From 10 Downing Street to Meeting New Faces: The Power of Connection

Rose Hill
Aug 28
3 min read

One of the most unexpected joys of running Co-Creative Connection is how one conversation, one meeting, or one event can open the door to something you never could have planned.

Last month, I was lucky enough to be invited to 10 Downing Street!! A proud moment that already felt like a huge highlight of 2025. While at the reception I met Sinéad, someone I instantly clicked with! We swapped stories about the joys and challenges of running your own business, we kept in contact after, and the following week she’d invited me to another event: the British and Irish Trading Alliance (BITA) Networking drinks at the Old Shades London Pub, where fun and conversation were had until the early hours of the morning!

Rose, founder of Co-Creative Connection, in a navy blue sleeveless dress with a red belt stands with arms raised triumphantly in front of the famous black door of 10 Downing Street. She's wearing a red headband and smiling broadly. The door features the iconic white "10" number and ornate fanlight window above, flanked by white columns and black iron railings. — 10 Downing Street, 2025

Connection in Every Corner

Fast forward a few weeks, I met up with Sinéad and everybody at the cosy Old Shades London Pub. The pub was filled with conversation, laughter, and introductions, proof that connection doesn’t always need a formal setting. Over a glass of red wine and in a more relaxed space, people were open, curious, and eager to talk. Sometimes it’s these informal settings where the real, human conversations happen, the ones that stick with you and spark ideas you never saw coming! It was an amazing night that went into the early hours of the morning!

It was an amazing chance to connect, share stories, and remind ourselves that, while running a business can be exciting, it can also be lonely. Events like these are a lifeline, offering not just professional opportunities but human connection.

Three people pose together outdoors in what looks like a courtyard with brick buildings in the background. On the left is Sinèad with long brown hair wearing a red floral blouse, in the middle is a man, John Salako, in a light pink/white striped shirt, and on the right is Rose with dark hair, bangs, and a red headband wearing a navy blue polka dot dress. All three are smiling at the camera. — Old Shades Pub, Westminster, 2025

The Loneliness People Don’t Talk About Enough

As a small business owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, meetings, emails, admin, delivering your work, and before you know it, you’ve gone days without having a real, energising conversation with someone who understands your world!

Running a business can be exciting, but it can also be lonely in ways that aren’t always visible from the outside. You carry the weight of making decisions, solving problems, and keeping things moving, often without a team around you to share those moments. Even when you’re constantly surrounded by people through projects and events, the behind-the-scenes part of your work can feel isolating.

That’s why spaces like BITA are so important. They’re not just about pitching or finding leads. They’re about stepping into a room full of people who get it, who know the pressures and the wins, and who can offer encouragement, insight, or even just a listening ear.

Rose and another woman are engaged in conversation at a formal reception in an elegant room, 11 Downing Street, with red walls, ornate gold-framed paintings, and a crystal chandelier. Rose on the left wears a navy dress with a red and white headband and holds a red fan, while the woman on the right has blonde hair and wears a brown coloured outfit while holding a drink. — 10 Downing Street, 2025

More Than Just Business Networking

During the networking at the pub, I had conversations that went way beyond “what do you do?”. I met people from industries I don’t always usually cross paths with, heard about the innovative ways they’re approaching their work, and shared stories about the realities of running something of your own. I learned about projects I’d love to collaborate on, and I left with something equally valuable, a renewed sense of connection!

Networking like this can be a lifeline for small business owners like me. They remind you that even if you work for yourself, you’re not by yourself. They offer moments of friendship as much as professional opportunity. They give you the chance to step out of the “doing” and into the “connecting”, and that can completely shift your energy and perspective!

Rose, with dark hair, bangs, and a red headband wearing a navy blue polka dot dress poses with an older man, Paul Whitnell, in a navy vest, white shirt, and colourful tie. They're both smiling and holding drinks, with other people visible in the background. — Old Shades Pub, Westminster, 2025

A Massive Thank You

To Sinéad, for inviting me and making this connection possible, thank you so much! And to everyone at BITA for creating such an open, friendly, and collaborative environment. It’s a wonderful community.

I left the pub networking feeling inspired, re-energised, and reminded of something I think we all need to hear now and again: no matter how lonely running a business can sometimes feel, there’s always a seat at the table if you’re willing to show up and take it.

A large crowd of people, mostly men in white shirts and business attire, gathered in a London street surrounded by brick and stone Georgian-style buildings. — Old Shades Pub, Westminster, 2025

Let’s Connect Beyond Networking Events

At Co-Creative Connection, building relationships is at the heart of everything we do, whether that’s in a meeting room, at a workshop, or through painting a mural/ public artwork side by side. If you’re looking for a creative partner who values collaboration, community, and connection as much as you do, I’d love to chat.

Whether it’s co-creating a community project or finding ways our networks can support each other, let’s keep the conversations going. 💛

Please contact us via the link below