Owner of Gilly Bachelor Travel Expert, Gilly Bachelor, co-founded Brewood Means Business with fellow local business owner Sarah Bywater. 

To launch the new group, the duo hosted an event at local cocktail bar Aperitif, which saw 40 guests attend. 

The initiative is designed to bring together like-minded local businesses and the community to encourage people to source goods and services locally.

Bachelor said: "Sarah owns and runs a skin clinic, so our businesses could not be more different, but our approach is completely aligned.

"Both of us offer a personal, tailor-made service, where we take the time to understand our clients’ requirements – whether it’s a holiday or skin treatment – with professional advice and genuine expertise at the heart of our recommendations."

Bachelor said her travel business – which operates under Not Just Travel – is "thriving" as it continues to expand with clients across the UK – but her focus remains on growing her local client base.

"So, with each of us inviting our top 25 clients to the event it created the perfect platform to showcase my services to new prospects in our local community," she added.

"The event was a huge success with enquiries for destinations including Alaska, the Galapagos Islands, Orlando and Costa Rica, from new local clients."