About forge Network.

We aren't your average business network!

Building Business, Balance & Brotherhood;

By Men For Men

Four men talking around a table in a cafe, drinking coffee. One man gestures and smiles.
The forge network story

Forge Network was born out of the need for postive male connections and friendships. 


Many of us tend to really struggle with maintaining friendships with other men.  We have the business, the family, the partner, the responsibilities, but that all can often come at the cost of our personal friendships, which often go by the wayside.  Suddenly we wake up one day and wonder what happened? We start to feel isolated and alone.


As a man in my late forties, I recognised this in myself.  My kids are grown up, I have a loving partner, run a business, and yet I struggle to even count on a single hand my genuine male connections. 

There's a real feeling of disconnection, and after looking into the stats around male friendships and mental health, I was shocked. 


Suicide in men under 50 is one of the leading causes of death in this age group, and the highest suicide rate is in men between the ages of 46-64. This needs to change, and so I created Forge Network as a way of addressing this.  To end the feeling of isolation many of us feel, and to grow and thrive together as men, in both business and friendship, and to provide a space for men to feel supported, connected and heard.

a bit about me...

Man with graying hair and beard looking up, black shirt, wood pile background.

I'm Shaun Pritchard, the founder of Forge Network


I'm a branding expert, a professional graphic designer and fine artist by trade, and now, the owner and founder of Forge Network.  I'm also an ex-teacher and SEND specialist, having worked in education for more than twenty years. 


I'm the father of two wonderful young men and one amazing young woman, I'm a grandfather to a beautiful little girl, and that's soon to be added to with another grandaughter and grandson. 


I'm also a partner, a dog dad, a wearer of multiple hats, a nature lover, a herbalist, a folkorist, a keen historian and a curious soul.


But above all of that I'm a man.


I'm a middle aged man who can see that we, as a society, have a real problem. Men in our modern world are often demonised, labeled as "toxic", and given less social value than many other groups. This has led to a downward spiral in men's mental health, a "hiding and toxification" of masculinity, and diminishing of what it is to be men. 


That's why I set up Forge Network. As a space for men to come together, do business, build lasting bonds and feel valued, supported and seen by our fellow men, not just in business, but in life in general. 

A black Forge Flame Icon

business networking

work & business

POWERFUL BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

Running a business can be a lonely path to tread.  That's why Forge is a space for driven men to network and do business together. 


There's a completely different vibe when a group of men get together to do business with each other.  To say "shit gets done" would be an understatement!


Forge Network is about providing a space to share ideas, foster collaborations and support each other's businesses and passions.


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Connection, support & wellbeing

brotherhood and friendships

Throughout our lives, we often lose connection with our male friends.  We are all so busy running businesses, having families and working, that it's easy to for these important social bonds to slip.  Around 81% of the male population struggle with feelings of isolation, and can lack meaningful relationships. This abject loneliness can really start to take its toll on our mental health.


Our social events are about creating and building those social connections, banishing the isolation and as a result, increasing our happiness and wellbeing.

JOIN THE FORGE

social events

SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Who is Forge for?

    Forge Network is for men in business, in and around Nottingham and the East Midlands. 


    It's for men of any age who want to feel connected and forge healthy and supportive friendships with other men.  

  • Why is it only for men?

    There's lots of women only spaces and there's also lots of mixed networking groups too, so why not a space for men?  


    Men often struggle to form and maintain social connections with other men, especially as we reach a certain age, and so Forge helps to facilitate a men-only space where we can all feel supported both in business and in our lives.

  • When do the meetings take place?

    The main networking meeting takes place once a month in the evenings, at various venues across Nottingham City Centre. 


    But there are also other events, both social and business related, online and in-person, which take place in-between.  


    This provides ample opportunity to form and maintain those all important connections and build those bonds.

  • How much does membership cost?

    Attending your first meeting is always completely FREE, thereafter there are 3 ways to join Forge;


    1. An annual payment of £300 which covers you for the full year of networking, gives you access to all of the Forge main networking and social events, and discounts on any special events.  


    2. A six monthly plan.  You pay £170  for a full 6 months of access to all meetings and events, as in the annual plan. This is great if you don't want to commit for the full year, but would like to still attend Forge events and meetings regularly.


    3.  Quarterly.   This is where you pay £90 every three months, and you get three full months of access as above.  

  • What do i get when becoming a member?

    You get full access to all Forge events and meetings, and a reduced price for any special events.  


    You get to join a community of like-minded, supportive men who all share the common purpose of forging lasting professional and personal connections.

  • Why a membership model?

    Forge is all about building more than just business connections, we're also about building a culture of brotherhood, this is hard to do when someone just pops along once or twice.  A membership model shows a commitment and purpose to the Forge ethos, and allows for deeper and stronger connections.

The many benefits of regular social connection

"mates are a kind of medicine"

01

When we feel connected and less lonely, we live longer

According to many independent studies, people with strong social bonds and friendships are more likely to live longer.


A great study here featured in the BBC's "Science Focus" explains about the silent killer of loneliness in men


READ HERE

02

Social connection boosts the immune system

Developing strong, healthy social bonds, helps to fight disease, protect us from strokes, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.


Read an article in "News Medical" below with details of the study


READ HERE

03

Developing and maintaining close social bonds keeps the mind sharp

A great article from "AgeUK" explains the importance of social connections in staving off cognitive decline. 


The more real-world social links we have, the more we are likely to maintain our mental faculties as we age.


READ HERE

04

Social bonds help us to form and maintain healthy habits

Having strong social connections helps us to develop more healthy habits, and to even help us kick unhealthy ones.


Good social connections can hold us accountable, help us maintain balance and give us an outlet to vent to.


You can read a great article about "The Power of Peers" here from "News In Health"


READ HERE

"Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved "


- Mattie stepanek


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