Business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals in Belfast will have the chance to put their own finance questions to the experts and explore how stronger business relationships can support growth at the latest Jennymount Business Park networking event.
As part of its monthly networking series, Jennymount Business Park in North Belfast is hosting a session focused on money, finance, accounts, business connections and growth tomorrow on Thursday September 24.
Taking place from 3pm to 5pm in the Lanyon Building, the event will bring together accountant David Blair of DJB Accountancy, business consultant Martin Gilchrist of Gilchrist & Co Consulting and host Tina Calder of Entrepreneurs Unleashed.
The session will combine practical financial guidance with discussion around networking, collaboration and the role meaningful relationships can play in building a stronger business.
Nicole Doherty, property manager at Stanvale, the company that owns the Jennymount complex, said: “Business owners are dealing with a huge number of decisions every day and finance is one of those areas where having access to the right information and the right people can make a real difference.
“At Jennymount we want our networking events to give people more than an opportunity to exchange business cards. We want them to be able to ask questions, learn from other people’s experience and make connections that could genuinely help them move their business forward.
“This month’s event brings those things together particularly well by looking at both the financial side of running a business and the relationships that can help create opportunities for growth.”
Accountant David Blair will join Tina Calder for an “All Things Finance” conversation in which he will answer questions from attendees, highlight some of the new changes for businesses in 2026 and share practical tips on the areas business owners should be looking at when managing their finances.
Through his own firm DJB Accountancy, David supports a wide range of SMEs across a variety of industries.
His previous corporate and public sector roles include Financial Management Accountant, Deputy Principal Accountant and Head of Finance, Governance and Risk, giving him experience across accountancy, financial management, compliance and governance.
Attendees are being encouraged to bring their own questions to the session or submit them in advance.
Whether they are looking for basic self-employment advice, a second opinion or guidance around a specific finance or accounts issue, the discussion is designed to give people the opportunity to ask questions in a relaxed environment and be signposted towards further support where appropriate.
David said: “One of the challenges for many small business owners is that they are expected to understand a huge range of financial responsibilities while also trying to actually run and grow the business.
“There are often questions people have been sitting with for some time because they are not sure who to ask, whether the issue is significant enough to seek advice about or even whether they are looking at the right things in the first place.
“I want this session to give people the opportunity to ask those questions, understand some of the changes they need to be aware of in 2026 and leave with practical information they can apply to their own business.”
Alongside the finance discussion, Martin Gilchrist will explore how meaningful relationships, networking and collaboration can help business owners create opportunities, improve profitability and make better strategic decisions.
Martin was co-founder of Gilchrist & Co Chartered Accountants before retiring in February 2026 to establish Gilchrist & Co Consulting.
With more than 30 years’ experience advising SMEs across Northern Ireland, he now works with business owners to improve profitability, make better strategic decisions and grow through the power of meaningful relationships.
He is also the founder of thenetworking.app and creator of the Seen & Heard Pop-Up Co-Working Day, an initiative designed to connect entrepreneurs, encourage collaboration and create opportunities for businesses to learn, grow and succeed together.
Martin said: “Networking works best when people stop thinking about how many contacts they can collect and start thinking about the quality of the relationships they are building.
“Visibility helps people get to know you, credibility helps them trust you and those relationships can ultimately lead to opportunities.
“I want people to think about networking as part of their wider business strategy and consider how the relationships they already have, as well as the ones they are yet to build, can support better decisions and long-term growth.”
Host Tina Calder of Entrepreneurs Unleashed will also give attendees a short overview of the grants, funding and business support landscape available to businesses across Northern Ireland.
She said: “There’s a lot of support available to businesses across Northern Ireland but it can sometimes feel fragmented and difficult to navigate, particularly when you are already busy running the business.
“I want to give people a quick overview of some of the places they can look for funding, grants, mentoring, training and other forms of support so they leave with a clearer idea of what might be relevant to them and where they can go next.
“The whole point of these Jennymount sessions is that people should leave knowing something they didn’t know when they arrived, whether that comes from a speaker, a question from someone else in the room or a conversation over a cup of coffee.”
The Jennymount networking series is designed to provide a relaxed alternative for people who may find traditional networking events uncomfortable or overly focused on pitching.
Attendees will have the opportunity to briefly introduce themselves and explain what they do, what they offer and what they are looking for, but participation is optional.
Those who are new to networking can also be given a simple formula to help them introduce themselves, while anyone who would prefer not to speak can pass without judgement.
The events are intended to encourage useful conversation, collaboration and practical business support while giving attendees time to meet other businesses and professionals from across North Belfast and beyond.
Tea and coffee will be provided and free on-site parking is available at Jennymount Business Park, North Derby Street, Belfast BT15 3HN.
The business park is also home to flexible offices, serviced workspaces, hotdesking facilities, meeting rooms and training spaces for businesses and professionals at different stages of their journey.
The Jennymount Business Park networking event takes place on Thursday September 24 from 3pm to 5pm.
To register find the event on Eventbrite or go to jennymount.co.uk/category/events