Newark Business Club Meeting Write-Up – 6th March 2026
Chairman Simon Gabbitas, director of Future Prospects Group, welcomed a full house at the YMCA, including many new visitors to Newark Business Club’s March meeting. The roving mic travelled around the room, giving everyone the opportunity to introduce themselves and their businesses, highlighting the diversity of businesses based in Newark and the surrounding area.
Meeting Sponsors – Contemporary Art Newark
Contemporary Art Newark (CAN), an art gallery and café, will open in early summer 2026 in the beautiful, historic Ossington building opposite the castle and close to the river. For Mark Enstone, the founder of CAN, this will be the culmination of four years’ preparatory work, bringing his vision to life. CAN aims to bring cultural vitality, build civic price and help Newark to thrive. To make art accessible to everyone, CAN will showcase the work of regional and local artists, and it is also working with commercial galleries in London to bring nationally significant paintings to Newark.
CAN’s first exhibition, ‘Unseen Newark,’ will be an exhibition of local black-and-white photographs curated from a local architect’s archive. Take a nostalgic trip back to the 1970s when Newark Market Place resembled a car park and St Mark’s Place shopping centre did not exist. Buildings are recognisable but the signs above many of the shops have long gone.
At least 90,000 people are expected to visit CAN each year, increasing footfall in the town centre and boosting the local economy. In future, CAN plans to rent and revitalise an empty shop in the town centre, creating ‘We CAN,’ a community space for classes, workshops, talks and other events. How can you get involved? CAN is seeking support from the local community to refurbish the building and improve the garden. Support can be in the form of donations of time or money. Corporate partnership, sponsorship and collaboration packages are available. Contact mark@cangallery.org for further information.
Business Card Draw
Next on the agenda was the business card draw. The winners of a write-up on their businesses were Neil Gatland, Managing Director of Greenio Ltd, a first-time visitor, and Sheryl Monk, a wedding and funeral celebrant and regular attendee.
Newark Business Club Updates
The venue for meetings of Newark Business Club’s Action Group has changed to the YMCA. If you would like to collaborate with like-minded people to bring about positive change in the local community, you are welcome to attend the next meeting on 9th March at 5pm. There are two up-coming vacancies on Newark Business Club’s committee for the Club Chair and the Secretary. If you are interested, contact the current committee for a chat.
Table Networking
Table networking followed, giving each person one minute to share information on their business with the others on their table and distribute business cards.
Local Government Reorganisation
John Robinson, Chief Executive of Newark & Sherwood District Council, provided an update on the local government reorganisation. Following the reorganisation, two new unitary councils will replace the current nine councils in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The unitary councils will be responsible for all council services, contrasting with the current situation where local councils are responsible for some services while the county council is accountable for others.
The reorganisation intends to create economies of scale, improve service delivery and save money. This will lead to less fragmentation and greater accountability. For local residents, the reorganisation is designed to make council services easier to access by reducing confusion and increasing efficiency. Three proposals of the geographical areas to be covered by the new unitary councils are under consideration. A statutory consultation is now taking place until 26th March.
Local businesses and residents can view the proposals and give their opinions by taking part in a survey at www.lgrnotts.org Following the consultation, ministers will decide on the reorganisation in the summer, elections are due to take place in May 2027, and the current councils will be abolished on 31st March 2028, with the new unitary councils expected to come into operation from 1st April 2028.
Who Gives a Book?!
Julia Sandhu of Reach Newark recommended this month’s inspiring business book – It’s Murder in Management by Debra Allcock-Tyler. Joe Simpson of Invisible Dragon won a copy.
Member Spotlight
Chantelle Welsher of Ann et Vin stood in the spotlight this month, giving a two-minute presentation about her business. Ann et Vin is a local independent wine merchants, which not only sells wine but provides a space for people to find out more about wine and enjoy it in a relaxed atmosphere. The courtyard wine bar serves a variety of fine wines and hosts live music every month. Ann et Vin also organises wine tastings and provides a venue for corporate and charity events, weddings and birthdays. Its wholesale wine business supplies pubs and other local businesses with wine.
Announcements
Among the closing announcements were several events.
- Combining networking with supporting local restaurants, Newark Dining Club will meet at Castle Cuisine on 11th March from 6pm until 8pm.
- Business club member Nicola Auckland is holding a relaxed, small-group photo shoot for female business owners who want fresh images without the pressure of a full brand shoot. It will take place on 20th March at Kelham House, Newark. Find out more at: Visibility Social – Relaxed Group Photoshoot for Women in Business | Facebook
- In March, business club member Wendy Jackson is offering two local workshops on how doTerra essential oils can support your health, a green cleaning workshop and two homeopathic courses. Book your place at: WORKSHOPS – Wendy Jackson
- Positive Pants CIC, a charity providing mental health support for children and families, is holding a Charity Quiz at Gannets in Middlebeck on 20th March. Tickets are available on EventBrite.
- Enjoy a 5k or 10k walk at Sherwood Pines while raising money for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance at Walk Side by Side 2026 on 22nd March. Find out more and register at Walk Side By Side 2026 – Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
- Are you a young professional looking to network with other young professionals? Join Lincoln Young Professionals at their next meeting in the first week of April.
- Looking further ahead, Gusto Group is organising Gusto Fest, a summer celebration incorporating live music, food, drink, activities and a screening of the England vs Panama World Cup match, on 27th June. Corporate packages and individual tickets are available.
Member Spotlight
From Courtroom Advocate to Celebrant: Sheryl Monk Brings a New Voice to Life’s Biggest Moments After more than 30 years in the justice system, former Senior District Crown Prosecutor Sheryl Monk has traded the courtroom for ceremonies — and she’s bringing every bit of her expertise with her. Sheryl spent her career with the Crown Prosecution Service across the East Midlands, managing legal teams and presenting complex cases before the courts. But behind the professional rigour, a quieter passion was always present: a love of people, their stories, and finding exactly the right words to tell them.
Now operating as Sheryl Monk Celebrant, she creates and leads personally crafted ceremonies for weddings, funerals, vow renewals and naming ceremonies throughout the East Midlands. “After years in courtrooms, I realised the part of the job I loved most was listening to people’s stories,” she says. “Ceremonies should feel personal, warm and authentic — never like a template.” Her legal background has proved a natural fit. Years of courtroom advocacy mean Sheryl is equally at ease addressing 120 wedding guests or guiding a grieving family through a deeply personal farewell. “You need to hold the room,” she explains. “You need to read the moment and guide people through it.”
Whether it’s a traditional service, a symbolic handfasting, a humour-filled wedding, or a funeral that truly celebrates a life, Sheryl’s philosophy is simple. “Life isn’t one-size-fits-all,” she says. “And the ceremonies that celebrate it shouldn’t be either.” To find out more, visit sherylmonkcelebrant.co.uk
Thank you to Our Patrons & Sponsors
We are delighted to announce the following Patrons for 2025: Gusto Group|GXO in Partnership with Currys|Barcode Warehouse|PeachyEvents|Radio Newark
Next meeting
The next meeting of Newark Business Club will be on 10th April at the YMCA. Write up by Roz Andrews, RA Writers For Hire/RA Book Editing.
