Business networking group Kendal BNI, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, has a new leadership team.
The Kendal chapter of Business Network International has generated more than £350,000-worth of business during the past 12 month. It hopes to increase its membership to 25 and generate £1 million-worth of business during the next year.
Its members include a builder, electrical contractor, planning consultant, fire safety specialist, solicitor and an interior and garden designer. Meetings are predominantly held online, with a monthly in-person meeting at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal.
The new president of Kendal BNI is architect Graham Bywater, Principal of Bywater + Tweedale, which is based at Preston Patrick, near Crooklands.
Graham said: “I have been a member of Kendal BNI since it launched in July 2003. It has been a constant source of referral business to me over that period.
“I have met a lot of interesting business people who I would not have met otherwise and formed strong relationships with them.
“The training that BNI provides as part of the membership has also been a very beneficial support to my business.”
The new vice-president of the group is mortgage broker Bena Hall, owner of The Broker, which is based in Kendal.
“I have been a member of Kendal BNI for six years,” said Bena. “It was invaluable in getting my business off the ground and I have had lots of wonderful clients come to me through referrals from colleagues in BNI, many of whom have become long-term clients.
“The wealth of knowledge available to me from talking to other members across a whole range of businesses is extremely useful.”
Bena added: “We are always looking to grow the chapter and we are particularly looking at the moment for an estate agent/land agent, insurance broker, plumber, painter and decorator, photographer and a corporate gift supplier. We could easily pass business to people in those categories.”
The new secretary/treasurer is interior and garden designer Carole Berryman, owner of Carole Berryman Design, which is based at Windermere.
She has been a member of the chapter for just over a year. She said: “Joining BNI has proved to be a very positive move for me. It has provided me with a network of business owners and training on how to leverage it.
“It is a pleasure to work with a team of members who are committed to generating a steady flow of referrals and to supporting fellow members. Many of us share the same target markets, which enables us to identify opportunities for each other and to build mutually beneficial relationships. I had no hesitation in renewing my membership for this second year.”
At the latest meeting of Kendal BNI thanks were expressed to the outgoing leadership team – Peter Winter (former president), Charlotte Russell (former vice-president) and Andrew Thomas (former secretary/treasurer) – for all their hard work over the past 12 months.
If anyone would like to learn more about Kendal BNI or is interested in attending as a visitor, they can contact Bena Hall on 07896 252860, email bena@thebroker.mortgage or visit https://bnicumbria.co.uk/cumbria-kendal-bni/en-GB/index
