The Channel Community
Free UK IT channel community built around one-to-one mentoring, with events, a podcast and a stated commitment to treating all members as equals.
Resources
The Channel Community is a UK IT channel community whose main activity is mentoring rather than events or content. Members are paired with a more experienced person in the channel, called a Channel Buddy, for one-to-one support. It is constituted as a community interest company and funded by sponsorship so that membership stays free.
What members get
- A mentoring pairing with an experienced channel professional
- Community events and networking across vendors, distributors, managed service providers and resellers
- The Five in Five podcast, covering channel topics in short episodes
- Video interviews and written resources
The community also produced a book, Smashing the Class Ceiling, collecting the career stories of nineteen senior channel leaders, with profits going to social mobility charities.
Who it is for
Anyone working in the UK IT channel, from people early in their careers to senior leaders, with an explicit welcome to those working in isolated roles. Two principles are stated openly: members are treated as equals regardless of job title, and conversations stay about the people rather than their employers.
How to join
Membership is free. The site provides separate onboarding documents for joining as a member, requesting a Channel Buddy, or volunteering to become one. ChannelWeb reported the community's fifth anniversary in 2026. A member count is not published.
Related Communities
Candefero
Free research community for IT channel partners, built around Canalys market data
Coterie Connect
Community for partner and ecosystem marketers, with monthly meetups and an annual event
GTIA DACH Community
IT channel community for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, inside GTIA membership