The Rochester Cathedral Business Guild

Aims and Objectives

Businesses will benefit from association with the cathedral's prestigious name, location and reputation within Kent and Medway. The Guild will provide members with opportunities for entertaining customers, suppliers or staff in a unique setting through a variety of events and networking functions. 

It will attract high-profile speakers and stimulate ideas on business practice and ethics.


Rochester Cathedral Business Guild membership information

If you’d like to join the Business Guild Database you can fill out this Membership Form, or contact the Trust Administrator for more information at the below email address.

The Business Guild works as part of The Rochester Cathedral Trust.

Further information please contact our Trust Administrator, Becca Mitchell-Lowe at trust@rochestercathedral.org

 

Business Guild Events coming up in 2025

  • Networking Breakfast - 22nd January 2025 - The speakers are: Dr Gill Fargher & Dr Paul Hayden delivering a presentation on Organ Donation & Kulbinder Dio, Founder and CEO of bionicGPT, talking about the use of AI in business.

  • Networking Breakfast - 19th March 2025 - The speakers are: Martyn Reeves from The Wisdom Hospice & Jane Howard, CEO of MVA.

  • Networking Breakfast - 21st May 2025 - The speakers are: Sarah Kelmsley from Maggie’s and HHJ Oliver Saxby KC.

  • Networking Breakfast - 117th June 2025 - The speakers are: Adam King from Space32 and Barnaby Wynter.

  • Networking Breakfast - 24th September 2025 - The speakers are: James Norman from Warners and Michael Wooldridge from Savills.

  • Networking Breakfast - 26th November 2025 - The speakers are: Lady Bella Colgrain & Clive Stevens, talking about the King’s Award and Jack White & Gary Hake from Chatham Town FC.

Looking ahead to to 2026

  • Networking Breakfast - 14th January 2026 - The speakers are: TBC

  • Networking Breakfast - 18th March 2026 - The speakers are: TBC

  • Networking Breakfast - 13th May 2026 - The speakers are: TBC

  • Networking Breakfast - 15th September 2026 - The speakers are: TBC

  • Networking Breakfast - 28th October 2026 - The speakers are: TBC

We do charge £10 per ticket to our Networking Breakfasts, and all of our Events are advertised on the Business Guild’s Eventbrite page.

If you’re interested in being a speaker or sponsor of a Business Guild Breakfast, please do get in touch with the Trust Administrator, Becca Mitchell-Lowe // trust@rochestercathedral.org // 01634 810074

 
Recent Business Guild Events
Attendees at the Business Guild breakfast hear from Colin Jarvis, creator of Mems Power Generation
Attendees at the Business Guild breakfast hear from Colin Jarvis, creator of Mems Power Generation

Entrepreneur Colin Jarvis has played a significant part in Medway's business life, especially in his native Gillingham.He told his amazing story to a large audience at Rochester Business Guild's breakfast meeting in the Crypt of Rochester Cathedral on April 19.

Business Guild Annual Dinner
Business Guild Annual Dinner

In October, David Ward, Chairman of Rochester Cathedral Business Guild hosted the Guild’s Annual Dinner, and it was great to be back face to face at our first event since lockdown.

Webinar - COVID-19 Vaccine enforcement- what are the rules?
Webinar - COVID-19 Vaccine enforcement- what are the rules?

Watch a presentation with Brachers on Covid enforcement at work.

Webinar - Business made simple, invite people into your story
Webinar - Business made simple, invite people into your story

Register now for the next Business Guild webinar by ebusiness Coaching’s Paul McCartney.

March 31st 12.30pm

Register here

Webinar - Rory Sutherland speaks
Webinar - Rory Sutherland speaks

Rory Sutherland is one of the most influential advertising professionals in the world today and a Cathedral Patron.

April 22nd, 6pm

Register here

The Benefits of Nature for Health - Dr Caroline Jessel
The Benefits of Nature for Health - Dr Caroline Jessel

A presentation given for members of the Business Guild on the 13th January 2021

Webinar - EU Exit transition and businesses
Webinar - EU Exit transition and businesses

Register now for the next Business Guild breakfast meeting. Phil Hibben, Head of Strategic Planning for the EU Exit Transition, will be talking about the challenges he faced in getting ready for the transition and how he thinks the changes will impact on us going forward. Register now

Thursday 18 February, 8am

Webinar - The importance of contractual terms and conditions
Webinar - The importance of contractual terms and conditions

The latest in the Business Guild webinar series. Jay Sahota, Jarman’s Solicitors, discusses the importance of good contractual terms and conditions. Register now

Friday 12th February

Protecting yourself and business against cybercrime
Protecting yourself and business against cybercrime

The first of a webinar Series with Aimee Payne. An opportunity to discuss current UK threats and, in particular, threats to Kent-based businesses, and how to protect your business from cybercrime. FREE EVENT

Food for thought…
Food for thought…

Mental health in the workplace awareness forum gave participants something to think about.

Businesses encouraged to back Medway's UK City of Culture bid
Businesses encouraged to back Medway's UK City of Culture bid

Rochester Cathedral Business Guild members have been encouraged to back Medway’s bid to become UK City of Culture in 2025.

'The Force' shows business leaders how to tee off in a cathedral nave
'The Force' shows business leaders how to tee off in a cathedral nave

Marc Chapman, dubbed “the Force” in crazy golf circles demonstrates his skills in the Cathedral’s own Adventure Golf course.

Key speakers reveal the future of North Kent at Guild event
Key speakers reveal the future of North Kent at Guild event

The many changes likely to come to North Kent were on the menu at Rochester Cathedral Business Guild’s first breakfast meeting of 2019.

New Chairman of Rochester Cathedral Business Guild
New Chairman of Rochester Cathedral Business Guild

David Ward, CEO of Ward Security, named as new Chairman of Rochester Cathedral Business Guild