Business networking event First Friday Club has returned with another well-attended event - as Reading businesses begin to stock of the first Labour budget in more than 13 years. 

More than 50 people from a business ranging from portrait photographers to representatives from Reading Football Club attended the event at Côte Brasserie in Riverside on Friday, November 1. 

From freelancers to CEO's, the First Friday Club is a monthly event held on the first Friday of every month at various venues, giving business owners the chance to share ideas, collaborate, and celebrate the business community of Reading.

Small business analyst Mary Wilson delivered a presentation at last week's event, showing how Jungian psychology can boost businesses when some team's personality traits spark great ideas - while others see sparks fly in fiery disagreement. 

During the networking after the presentation, many business owners and representatives were focused on the Labour government's recent budget, which included plans to hike national insurance contributions from 13.8 percent to 15 percent. 

Mark Summers of Summers Prints and Promotions summarised concerns repeated by other business owners, saying: "A lot of people are worried about the rise in national insurance contributions for employers.

"The people I'm speaking to are worried because in the end, where is that extra money going to come from?

"I think the government are focusing on the wrong businesses. I'm not sure what the next year is going to look like."

For portrait photographer Dan Joseph, it had been a "weird year" to be running a freelance business. 

He said: "It's been weird so far this year because there's been the election and a change in government. 

"I think people want to see what happens with budget, how it plays out."

It was Dan's first time at First Friday Club - and it proved to be a success for the photographer, who won a free advert in The Reading Chronicle as part of the monthly raffle. 

He said: "I have spoken to a few people - and I'm hopeful it will bear some fruit in terms of new business.

"I will come back, definitely - purely to see if I can win another raffle!" 

The networking event was praised by new and long-standing attendees alike, with one business coach calling it 'essential'. 

Beata Podgorska said: "The organisation of the event is always fantastic. The atmosphere is really great. 

"When I first came, I didn't expect much. For me as a one person business working from home, it's a chance to meet people and interaction with people."