The Bath & Bristol Enterprise Network (BEN) is the networking and support organisation for technology businesses in the Bristol and Bath region. It runs inspiring, relevant events and a useful, accessible virtual network at www.bristolenterprise.com.

BEN has over 1800 members: entrepreneurs, academics, investors, industry leaders and professional service providers.  We currently offer free membership and members can attend most of our events free-of-charge.

BEN was set up by the University of Bristol in 2003.  Modelled on the successful Cambridge Network, it was intended to better link the city’s growing number of technology entrepreneurs with investors, industry partners, professional service providers and academics.  BEN’s networking events were designed to inform members of the latest best practice and new ideas and provide an open forum to accelerate new collaborations.

In early 2009 the University of Bristol felt that BEN needed a new direction and initiated a process of transformation to:

• spin BEN out from the university to become an independent, self-funding organisation, associated with Science City Bristol,

• increase BEN’s focus on meeting the needs of smaller technology businesses, and
• extend the geographical scope of BEN from Bristol to also cover Bath and surrounding area.

This process is now under way and is also supported by the University of the West of England, Bath University and the South West Regional Development Agency.

In January 2010 BEN was re-named from the Bristol Enterprise Network to the Bath & Bristol Enterprise Network.

BEN members get together during regular free events (see BEN free events page). These evening events attract expert speakers who are keen to share their knowledge and experience. They cover a range of topics – from finance, sales and entrepreneurial leadership, to more specialised subjects such as bioscience, nanotechnology, health, communications and environmental issues.