BNI launches hybrid meetings

By Limitless PR

08 Oct 2021

Website
bni-uk-launches-hybrid-networking.jpeg

BNI (Business Network International) has launched hybrid networking in the UK following an 8.1 per cent pound-for-pound increase in business passed by members during the pandemic.

BNI is the world’s leading business referral organization with over 280,000 members in over 70 countries worldwide.

Established over 30 years, it provides weekly networking meetings for groups of businesses, known as chapters, who follow a structured meeting agenda that enables them to use their combined network of contacts to find business opportunities and referrals for one another.

There are 11 BNI chapters in Lancashire with an average of 22 members each.

For the organisation’s entire history prior to the pandemic, meetings were conducted face-to-face and in 2019 BNI chapters in the UK & Ireland passed 640,739 referrals worth £566million.

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, BNI globally closed all meetings for one week to provide member training for online meetings, then reopened purely online the following week. Since then, all meetings worldwide have been conducted online, still following the same structured agenda as live meetings.

The total number of referrals passed in 2020 actually increased by 1% to 647,146 compared with the previous year with a total increased in referral value of 8.1% to £611.8million for the year.

Commencing October 2021, BNI meetings will now be run on one of three models: in-person, online, or hybrid, where members meet in person for the first meeting of the month and then the remaining meetings of the month are online.

BNI Lancashire chief happiness officer Liam Mulligan said: “I’ll be honest, we are quite astounded by the figures BNI has achieved through the period the world has just gone through. What’s even more amazing is how many new members we have, contributing to these figures, who have never met anyone in their chapter in real life.

“If you had suggested before the pandemic that people could build relationships strong enough to provide business referrals for one another, without ever meeting face-to-face, no one would believe it. But many of our members have said they have felt the weekly contact with likeminded businesspeople has been a lifeline during the pandemic and we have seen some fantastic relationships formed.

“We are launching the hybrid model as a reflection of how business attitudes have changed during the pandemic, providing our members with a choice of how they network and make the optimum use of their time and resources.”

For more information about BNI go to www.bni.co.uk.   

Enjoyed this? Read more from Limitless PR

Latest news

1

University of Central Lancashire celebrates hat-trick of wins at Educate North Awards University of Central Lancashire winners at Educate North Award Winners 2025

University of Central Lancashire celebrates hat-trick of wins at Educate North Awards

04 Apr 2025

2

The Villa’s sister venue shuts its doors The Villa Levens and The VillaWrea Green (Image credit: The Villa Levens and The Villa Wrea Green)

The Villa’s sister venue shuts its doors

04 Apr 2025

3

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs Manufacturing

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs

03 Apr 2025

4

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer Matthew Ratcliffe CMAC

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer

03 Apr 2025

5

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase
13421_research_knowledge_exchange_2025_600x300.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
07 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Enhancing Your Workforce with CPD
LBV Hub Networking
08 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Enhancing Your Workforce with CPD

University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

13:15 - 14:15

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin