Frequently asked questions

The second Thursday of every month.

To ensure all attendees have the optimum opportunity to meet everyone at the event and have a chance to chat to as many other attendees as possible, we limit the numbers to 25 per walk, including the facilitators. This means tickets are available on a first-come-first-serve basis, so book early to secure your place each time! You can currently book in advance for all events up to August 2027. Our minimum number to run an event is 3.

We do not have theme events and no preparation is required for any event. The only preparation which can be useful, is to plan any topic you wish to raise at the problem-solving pow-wow (entirely optional).

We expect a mix of regulars and new attendees at each session. This means you can reconnect and deepen connections with some and also meet new people.

We currently have no plans for guest speakers or themes as our focus is on the quality conversations and our group problem-solving approach. That's not to say we won't be adding a festive feel around Christmas however!

Currently we hold all our events at Nowton Park in Bury St Edmunds but watch this space as we would love to add in events in other local areas!

Jo has a background in strategy and organisational management and holds the CMI (Chartered Management Institute) Level 7 Award in Strategic Management & Leadership, PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner, BIFM Level 4 Diploma in Facilities Management and NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. Ruth is a qualified Nutritional Therapist who also holds the MCIPD Level 7 HR accreditation, is a Level 5 qualified Business Coach and is an experienced facilitator and speaker.

This event is for absolutely anyone who feels they could benefit from making business connections and getting some fresh air! We welcome employees of any industry businesses, sole traders, SME business owners and love the variety of people from all different professions.

For us, in this context, the term 'business strategy' simply means finding ways to get the best from your business, whatever it may be. These events are designed to give people the space to think about their own work and make beneficial connections.

These events are for anyone 16 years and up, in employment of any kind.

Definitely - this can be a great way to get advice from others who remember exactly what it was like starting out and who may be able to give you advice based on their own experiences. Connections are crucial when starting out so this is a brilliant time to attend a Strategy Stroll.

We welcome walkers of all abilities and backgrounds on Strategy Strolls, we strive to make the outdoors accessible to everyone. To find out more, see our Inclusivity and Accessibility Statement, which also includes contact details if you'd like to discuss your specific requirements.

Connections to like-minded business people, advice and support for your own business (if you want it), and time to enjoy fresh air and get your steps in, in a beautiful local park.

Footwear suitable for walking around a park with some variable terrain. We walk in all weathers so make sure your footwear is suitable for the weather too! Other than that, nothing is essential, but many of our members like to bring a drink, notepad and pen, business cards or flyers. Additionally, if you have any medication you may need in the event of a medical incident, such as an asthma inhaler or epi pen, please ensure you do so.

This is a gentle stroll, so whilst there is no dress code and sports wear is entirely acceptable, there is no need for this as it is not an exercise activity.

These are called 'strolls' for a reason. This is not a high-intensity cardio workout by any means. These are a gentle walking pace to ensure it is accessible for all and to enable good quality conversation without getting out of breath. We will have a facilitator leading the group and one bringing up the rear, so no one gets left behind.

Whilst we hope attendees will stay for the whole 90 minutes to gain the most from it, we completely understand that you may have other commitments you may need to leave early for. The session takes place in 3 (approximately) 30 minute sessions so it's easy to head off at these natural breaks.

Once you have booked and paid, you will receive joining instructions with everything you need to know about the event. This website also contains plenty of useful information to understand more about the event, our facilitators and the location.

Even when limiting the numbers to 25, you may not get a chance to network directly with everyone during the walk itself. If there is someone you do not get the chance to chat to, you could always pop for a drink and chat at the café afterwards if you have time, or swap contact details and arrange to chat after the event. Also, remember you may get to see them again at future Strategy Strolls.

We may occasionally take photos at the events for use on our website or social media. Please let us know if you do not want to be included in any photos.

