Top Small Business Networking Events in Manchester in 2026

Manchester has one of the strongest SME and startup scenes in the UK, which means you can find networking almost any week of the year. The trick is choosing the events that attract the right people for your business: buyers, partners, suppliers, hires, or investors.

This guide lists 10 high value Manchester (and Greater Manchester) events and networks for 2026, plus simple digital business card tactics you can use to turn good conversations into measurable leads.

Note on dates: Dates and venues are correct at the time of writing, but events can move. Always double-check the official event page before booking travel or tickets.

Top 10 small business events and networks in Manchester (2026)

1. Digital Skills Festival: Digital Her Day 2026
   Date: 3 February 2026
   Location: HOME Manchester
   Website: View event

   A focused day within Manchester Digital’s Digital Skills Festival, great for meeting founders, operators and talent across the North West’s digital economy.

   Digital business card play: Add a one-line headline to your card that says exactly who you help (for example, “Helping Manchester SMEs generate more inbound leads”).

2. Digital Skills Festival: Talent Day 2026
   Date: 4 February 2026
   Location: New Century Hall, Manchester
   Website: View event

   If you hire, partner with agencies, or sell services into digital teams, this is a high signal room. It also works well for founders building their first team.

   Digital business card play: Include a “We’re hiring” or “We collaborate with agencies” button on your card for this event only.

3. Manchester Cleaning Show 2026
   Date: 18 to 19 February 2026
   Location: Manchester Central
   Website: Official site

   A strong B2B trade show for service businesses and suppliers in facilities, cleaning and FM. Great if you want practical leads, not just “nice chats”.

   Digital business card play: Put one proof point on your card (rating, case study, before/after result) so buyers remember you later.

4. MD Ecom 26
   Date: 26 March 2026
   Location: Manchester City Centre (venue details on event page)
   Website: View event

   A good pick for ecommerce founders, Shopify store owners, agencies and operators who care about conversion and retention, not just traffic.

   Digital business card play: Add one primary CTA on your card (for example “Book a 15-minute audit”) and remove everything else.

5. Festival of Enterprise 2026
   Date: 20 March 2026
   Location: Campfield, Manchester
   Website: Event listing

   A broad SME-focused expo and networking day. Expect founders, local service businesses, and people actively looking for suppliers and support.

   Digital business card play: Create an “event version” of your card with a specific offer (for example, “Free 10-point website checklist”).

6. Manchester Tech Week 2026
   Date: 27 April to 1 May 2026
   Location: Venues across Manchester
   Website: Official site

   A city-wide festival that pulls in founders, operators, enterprise teams and investors. Perfect if you want lots of side-events and niche rooms.

   Digital business card play: Save your QR code as your phone lock screen so sharing takes 3 seconds, not 30.

7. DTX + UCX Manchester 2026
   Date: 29 to 30 April 2026
   Location: Manchester Central
   Website: Official site

   Two of the biggest enterprise-tech shows in the North. Useful if your small business sells into IT, ops, transformation, cyber or digital change.

   Digital business card play: Add a short “what we sell” line and a “book a demo” button to your card for faster qualification.

8. Camp Digital 2026
   Date: 7 May 2026
   Location: Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
   Website: View event

   A high quality conference for digital, UX, product, marketing and delivery. Great networking if your customers are online-first businesses.

   Digital business card play: Include a link to one strong portfolio page or case study, not your whole website menu.

9. Greater Manchester Business Fair 2026
   Date: 15 July 2026
   Location: Mercure Bolton Georgian House Hotel (Greater Manchester)
   Website: Official site

   A practical regional business fair that can generate quick wins for local service providers and B2B suppliers.

   Digital business card play: Ask people to save your card to their phone while you are standing there, then send a same-day follow up.

10. pro-manchester Events (year-round calendar)
    Date: Multiple dates throughout 2026
    Location: Manchester venues (varies by event)
    Website: Events calendar

    One of the best-known business communities in Greater Manchester, with regular events across finance, tech, property, legal and leadership.

    Digital business card play: After each event, tag contacts by intent (lead, partner, hire) so your follow-up is personalised.

How to use Bizcardy to turn Manchester events into leads

Going to events only pays off when you have a repeatable follow-up system. A digital business card helps because it removes friction: people can scan, save and contact you instantly.

1. Set up one clear card: Use a simple headline that says who you help and what outcome you drive.
2. Make sharing instant: Save your QR code to your lock screen. Aim for a 5 second handoff.
3. Use one primary CTA: “Book a call”, “Get a quote”, or “Download a checklist”. One goal per event.
4. Write notes fast: Add 1 sentence after each chat so your follow-up feels human and specific.
5. Follow up within 24 hours: Reference the conversation, add value, and suggest a small next step.

Quick CTA: If you want a simple digital business card you can share in-person and online, create your Bizcardy card here and bring it to your next event.