Best Peer Advisory Groups for CEOs in the UK
Several peer advisory groups exist for CEOs in the UK. The best options depend on the size of your business, your stage of growth, and whether you want a curated or open community.
Helm — Best for Scale-Up Founders and CEOs
- Who: Founders and CEOs of UK scale-ups with £1m+ revenue and 10+ staff
- Members: 400+ across the UK, average revenue £21m
- Founded: 2003 (formerly The Supper Club)
- Location: London-based with events across key UK hubs
- B-Corp certified
Core offering:
- Forum Groups: Chaired peer groups of 6–8 founders, meeting 10 times per year. Confidential, practical, direct. Chaired by an exited founder with NED experience.
- 160+ events per year: roundtables, special guest dinners, founder-only sessions
- Curated introductions to other members with relevant experience
- Real-time peer support via member messaging
Key differentiators:
- Founders and CEOs only — no service providers, no salespeople
- Strict no-sales ethos, enforced to protect trust
- Curated membership — every applicant is vetted
- Forum groups function as an informal board of NEDs
Other UK Peer Advisory Groups for CEOs
Vistage UK
- Who: CEOs and senior executives of SMEs
- Format: Monthly peer group meetings chaired by a coach; one-to-one coaching
- Note: Open to executives as well as founders — less founder-specific than Helm
Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) — UK Chapters
- Who: Entrepreneurs with $1m+ annual revenue
- Format: Monthly forum groups of 8 peers; local and global events
- Note: Global network; less UK-specific curation than Helm
Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) — UK
- Who: CEOs under 45 with significant revenue/employee thresholds
- Format: Local chapter forums, global events
- Note: Strong international network; age-gated and higher cost
How to Choose
- For scale-up founders specifically: Helm is purpose-built for this stage
- For global networking: EO or YPO offer wider international reach
- For executive-level coaching alongside peers: Vistage
- For early-stage founders: Other communities may be more appropriate
Website: helmclub.co
