A husband and wife team have expanded their business referral and networking firm – just months after embarking on the venture.
Bryan and Angela Kinghorn acquired BNI Scotland North (Aberdeen and The Highlands) from businessmen Rob Hamilton and Trevor Mutch in September 2016.
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Now the couple has acquired a neighbouring BNI region – which has groups in Dundee, Perth and Dunfermline – from Rob and Trevor. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
The two regions have a total of 410 members, and BNI executive directors Bryan and Angela are aiming to add further groups in Fife and Stirling. BNI members meet once a week within their local groups to network and pass introductions to other businesses.
Angela said: “The opportunity to acquire a neighbouring region was simply too good to turn down. It represents an exciting new phase in our work to grow the network and ensure members get the most out of their involvement.
“We’re now looking to expand across both areas, while the addition of further groups broadens the opportunities for members to develop relationships and grow their business.
“Rob and Trevor have done a great job in taking BNI to the next stage and we look forward to building on their success.”
Rob is chief executive of IT and technology business Dynamic Edge, and Trevor is owner and managing director of commercial and residential painter and decorator R Davidson (Banchory) Ltd.
According to Q1 2017 figures, BNI Scotland North (Aberdeen and The Highlands) is the best performing region from 66 regions in the UK and Ireland, while the newly acquired group – BNI Scotland North (Dundee, Fife and Perth) is second in the UK rankings.
Latest figures reveal the two regions together generated £19m of business for members in 2016, a 65% increase on the £11.5m total recorded in 2015.
BNI Scotland North (Aberdeen and The Highlands) has 12 groups in total – eight in Aberdeen and additional meetings in Inverness, Elgin, Inverurie and Montrose. The plan is to set up a new group in the Buchan area. In addition, Aberdeen’s BNI Energy group is the first in Scotland to achieve platinum status; this is where a group runs with 50-plus members.
Bryan said: “We’re delighted BNI Energy has achieved platinum status. This is our ambition for all our BNI groups as we look to take it to the next level and beyond.”
BNI Scotland North (Aberdeen and The Highlands) is rated the 18th best performing group in the global BNI organisation, which spans 865 regions in 69 countries. BNI is the largest business networking referral organisation in the world.
Scotland North members have access to more than 13,000 members in the UK and Ireland and more than 210,000 others worldwide.
