Testimonials

Jack Miller – Independent Financial Adviser – Positive Solutions:

I have been a member of the BGN network for two and a half years.

I have been in Financial Services for nearly 25 years. My business production has always been based on referrals from existing customers and repeat business with those existing customers. I have only lost my very first clients because they emigrated to Australia!

Word of mouth referral is the by far the best way of obtaining new clients and being a member of a friendly networking group of local businesses has definitely enhanced my income in the time I have been with them, due to the recommendations that fellow members have made for their contacts to use my services.

I would urge anyone in business to join a good quality, local networking group like BGN at Langrish House, if they want to see their sales increase.

Graham Gard - Architectural and Civil Engineering Design - ACE Designs:

I have been a member of Petersfield Business Growth Network since its formation in October 2006 having been a member of other network groups before that. The BGN has given me plenty of opportunities to promote my business to existing members and visitors alike, and I have gained many good and reliable working “partners” through the group and in turn have been able to give and receive many opportunities for business. The group is formed of likeminded individuals who all benefit from the camaraderie of other members, and with the vastly differing disciplines within the group, there is always someone who can answer a question or give advice on an issue. Every week you get the opportunity to promote your business through a short presentation to members and guests, not only is this good for the group to hear what you do but it can also focus your mind on how you sell your business.

We also have a selection of social events throughout the year which enables people to meet outside of the meeting and socialize as a group and meet members associates and work colleagues.

Robina Talbot-Ponsonby - Langrish House Hotel:

I have always found BGN to be enormous fun. We are a very varied group of people from many different professions. We meet every week – so we become good friends and have plenty of laughs together as well as the serious stuff. It is a real pleasure to be able to find business for another member and good to know that the rest of the team are out there looking out for business for you too!

I have personally given business to a great number of the members and it is reassuring to know that I can be sure of a good service – no one would want to face me every Wednesday if things had gone badly!

It is great to have the support of such a diverse and interesting group. No matter what problem you encounter there always seems to be someone in the group who either knows the answer or knows someone else who does!

David Cosway of Edifice Consultants:

"Since joining BGN I've found that it provides me with more than just referrals. It gives me a great boost in the middle of the week as a result of spending a couple of hours amongst like minded business people, keen to grow their business. It also forces me to spend time thinking about how I sell and present my business, something that can be difficult to do when you are busy managing projects for your clients.
The opportunity to practice your "pitch" amongst friends is invaluable."

John Raeyen of Trio System writes:

I am a great believer in business networking. Through existing members of the group and even visitors, I have managed to pick up some really good business accounts. For example, we had a local business woman come to a meeting recently who was amazed that such a lively group existed in this rural area. After having listened to all of the members perform a 60 - 90 second presentation of their businesses, this lady was intrigued and spoke to me at some length afterwards and subsequently arranged an appointment at her company which resulted in a very profitable sale!
The great thing for the members is that because we meet on a weekly basis, you can rely on all of your 'virtual sales people'
to be there every week. If you, or your customer, have any concerns, you can discuss these with your fellow BGN members on a weekly basis.
As one of my customers said to me; 'I am giving you the business, John, as I know that you will be here next week and the week after so I can moan at you if I need to!' Needless to say, he hasn't had to do any moaning!
Forget Yellow Pages, this is the way to find new business.

Samantha Hellyar of Mackarness & Lunt writes:

I am a relative newcomer to this business networking group. Having received an invite to come along to a visitor's day I took the opportunity to find out what happened at the group and whether there would be good prospects for referrals for me. I am pleased to say that since joining the group at the end of January I have had numerous referrals for various pieces of work as well as being able to get myself and my business more widely known in the local area.

At the meetings there is a great opportunity to introduce yourself and your business on the basis of a 60-90 second presentation. Everybody does this and there is no pressure for it to be some great grand speech, however it does allow all the other individuals sat round eating breakfast to know what you do and what you can offer client. Word of mouth I find is always the best way to increase business.

Therefore if you are interested in marketing your business in a different, but very successful way let one of the members know and I am sure we would all be glad to invite you along as a guest to experience networking first hand.

Andy Synyszyn, Director, Synergy Computer Consultancy Limited

Since joining BGN I have received a number of referrals most of which have turned into real jobs that I can charge for. One of the most memorable was a referral received from another member from one of his customers who had been having IT issues. It transprired that the end user had been sold completely the wrong equipment for the job, which led to the complete system being replaced. Since taking that customer on board I have been able to refer him back to other members of the group for other services that they've required.

I'm happy as I have a new customer, the end user is happy as he has been referred to a reliable supplier of IT and other services, other members in the group are happy as they have been able to do business with a customer they perhaps would never have had any contact with.

Janet Bligh, Director, Janet Bligh Garden Designs

Being very sceptical of networking groups I was delighted to be introduced to a
local architect by one of our members very soon after joining the group. As a garden designer I normally work for private clients on a one-off basis, which means that when the garden is designed, built and planted there is limited scope for more work from the same customer.

Collaborating with an architect has given me the opportunity to work on exciting
projects as well as the chance to develop an on-going working relationship that is beneficial to both parties.