The Circle

For women who are building something.Based in Newcastle. Built for the North East. For women who've been at it long enough to know what they actually need.

Building a business in the North East is brilliant and tough. Just like you.You're capable. You know what you're doing. You're making real decisions — about pricing, hiring, pivoting, model, growth — and you're making most of them without anyone in the room who can tell you if you're wrong.
The networks exist. But they're surface-level, London-centric, or full of people trying to sell you something.
You don't need another event. You need a room.

What We Are

The Circle is a private peer advisory group for established female founders in Newcastle — built around honest conversation, direct challenge, and the kind of strategic rigour that actually moves your business forward.

What We Are Not

The Circle is not a networking group.
It's not a training programme.
It's not a leads community.It's a carefully curated peer advisory group for established North East founders who are serious about growth.

Is The Circle For You?

The Circle is for you if you've been building for two years or more, you're making consequential decisions about your business, and you want honest, direct peers in the room — not cheerleaders.
What you have in common with other Circle members isn't your industry. It's that you're commercially serious, you can give and receive direct challenge, and you're done making important decisions alone.
If you're in your first year, or you're looking for a leads group or referral network, we're probably not the right fit yet. Follow us on Instagram and come back when the time is right.

The Inner Circle

Your monthly advisory group. Eight members maximum. Half a day together, every month.
You bring your real challenges — strategy, pricing, hiring, model, growth. The room gives you honest, direct challenge from peers who are building at the same level. No softening. No cheerleading. Just the thinking you actually need.
Six month minimum commitment — because real trust takes time.
Founding member rate: £149/month + VAT for the full 6 month minimum commitment, then £199/month + VAT thereafter.
Founding member places are limited. If you're ready to invest in the right room — we'd love to hear from you.

Apply for a founding place

The Circle Shift

Sometimes you don't need a peer group. You need half a day and the right person in the room.
The Circle Shift is a focused strategic session for founders who are stuck, facing a decision they can't think through alone, or simply too close to the problem to see it clearly.
One problem. One outcome. Something concrete by the end.
Includes a 30 day follow up check-in.
£450 + VAT. In person Newcastle or virtual.

Apply for a Circle Shift session

About

The Circle is facilitated by Alicia Crowther — a Strategic Advisor with 20 years experience working with organisations from Central Government to national and global corporations including Anglo American, Lloyds Banking Group and the NHS.She founded The Circle to put that same strategic rigour into the hands of female founders in the North East — because the women building businesses here deserve the same quality of thinking as the organisations she's spent two decades advising.

We're launching The Inner Circle in Newcastle this spring.Founding member rate: £149/month +VAT for the full 6 month minimum commitment, then £199/month + VAT thereafterThere are eight places. That's it.

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The Circle
Serving the North East
Based in Newcastle upon Tyne[email protected]