Hi,
Does anybody on here go to a BNI group or have ever been to one. I'm thinking of visitng a couple this week and just after some information.
Cheers
John

If you're still looking, we're in the new Beauchief group - meets on Tuesday mornings. Let me know if you're interested

Hi, if you want some info on a slightly different networking group that has locations in Sheffield, Chesterfield and Rotherham I can pass some details for that.

It's a more casual group, but I have met some great people and had some fantastic business from it

Hi, if you want some info on a slightly different networking group that has locations in Sheffield, Chesterfield and Rotherham I can pass some details for that.

It's a more casual group, but I have met some great people and had some fantastic business from it

Yes, please send me some details - sounds interesting

The BNI one works (in my opinion) because it's more formal. If people aren't pulling their weight in a group, they have to leave. From my experience, informal ones are more about 'what I can get' but BNI is about 'what I can also do for the others in the group'. Having said that, there's nothing wrong with informal ones - I go to plenty myself - I just mean there is a big difference.

Thanks for the offer, though

snoopjiggy, can u also send me the details over? my hubby is interested having been to bni meetings (to try, never signed up) but unable to commit to their strict weekly meetings.

Thanks

Its taken 4 yrs to reply to the OP :hihi:

Its taken 4 yrs to reply to the OP :hihi:

All good things come to those who wait!

All good things come to those who wait!

Actually, our BNI group only launched end of August this year

Errrmmm, what's a BNI group? :huh:

Errrmmm, what's a BNI group? :huh:

BNI is an international networking organisation and there are several groups in Sheffield

This is how it works:

Each member of the group as their own sector and you can't have two competing companies in the same group - i.e. 1 x accountant, 1 x builder, 1 x garage owner, etc.

Every week, the members of the group talk about what they specialise in the type of people or businesses they would like to talk to (this can be different every week). The other members pass useful contacts or potential leads to them, for example, if the plumber says he specialises in commercial plumbing and wants to speak to hotel owners, the other members might pass the contact information for people they know who own hotels that week

Say for example, you have a printer in your group, you're not obliged to pass them a lead for printing if you don't want to - you might not be happy with the standard of their work - however, because it's the same people every week, you get to know about the quality of their work. As it works on a strictly members only basis, people who aren't what they claim to be will be kicked out whereas people who are good at what they do will benefit

It costs a certain amount to join the group - which is a good thing! If the members of the group don't pull thier weight, it won't work. You're much more likely to take it seriously if it's cost you to join

You also get lots of training events every year included which, although I've not personally been to one, they're excellent

This is how BNI works from my experince :)

The only other things I forgot to mention are

- anyone is welcome to visit for free to see it in action
- They're generally breakfast meetings so they don't interfere with the working day

Ahhh, clever. Great idea! Thanks for explaining :)

Ahhh, clever. Great idea! Thanks for explaining :)

Just to clarify, I have nothing to do with BNI besides the fact that my company is a member - I'm not employed by them in any way. I was very cynical at first but it does work... even if it isn't everybody's cup-of-tea :)

If you do fancy a visit, let me know

Years ago, I was invited to a BNI meet and I never went again as I felt as though I was joining the moonies! It wasn't a great experience... Wouldn't mind looking again though, as I have quite a few varied clients, buy could do with more... I work in funded training...

Is it like an amateur free mason thing?

Is it like an amateur free mason thing?

No. Just a group of business owners who meet to help each other with their sales. The only difference is that you get to know the other members of the group - including the standard of their work - so when you recommend them, you know they'll do a good job. If they're not recommendable, they'll get kicked out of the group.