When we surveyed our members late last year about what you wanted to see from the DBN in 2026, the feedback was clear. You aren’t just looking for a room full of people; you’re looking for specific, practical advice to help you move your business forward.
The demand for mentoring—both in small groups and one-to-one—was high. We are now building that into our calendar for the year ahead in a way that is simple, useful, and straightforward.
What we mean by mentoring
At the DBN, mentoring isn’t about someone sitting you down and telling you how to run your business. It’s simply about tapping into the experience already in the room.
If you’ve got a problem with recruitment, cash flow, or scaling up, the chances are someone else in the network has already dealt with it. Mentoring is just a way for them to share what they learned so you don’t have to make the same mistakes they did. It’s about being useful to each other and saving everyone time.
Two ways we’re making this work
Since you’ve asked for both group and individual support, we’re planning two different formats for 2026:
Small Group "Boardrooms": We are looking at grouping 4 or 5 members together for an hour every two months. It’s a chance to get a few different perspectives on a challenge you’re facing. It’s confidential, it’s focused, and it’s a great way to get honest feedback from people who actually understand the local business landscape without it becoming a heavy time commitment.
"A Problem Shared...": At our events, we’ll be trialling a segment based on the old saying that a problem shared is a problem halved. Instead of the usual introductions, you’ll have a set amount of time to explain a specific hurdle you’re stuck on, and your partner will give you their take on it. No fluff, just direct, peer-to-peer help.
Tapping into the right expertise
DBN is already full of people who are experts in their field, and our goal for 2026 is to make it much easier for you to access that collective knowledge.
That said, we know that some challenges need a very specific type of specialist. While we’ll always look to our members first, we are also committed to bringing in external experts when needed to make sure you’re getting the most accurate and up-to-date advice possible. Whether it’s internal peer support or an outside specialist, we’ll make sure the help is practical and relevant.
We’re keeping these sessions member-led and straightforward. We’ll have more details on how to get involved soon, but for now, we wanted to let you know that we've listened to your feedback and we’re building the programme around what you actually asked for.
