A TETBURY based  breakfast business networking have reached the landmark of £2 million business passed between them since it was set up less than five years ago.

Exactly 18 months since Dolphins BNI group passed £1 million, it has now smashed through the latest landmark thanks to its growing membership.

There are 22 companies from around Gloucestershire and Wiltshire which have members situated in the group, meeting at the Snooty Fox in Tetbury every Friday morning from 6.45am.

They include businesses from Newent and Dursley to Calne and Fairford, as well as core areas like Tetbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Membership consists of a diverse mix of companies, including trades, financial, media, IT, property, food and drink among others.

Tetbury Dolphins BNI is the strongest performing of the six BNI chapters in the South West Midlands area, with each seat worth over £28,000 per year for each member.

Performance of the group is precisely tracked as each referral, and the resulting amount of business, is recorded and entered in an online system.

The leadership committee is currently chaired by architectural designer David Gregory, with photographer Miles Burden as secretary and treasurer and business coach Martin Croft managing the membership.

Mr Gregory said: “Reaching this latest landmark has been a fantastic team effort – everyone in the group has contributed to a really stellar performance over the past 18 months.

“When we passed the £1 million mark we wondered whether this performance would continue but if anything the strength of the chapter has grown, to such an extent that new members are drawn to us from far and wide.

“What’s the secret to our success? Well, we have some fantastic businesses in this group, there are no weak links, a great mixture of businesspeople at the top of their game, and we all work for each other, acting as a salesforce for the various companies in the group.

“There are also some really strong collaborative relationships within the group.

“We’re really looking forward to some more growth over the coming months and years. The BNI model proves that the business generated grows exponentially as the membership increases, so as the economy picks up we are looking to develop the chapter significantly.”

Part of a successful global organisation of business networking groups, Dolphins BNI is one of four BNI chapters in Gloucestershire – the others are in Tewkesbury, Coleford and Cheltenham.

One of the benefits of membership is that businesses in any chapter are encouraged to visit their neighbouring groups and share opportunities and contacts.

During the past 18 months the group has also been led by Andy Platts, owner of Tetbury-based IT consultancy and support firm Jireh Solutions.

BNI is a 30-year-old business and professional organisation that allows only one person from each trade or profession to join a chapter.

Visitors wanting to attend any of the weekly Tetbury Dolphins BNI meetings, should contact David Gregory on david@davidgregorydesign.co.uk.