This is exactly why we started Strategy Strolls! We both had experiences of attending networking events where you walk into a stuffy room full of people you don't know, standing in groups and you have to figure out a way how to enter the conversations. Those events were not enjoyable and didn't stimulate great connections. Here, you have the option of initial introductions in the WhatsApp group before the event and during the event you naturally break into pairs and 3s, chat for ten minutes and then pair up with someone else. The group session in the middle has a focus on leveraging group mindset to support each other in business by offering advice, ideas and support to other business owners. There's also a lot to be said for walking side-by-side while you speak, rather than the intensity of face-to-face with direct eye contact. With the beautiful surroundings of Nowton Park, you will also never be at a loss for something to talk about!

Not at all if you don't want to. We totally understand how daunting that can be and this was one of the main reasons we implemented the WhatsApp group for each event - this enables you to type an introduction to yourself without having to ever announce it out loud! (See below for more info about the WhatsApp groups.) The majority of the session involves walking in pairs (or occasionally 3s) and then the group discussion section is entirely voluntary to speak in - we promise that we will never pick on people to speak in front of the group.

We are happy to facilitate however it works best for you, and if your preference is for us to put your question to the group, we are more than happy to do so. The key element for us is that you feel able to get the maximum benefit from the event.

Whilst we hope to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to raise their topic for discussion in this section (and we can be slightly flexible with the 30 minute duration if need be), we cannot guarantee that there will always be time. If you have a topic that you are particularly keen to raise, let one of the facilitators know in advance and we will do our very best to get yours raised early in this section. Equally, if we do not need the full 30 minutes for the pow-wow, we will just move back into the walking networking earlier.

Absolutely! We would love to hear all about what you do as this event is about boosting local businesses. The only thing we ask is that you act respectfully towards other attendees and our facilitators and that you do not adopt a 'pushy' sales approach to others as we want these events to feel comfortable for all.

Only if you want this to happen. We do not circulate contact details as standard but the WhatsApp group allows you to share your details with others attending that event (please note, the WhatsApp group closes 7 days after each event so be sure to save any contact details you need before this happens). We also recommend bringing business cards (hard copy or digital) to the event or swapping email addresses and LinkedIn contacts at the event, when you feel you have met someone that you would like to maintain contact with. No one is obliged to exchange details with anyone, if you do not feel comfortable doing so.

We create a temporary WhatsApp group for each event. Only people booked to attend on that specific event will be part of the group and joining the WhatsApp group is entirely optional. We do feel it is really beneficial to be part of the group as the facilitators will communicate with the group about the event on this channel. We also encourage attendees to introduce themselves and their business in the WhatsApp group as this is a great way to identify attendees who may be particularly useful to connect with at the event. The groups open 7 days before the relevant event and close 7 days after the event. We do this to avoid a giant, distracting WhatsApp group full of people you may not get to meet in person.

We are really grateful if attendees can let us know if they are running late and roughly when they expect to arrive, this allows us to agree a way to start the walk for others, whilst ensuring the late attendee can locate and join us as easily as possible. Please call Jo on 07375 801760 or Ruth on 07435 696231. If you are in the WhatsApp group, messaging on there is another handy way to get a message to the facilitators and group.

Go to our Book Now section of the website.

£15 per person, per event. Please note, if you drive to the event, there are car park fees in addition to this.

No, you can attend as and when you like. We would love to see you as often as possible but we know what a juggle life can be, so just book in for the events that work for you!

If you have paid to attend an event but need to cancel, a full refund can be given if you cancel at least 7 calendar days before the event. After this cut-off, we are happy to roll-over your payment to a future date.

This is absolutely fine to do, we just appreciate you letting the facilitators know the name of the person attending in your place. Please email hello@strategystrolls.co.uk to notify us.

Not yet but watch this space as it is coming soon!

New dates and booking options are always available on our website and social media pages. We will also give you the choice of joining our mailing list for updates (we won't bombard you with spam!).

