bni.co.uk Recensioni 

My experience of BNI has ended with it being the single most unprofessional outfit that I have ever had the displeasure to experience.

The lack of ability to exercise their own policies & procedures and support of members who report issues, resulting in a member ringing the regional manager, gossiping, who then listened to that member without any investigation acted upon it.

After a formal grievance which has not been answered in writing but instead I received an unsolicited phone call, waffling on for 32 minutes telling me how great BNI is and not listening to a word that I said in order to try and keep me within BNI.

Another review talks about control and that's exactly my experience, when I spoke out about how newer members felt they were being treated by older member, only a few days later this happens.

Not a coincidence!

I joined BNI during lockdown in 2020 with an idea for a startup. My existing business had been forced to pause because of social distancing rules and I knew I needed help to get my idea off the ground.

I had a marketing budget that could have gone on Facebook ads, but I called a friend of mine who I knew was a member and asked him if he thought it would be worth me joining and was it worth it? “It’s just a cult isn’t it?” “Well I earn six figures a year from this cult, so something must be working with it!” came the reply…”when do you meet?” was my response!

I went along to that first meeting with an open mind, online back then, and was greeted warmly by everyone and they seemed to genuinely care about the situation I was in.

After seeing a meeting I got what it was about, if I help them, they’ll help me in return!

And boy did they! I’d got my investment back inside my first month, I used my membership to visit other groups locally that I wasn’t locked out of and built relationships with those members and helped them and vice versa too!

BNI literally saved me, yes you have to put some effort in outside the meetings to get to know one another, but that’s why it works. For me, I just used to block the time out of my diary each week and not see my first client until 10am on a Friday.

I’ve done lots of other networking over the years and they’re all very nice, with nice people, but I might miss a month and then not see someone for two to three months. With BNI if I miss a week I’ll still see them the week after!

When I joined I was worried about how I’d pass referrals. “I don’t think I know anyone?” turned out that was wrong! Once I got to know the members and how they helped their customers/clients I started to spot opportunities for them. At no point did anyone hold a gun to my head to say you must do this, or you must pass this many referrals!

I invited some other businesses to visit that I could collaborate with, they ended up joining too and the whole passing referrals thing became even easier!

I would whole heartedly recommend BNI to every business that’s serious about growing and understands that time spent marketing yourself is working ON the business still!

TL:DR - I joined, it has generated me huge amounts of business for the last six years and now when it comes to renewing my question is how long for, not if…

I have been in BNI for 14 years which speaks for itself. Why? I get business - genuine referrals of individuals ready and willing to work with me. I get a support mechanism of other businesses providing me with everyday business support, coaching and mentoring. I get contacts that help me help my clients, family and friends with their businesses and home life. It has changed my life and my business.

BNI works for you if you work. if you give and follow the process you will gain.
I realised very quickly that following the processes and systems that I was paying for in my membership gave me a serious return on my investment. It worked so well for me that 75% of my clients came from BNI and I have stayed now for 23 years.
One of my regrets in life was paying for an annual gym membership and waiting for the weight to drop off and it didn't. Why? Because I didn't follow the coaches advice and spent most of my time in the pool and the sauna. Yes I went to the gym 2-3 times a week but wasted my money.
If you just turn up each week at BNI you are wasting your time and money, but if you work BNI and follow the processes proven to give you a great return it will be well worth it.

I had my doubts when I first joined BNI, am I really going to spend this money and make more than I spent and get all this training, resource and marketing as a bonus. The simple answer is Yes. a new business thats not in the trades, a new business without the reputation. BNI has helped me grow, make money, and above all its made me feel valued. I don't give out 5 star reviews often but on this time it's an easy one. The key tip I can give anyone thinking is it worth my while. The answer is yes if you are prepared to work it and follow the process. It works!

The latest 5 star reviews have come from BNI sending emails to members to try and swomp the 1 star reviews.

An honest assessment from a 10 year member who has now left.

BNI is all about controlling their members. They dictate what they should do and measure them via the traffic light system. Also they exert control over what their members can’t do.
If you earn a lot of money from your membership then you would probably be able to put up with the dictatorship.
Why was I in BNI for 10 years is that they suck you in and it takes time to realise what they are doing as there is a lot of brainwashing going on.
However, only a small percentage of members do well out of BNI of which are in the trades, hence the 1 star review.

I do think you can form better relationships outside of BNI and if you are a B2B try to form working relationships with other businesses whereby you can pass business between one another. They will bear better fruits than being in BNI.

BNI works well for me, both from a business perspective and also as a private individual. The network is full of reliable top people.

I was invited to my first meeting as a visitor about a year and a half ago and didn't know what to expect. I had heard of BNI and people had recommended it to me before, but it was my first networking event and I immediately saw the value in making the investment for my seat and made an application. BNI has helped me grow professionally and personally and my business would not be where it is today without it. As a solopreneur it is great to be able to meet with likeminded people each week and rely on a network of people that I can recommend because of relationships that I have built. Highly recommend visiting if you haven't already!

