Billericay Business Networking meeting review 22nd April

Chairman’s Business Networking Blog Tuesday 22nd April 2014.

Our smallest meeting for some time, with 7 apologies for absence;

An intimate group of 13 sat around the breakfast table. Even the fact that those of us at the meeting had robust appetites, as a group we were unable to cope entirely with the Burstead Golf Club “bangers”, although the breakfast was up to its usual standard.

Maintaining a low eating profile and steering clear of said “bangers” was our Education and Development Officer Nige Kirby. Jim Henshaw and myself weighed him in before the start of the meal at 18st.7lbs. He will be weighed again at our meeting on the 24th June 2014, no doubt similarly attired in the NK Plumbing “T” shirt with matching shorts and trainers.
Your pledges please to Nige now that the clock is running; my own contribution is £10.00 per stone or the due proportion that it falls short of a stone. Subject to what I suspect will be an out flowing of offerings the price per pound of a Kirby steak should be well in advance of the best beef fillet.

From the outset the importance of referrals was emphasised by both Scott Griffiths and Nige Kirby respectively both in the Meeting Secretaries report and the Ed Slot. This was prompted by the basket having travelled round the group very quickly producing only one referral. In fact by the time the referrals and the testimonial round arrived there were many more referrals and generally the meeting was as relaxed and as always a cheerful one. No doubt when Christine gets back next week it will be a noisier affair…see Christine, we are missing you already!!

The 60 second round continues to produce good quality offerings. Jim Henshaw and Vivienne Nwalema to claimed themselves problem solvers, several others were specific as to the type of customer/client they were looking for.
Paul Lefever, Letting Agents and Landlords; Scott Griffiths, straightforward websites for the trades; Robert Osborne, people hearing the end of a fixed rate mortgage.

Fred Harcourt tried to put us off wall papers by indicating that £25.00 per roll is almost a minimal cost now for good quality paper. This has inspired me to tell you next week what my clients Louis Rolls charges for a roll of his paper.

The Oscar was awarded to David Dumbell who gave all of us hope that the photographs he will shortly be taking of the group will make us all look younger as he declared his ability to deal with digital restoration and the improvement on existing photographs. It was encouraging to see that the camera doesn’t always tell the truth. With that comforting thought in our minds we moved towards the 10 minute presentation.

Kieran Sweeney, one of our newest members, had taken the opportunity offered to him last week and produced a very useful insight into his background and the nature of the business that he now runs though Utility Warehouse. It gives him a good start as a new member and a focus for us all to concentrate on in finding him some referrals. Watch out for Nigel’s list of upcoming 10minute speakers. If when you get the list you are unavailable please let Nigel know immediately so that this can be rearranged.

It had not been a noisy meeting, it had not been a boisterous meeting, but nonetheless it was an interesting meeting which was very much reflected in the amount of questions raised with Kieran, after his presentation.

For those of, you who missed the meeting though holiday, I hope you have enjoyed your break; for those who missed the meeting though illness I wish you a speedy recovery. Most of all I look forward to seeing a full house next week.