We do not currently offer any discounted rates as we have priced this competitively and to reflect the value we feel you will gain from it. If you are interested in our facilitators running a group event for your company or management team specifically, we are more than happy to discuss this with you. Please email hello@strategystrolls.co.uk to arrange a call to discuss.

Yes, we love the opportunity to work directly with businesses and take groups out on Strategy Stroll walks to help facilitate off-site strategic planning in nature. Contact our experienced facilitators via email at hello@strategystrolls.co.uk

The address is Bury Road, Nowton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 5LU. What3words for main entrance: ///gambles.ignites.chestnuts

We meet at the picnic tables in the grass area near the café and toilets. The facilitators will be visible in Strategy Stroll tops.

The event starts promptly at 09:30 so please arrive around 5 minutes before this to avoid any delays to the session.

Yes, Nowton Park has ample parking. Parking charges apply and they accept cash, card or Ringo. Current costs as at August 2026 are: up to 2 hours £2, over 2 hours £3, blue badge holders all day £2. Season tickets for parking can be purchased on the Nowton Park website.

Yes, Nowton Park has fantastic facilities including public toilets which are located next to the café, by the main car park. Male, female and accessible toilets are available.

Yes, there is a café serving drinks as well as hot and cold food, snacks and ice creams. There is indoor and outdoor seating. This can be a great option to continue a conversation with another attendee if you don't need to dash off afterwards.

No food is provided at the event but, if you're planning to use the café, please check with them directly for any allergy requirements.

As two working mums, we completely get this! Babies in buggies or carriers are welcome (although the terrain can be a little bumpy for a buggy in places). The sessions aren't really suitable for children older than this due to the constant walking and focus on quality conversations. If you cannot attend at short notice due to a childcare reason such as because your child is unwell, then please refer to our refund and roll-over policy.

We love our canine friends and well-behaved dogs on leads are absolutely welcome to join. We just ask that you are respectful of other attendees who may not be such fans of dogs and/or who don't want muddy paw prints on their clothes for when they return to work! Please familiarise yourself with Nowton Park's rules about dogs, at the time of the event you are attending.

Whilst we are clear that rain and wind won't stop us walking, we will always adopt a safety-first approach to our events. Therefore in severe weather such as snow/ice, high winds, extreme heat, excessive rainfall etc we will evaluate the risk and will take the decision regarding whether to hold the walk or not. If the event has to be cancelled, attendees will be given the option of a full refund or to roll-over their payment to a future event. Notifications will be sent via email, on the group WhatsApp and posted on our social media so please keep an eye out on these channels if the weather is looking uncertain.

It is a rare event that Nowton Park decides to close, however if this occurs with sufficient notice we will endeavour to find an alternative local location, move the date for that month or cancel and offer the option of refund/roll-over.

In the unlikely event that neither facilitator can attend, the options for full refund or roll-over of your fee to a future event will be given.

Yes, Strategy Strolls have public liability insurance and adhere to West Suffolk Council requirements in this matter. Jo and Ruth both also hold professional indemnity insurance.

Event information will be available on our website and social media channels — find us on Facebook and Instagram. We will also communicate updates about specific events to the relevant WhatsApp group.

We have consciously not created a social media community as we want the focus to be on the connections you build face-to-face at events. We are however, always open to feedback and, if there is demand for this, we may review it in the future.

Please do! We share information about events and our facilitators write blogs which may be of interest to you too.

Only if you want this to happen. We do not circulate contact details as standard but the WhatsApp group allows you to share your details to others attending that event (please note, the WhatsApp group closes 7 days after each event so be sure to save any contact details you need before this happens). We also recommend bringing business cards (hard copy or digital) to the event or swapping email addresses and LinkedIn contacts at the event when you feel you have met someone that you would like to maintain contact with. No one is obliged to exchange details with anyone, if you do not feel comfortable doing so.

To find out how we collect, use, and store your data, please see our Privacy Policy.

We may occasionally take photos at the events for use on our website or social media. Please let us know if you do not want to be included in any photos.