Joined for my business 18 months ago - can't recommend enough it has helped me grow my business so much and the support of the other members has been invaluable highly recommend definitely worth a visit if your in two minds

BNI has not only helped my business greatly, but has also given me and many people I know confidence in speaking in front of an audience. I would encourage anyone in business to visit a BNI chapter and find out just how good the organisation is for promoting and expanding your business to greatest effect.

Well I had known about BNI for quite a while and when i was invited i was intrigued to find out what it was all about. Needless to say it has been one of the best business decisions i have ever made to join. From the genuine warm welcome, the wealth of business knowledge and support and a proven system and network that has been priceless to me and most importantly, to the increased income i have generated as a member. If Heineken made a business referral network. Need i say anymore,

Let me start by saying I was a networking sceptic, but joining BNI has been one of the best decisions I've made for my business. As a business owner, it can sometimes feel like you're working in isolation, but BNI has introduced me to a fantastic network of supportive, professional, and genuinely helpful people.

The referrals I've received have been valuable, but what I've appreciated most is the trust, relationships, and encouragement that come from being part of the group. The meetings are positive, well organised, and give me the opportunity to learn from other business owners while growing my own.

I've built connections that have become trusted business partners and friends, and I would highly recommend BNI to anyone looking to grow their business through meaningful relationships.

Don’t expect this to happen overnight, it takes time to build relationships and trust. You get out what you put in, and if you are there for your fellow business members, they will be there for you.

18 years ago i started my new company and the first thing i did was learn to network with local business.
i tried many many different groups and the only group that has supported me consistently is BNI.
The structure and the ideals are geared to working people, working hard to make their business work.
Its not an easy fix and its not cheap but it works.

I have grown my business on the back of BNI. The BNI meetings are the showcase and the real business is done by building the relationships with the members. This takes time and you have to be consistent. People visit a chapter and think "That's it" but the meeting is the tip of the iceberg. I always recommend BNI as a great way to network and grow your business.

Leaving the corporate world (in a marketing role)! and starting on my own in business, I wasted a lot of money on marketing.
And then I visited a BNI chapter.
For the next 4 years BNI was my single biggest source of new business, through the connections I made at those weekly meetings.

Building better relationships with more introducers and connectors will never be a bad idea, if you are wanting to grow your business.

BNI gives you the platform to build better business relationships, and join a global network of 360,000 business owners that use the system to generate more referrals.

Running a business is difficult without a support network around you of those that have experienced the same challenges you are going through. I have been a member of BNI since 2015, and would recommend it to anybody.

If you just follow the system, it works better than anything else.

I’ve been in BNI for nearly 25 years, since I first started my business. Networking isn’t for everyone but if you go in with an open mind and expect to give more than you gain then you’ll have a worthwhile experience.
My business is a much better business due to the people I can rely upon to carry out work for me.

BNI has been a big boost to our business, generating regular business. It’s also a great community of business people and I’ve personally learned a lot of new business and personal skills by being a member for over 5 years. If you put the effort in, the rewards are great!

I joined BNI when starting my business as part of building my ramp up to going full time on my own.

I joined because I liked the commitment ethos and quality control in joining - too many networking groups will just let anyone in! However, for micro businesses or those with small margins I can see it would be more of a challenge to make that commitment. Plus my business is more medium-high value.

I would say it's a no-brainer for anyone in property/trades. However for people in business services, I would say it's more of a marathon as it takes time to build trust with people before they are prepared to take on your services (not helped by the amount of scammers out there these days!). However, once you put the time in to build relationships, I have had a steady stream of enquiries - even as I have seen other people in my industry struggle.

It's important to understand that it's not for everyone. If you don't like commitment, being held accountable or putting work into your networking: it's definitely not for you. Also not every chapter or area is the same, and not every chapter might suit you personally. However I would encourage anyone to give it a visit and see if it's for them - BNI members tend to be geared up to pass work more than your "average" networkers.

Like much in life - it is what you make it! Go in positive but not gullible, make good decisions about who you do and don't work with, lean into it - and you'll have a great time. I've met some fantastic people through BNI and recieved great help and advice - I wish the same for you too!

I joined BNI 22 years ago. I joined because of the fantastic people I met when I entered the room. Mike Abbot (an insurance broker) greeted me with a warm smile. And then I met the rest of the group, all so positive, all asking how they could help me.

I had an IT company at the time; using BNI, we grew the company to over £1m turnover and created 8 jobs. That company ran for 25 years before I sold it to another BNI member.

I have grown so much because of BNI. The once nervous business owner is now capable of delivering keynote speeches, and I have written two books. All because of BNI. A third book is on the way.

I joined to make local connections in Reading; I stayed because I found business leads, friends, confidence, learning, and the opportunity to travel.

I would highly recommend that BNI is right for every business; be positive, follow the system, build relationships, and you can use BNI for whatever you want. I did.