Coffee. Conversation. Connection That’s all it started with.
More than two years ago, Ian Pownall set up a quiet, informal networking event at Been Coffee in Derby. No 60-second pitches. No name badges. No pressure. Just space – to talk, to listen, to be.
And people came.
First a handful. Then a dozen. And now? Up to 60 people regularly show up on the first Tuesday of each month – some to chat, others to observe, many to return again and again. It’s a warm, open-armed community with as much room for introverts as extroverts.
But once a month wasn’t enough.
“We found intensity,” says Ian, “but we were missing consistency. People would leave buzzing from conversations and ideas, only to have it fizzle away before the next meetup.”
And so, in his very apt role as Head of Connections at Juggling Octopus, Ian set up Juggling Been – an online WhatsApp community designed to provide that same safe space for local business owners, daily.
There’s no agenda. No sales pitches. Just a space to belong.
There are tips and ideas shared each day – practical support across everything from admin and finance to wellbeing and sales. But more than that, there’s warmth and humour. Encouragement. A place to say “I’m stuck” or “anyone know a good printer?” without judgement.
In just a few short weeks, nearly 70 local business owners have joined the Juggling Been WhatsApp community.
It’s designed for those building something on their own – whether that’s a startup or a side hustle, a small team or a solo mission. And for those who sometimes find themselves bouncing ideas off the cat and wondering if there’s another way.
As author and speaker Simon Sinek once said: “A community is a group of people who agree to grow together.”
That’s what Juggling Been is all about.
There’s no cost to join, no expectations, and no pressure to post. Some people talk daily. Others don’t say a word — and that’s completely fine. The door is open, and the welcome is real.
If you’re curious, get in touch. Come and find out what happens when a community is built on trust, not transactions.
Juggling Octopus provides remote business support to organisations across the UK — helping founders and business leaders get time back by taking on the tasks they can do, but shouldn’t.
But we’re also deeply committed to supporting the Derby business community.
If you’d like to know more – or to join the Juggling Been WhatsApp space – contact either Ian (07753 662973) or Sarah (07791 736181 or online you can click HERE and share your details.
