TBE brings the region’s strongest breakfast networking event to Swindon

March 10, 2026 Anita Jaynes

3 min read

Swindon’s first-ever TBE Big Breakfast will take place at Lydiard Park, Swindon on Thursday 23rd April 2026.

Following the unrivalled success of our Cumberwell Park breakfasts in West Wiltshire, this event is being brought to the east of the county to help businesses make meaningful connections and grow their networks.

To kick off the new fiscal year, the event will focus on growth and Swindon. We will look at the town’s reputation versus its reality and why it remains an underestimated powerhouse with the potential to support business success across the region and the wider UK economy.

We chose Lydiard Park for this breakfast to highlight a side of Swindon that is often overlooked. The town is sometimes seen as an urban centre, yet it has beautiful green spaces and cultural places to enjoy, and Lydiard Park is a perfect example.

TBE is known for helping local businesses grow through real connections and shared insight. This breakfast brings that to life with people who are shaping Swindon today.

We will also be marking the launch of the TBE Awards 2026, delivered in partnership with headline sponsor Thrings. The awards celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship across our local business community, shining a light on the area’s most progressive and dynamic organisations and individuals.

We are excited to welcome as guest speakers:

Arthur Dallimer

Arthur Dallimer is a Swindon-based entrepreneur, landlord and property developer who has delivered more than £20m of projects across Swindon and Wiltshire since 2014. He works closely with private investors on disciplined, well-structured schemes and is part of the new wave of founders shaping the region’s future. Arthur is also developing Burderop House into a destination for cultural events, including a new concert series aimed at bringing fresh audiences into the town.

Kate Westbrook

Kate Westbrook is Partner and Head of Commercial at Thrings. She has spent more than 20 years advising businesses across the South West and is known for her practical, commercially focused approach. Kate lives and works in Swindon and is passionate about the town and its future. She is also a non-executive board member at Business West and a long-standing judge of the TBE Awards, championing innovative organisations across the region.

James Phipps

James Phipps is one of Wiltshire’s best-known entrepreneurs and a long-standing champion of Swindon’s business community. As Director of Excalibur, James helped shape the business into an award-winning IT and communications provider, recognised as a Times Top 100 Employer and achieving Investors in People accreditation. He has raised hundreds of thousands for South West charities and is now Executive Chairman of WestSpring IT. James is also an investor and Director at Gel Studios, which recently acquired well known Swindon agency Infinity Nation. His commitment to the town’s growth runs deep, both in business and community work.

Discussion Chair

The conversation with our speakers will be chaired by Anita Jaynes, Founder of The Business Exchange.

We will explore

Reputation versus Reality
Swindon as an underestimated powerhouse.

Looking East
New economic ties, new identity, new opportunities.

Culture and Place Making
Town centre renewal, the City of Culture bid, Burderop House and shifting perceptions.

What to expect