ABOUT
Totnes has an extraordinary mix of independent businesses, social enterprises, and values-led organisations. But like many towns, it faces real challenges: rising costs, changing high street habits, and the need to adapt to a fast-moving economic landscape.
Totnes Business Forum’s goal is to respond to those challenges in a practical, grounded way – by giving businesses a shared platform, a stronger collective voice, and more opportunities to support one another.
WHO IT’S FOR
The Forum is open to all businesses in Totnes and the surrounding area – whether you’re a sole trader, a retailer, a café owner, a freelancer or a larger organisation.
If you’re part of the local economy, you belong here.
our approach
We're practical, inclusive, and focused on outcomes – not on being seen to do things.
We know you're busy. The last thing any business owner needs is a calendar full of meetings that go nowhere. So we don't do that. We gather when it matters, with the right people, focused on projects that are actually going somewhere.
Our projects are proposed and shaped by members – and they can take almost any form. Developing a town-wide approach to business waste. Designing campaigns that help keep spending local. Building the kind of cross-business relationships that lead to real referrals and real growth. Our only limits are collective imagination and willingness to engage.
We believe:
Strong local businesses create a stronger local economy
Collaboration builds resilience in ways that individual effort can't
Independent towns like Totnes have a distinctive advantage – and it's worth actively defending
WHERE WE’VE COME FROM
The Totnes Business Forum came from listening to local businesses.
The Totnes Community Economic Plan (CEP) – a district-wide initiative led by South Hams District Council – brought together businesses, organisations and community representatives to shape a shared vision for Totnes's economic future. Through surveys, consultations and workshops, a clear message emerged: businesses wanted stronger marketing support, better opportunities to connect, and a unified voice in decisions that affect the town.
The Forum is the direct, practical response to that call. It is supported by Totnes Town Council, which provided the seed funding to help build a strong foundation.