Businesses encouraged to attend BNI event

ENTREPRENEURS and businesses from across the West Midlands have been invited by networking organisation BNI to take part in a major event at Edgbaston Crick Ground in Birmingham.

The day-long event, which takes place on Friday October 8, is to recruit new members to the organisation and to give existing members the chance to establish contacts with potential new clients.

The event will also feature presentations from two entrepreneurs plus a leading member of the BNBI organisation.

Dinah Liversidge is a business development trainer and also owner of Potential Un-Limited. She works with clients across Europe and America and will be talking about her work.

Mark Rhodes built, ran and then sold his pioneering internet business at the height of the dotcom boom in 2001. Having retired at the age of 35 he decided to re-invent himself as an entrepreneur, mentor and trainer. He will be talking about the work he does to improve businesses.

Noel Scanlon is the area director with BNI in Ireland and is the current BNI European Area Director of the Year. He will talk about the organisation and its goals, and how businesses benefit from being involved.

There are scores of BNI chapters across the region, several looking to increase membership.

Dan Wilcox is an area director heading up 15 groups in Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull. In addition, he has another three groups currently under development.

Each chapter is made up of a group of professionals but there is only one representative for each profession to avoid any conflict. The members network and work together for mutual benefit.

“The biggest group I run has around 40 members but the average tends to be around 20,” said Mr Wilcox, who is also attending the event.

“Within each chapter we get people to focus on developing power circles – groups where there is a synergy of clients. For example, we could have an events management firm and they would trade with a photographer, caterer, florist, a PR firm etc.

“This adds tremendous value to the businesses concerned and helps to stimulate growth.”

Trade stands are available for the event and further details are available on 01923 777071.