A new event is set to launch this September, with the aim of bringing together people from across the natural stone industry for an evening of discussion, networking and shared knowledge.

We Are Stone, founded by Athena Stonecare director Becca Cranfield, will hold its first event on 9th September at Bulthaup Mayfair in London. The free evening event will run from 6–9pm, with attendees able to drop in and stay for as long as they wish. The format is deliberately informal, with open networking, drinks and nibbles rather than presentations, speeches or talks. 

The initiative intends to bring together people from across the stone supply chain, including quarry operators, masons, fixers, fabricators, suppliers, sourcers, installers and restorers. Its premise is that although these roles depend on one another, they do not always have opportunities to meet outside the commercial structures of individual businesses.

The event reflects Becca’s longstanding focus on collaboration and education, which has included a spell as Women in Natural Stone chair as well as helping to create Athena’s Aftercare guide and delivering its CPD programme for designers, suppliers and project teams. “We are creating a space to connect. A regular event hosted solely for the stone industry,” explains Becca. “This is not networking to gain business but to gain personally. It’s not about products but about people.” 

The first event comes against a challenging backdrop for the sector, with We Are Stone positioning itself as a forum for informal support and conversation. The organisers acknowledge that many businesses are facing difficult market conditions, while arguing that the industry's response should include looking after the people working within it.

The event is intended to be open to everyone, regardless of role, experience or location within the industry. Future events are expected to include more focused gatherings for women, business owners and younger members of the sector. 

Rather than competing with existing organisations or trade events, this event is intended to provide an additional, informal space where people can “share ideas, troubleshoot and simply offer a wise word of encouragement, understanding and support,” with plans to make it a regular feature in the industry calendar.

We Are Stone launches on 9 September 2026 at Bulthaup Mayfair, 37 Wigmore Street, London. Attendance is free.