLUMN:
Phil Jardine
Partner, Blake Morgan
Chair, Cardiff Business Club
Cardiff Business Club has been part of the fabric of the city’s business community for more than a century. It predates the First World War and has remained, throughout that time, a place where business people of all kinds come together to connect, to share experiences, and to learn from one another.
The word business is key. We represent not just one sector or one profession, but the broad and diverse landscape of the Cardiff business community. Today’s Club draws people from all walks of business life – entrepreneurs, professionals, start-ups, those established in their careers, and those just starting out. Our Board reflects that diversity, ensuring we can reach and connect with different parts of the business and wider community.
It has been a pleasure to chair the Club over the past year, and to work with my fellow Board members to continue evolving the offer for our members. Change is something we embrace. We are proud to have appointed the Baroness Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson as our President, bringing a fresh energy and focus to the Club, and signalling that Cardiff Business Club is open, outward-looking, and committed to relevance in a changing world.
Our speakers are a key part of what we offer. Over the past year we have welcomed inspiring individuals such as Dame Elan Closs Stephens, and we have exciting names lined up in the coming months, including Tim Vaughan and Emyr Afan. Every speaker who steps onto the stage brings a story with lessons for all of us, whether they come from privilege or from more modest beginnings. Each one offers a chance to learn, to reflect, and to find inspiration.
Alongside our events programme, our sponsors play a crucial role in the life of the Club. Without the support of our sponsors, we would not be able to deliver what we do. Organisations such as Odgers Berndtson, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and Swansea Building Society are vital partners, and we are grateful for their commitment.
We are also actively looking for new sponsors to join us. Sponsorship with Cardiff Business Club is not about putting a logo on a banner. It is about becoming part of a community. It is about opening doors to new connections, raising profiles, and having meaningful conversations that can support business growth and development. We work closely with our sponsors to understand their ambitions and help them achieve real value from their involvement with us.
We have also made important changes to ensure that membership is accessible. Whether through corporate membership, where businesses can bring colleagues and guests throughout the year, or through individual membership, we have worked to ensure that cost is not a barrier to joining. We want to welcome as many people as possible into the Club.
At its heart, Cardiff Business Club is about people. It is about creating an environment where you can meet others who may challenge your thinking, open your eyes to new ideas, or simply share experiences that leave you better informed and better connected. It is about being part of something bigger than your own business or sector.
Our vision for the future is a Club that continues to grow, continues to reflect the vibrancy and diversity of the city and the region, and continues to offer value to everyone who chooses to join us.
If you want to connect, to learn, and to grow – Cardiff Business Club is ready to welcome you.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities with Cardiff Business Club contact the Club directly HERE
