Startup Sunday: Simple Socials - Easy Wins for Busy Small Business Owners

Welcome to Startup Sunday!

Startup Sunday is a free monthly meetup for women and non-binary people who are self-employed or starting a business. It’s a relaxed, welcoming space to connect, share ideas, and build confidence together over a cuppa.

Each session includes a short workshop to support your personal or professional development.

💡 This Month’s Workshop:

Running your own business can be a juggling act, and social media often ends up at the bottom of the list. In this relaxed, practical session, Susan Bonnar, Founder and CEO of The British Craft House, will share simple ways to make your socials work harder for you, without the overwhelm.

Susan will draw on her digital marketing expertise (she recently completed an MA in Digital Marketing at the University of Portsmouth) and her experience growing The British Craft House online community, now over 150,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook and X, to share simple ways to make your socials work harder for you.

No matter your experience level, you’ll leave with easy wins you can put into action straight away.

📍 Event Details

🗓 When: Sunday 9 November, 11:30am - 2:00pm
📌 Where: Southsea Library, 19–21 Palmerston Road, Southsea, PO5 3QQ
💰 Cost: Free to attend

Startup Sunday runs on the second Sunday of each month. You’re welcome to drop in at any time during the session and stay for as long as you like.

Southsea Library is a bright, accessible and family-friendly venue with level access, accessible toilets and space for buggies. Children are always welcome, so there’s no need to choose between your business and your babies.

☕ Free tea, coffee and light snacks are provided.
💬 No elevator pitches or pressure, just genuine conversation.
👶 Child-friendly activities and space for little ones to play.

Meet Susan Bonner, Founder & CEO, The British Craft House

Susan Bonnar is the driving force behind The British Craft House, a mission-led platform dedicated to elevating UK-based handmade businesses. After more than 20 years in the Royal Navy as an air traffic controller, she transitioned from military precision to creative entrepreneurship, drawing on her passion for craft and community.

In 2019, Susan launched The British Craft House from her home on the South Coast of England, creating a curated, application-based marketplace for British makers to sell handmade, sustainable products under one roof. From those early beginnings, she has grown the network to support hundreds of creative entrepreneurs, providing them with exposure, tools and a strong sense of community.

Susan's approach to business is rooted in collaboration and empowerment, championing authenticity and quality over volume. Under her leadership, The British Craft House has grown a combined following of more than 150,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook and X, demonstrating her deep understanding of social media and community engagement. The British Craft House was shortlisted for Creative Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2024 Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Outside the business, Susan is a keen runner who has raised thousands for charity and continues to mentor and champion the UK craft community.

🕊️ About The Lark Network

The Lark Network is a Portsmouth-based community supporting women and non-binary people to start and grow their own businesses.

We know that self-employment can be exciting but also challenging, especially if you’re balancing caring responsibilities, health conditions, or confidence barriers.

Our mission is to help female founders sing while they fly, building businesses that fit their lives, not the other way around.

You’ll find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, where we share updates, inspiration and opportunities to connect.

Looking for support between our events?

Join our Facebook group here: The Lark Network

💛 How can I support what you do?

The Lark Network CIC is a non-profit community organisation that exists to make business support more inclusive. We keep our events low or no cost so they’re accessible to everyone, thanks to the generous support of our community.

You can help us continue our work by:
🎟 buying a Portsmouth Community Lottery ticket and choosing The Lark Network as your cause
🌿 subscribing to our Patreon, where you’ll get behind-the-scenes updates and exclusive digital resources
🤝 joining our paid Give Back Networking events, which fund free community activities like Startup Sunday. (Members of our Facebook community and subscribers to our mailing list get an exclusive discount on tickets!)

Every contribution helps us create spaces where women and non-binary people can connect, learn and grow with confidence.