Frequently asked questions about BNI

Q. Where and when do you meet?
A. We meet every Tuesday at 6:45am for 7:00am at the Thistle Manchester Airport in Handforth for an informal networking session over coffee, followed by breakfast and formal networking.

Q: Are members supposed to bring visitors?
A: You're encouraged to bring visitors for those occupations that are open, after the visitor has been prescreened, if they're a viable candidate. It's pretty much a closed meeting except for potential members.

Q: Can anyone join a chapter?
A: We only take one person per professional specialty. So if you are a residential estate agent and we already have one, we can refer you to another chapter, or allow you to open another chapter. Of course, if you are a commercial estate agent, you c

Q: Do I have to stand up and present my business?
A: Every week you will have an opportunity to promote your business for 60 seconds to the meeting. BNI provides a friendly and supportive atmosphere in which you can develop your presentational skills. The skills you learn and develop at BNI meetings

Q: How do you know new members are reputable?
A: The application asks for references and we have a membership committee that checks them. It's word of mouth, so before they even come to a meeting they have to have spoken to someone or been invited by someone in the group. Everyone has to have a

Q: is there any training to help me get referrals?
A: BNI provide comprehensive training including how to get your fellow members to bring you more serious business and a host of creative ways of bringing new business for your fellow chapter members. There is also training in presentation skills an

Q: What happens if I can't make it one day?
A: If you can't attend one of the meetings we ask that you organise a substitute to take your place and present your sixty seconds and collect any referrals on your behalf. This can be someone from your own business, a customer or supplier who many b

Q: What if a member gets a referral and does poor work?
A: We have an ethics committee and it is imperative that anyone who gives a lead and finds out it was not satisfactorily handled must report that to the membership committee, who will investigate.

Q: What occupations benefit the most from networking?
A: It is not the occupation, it is the individual. The occupation can be anything. If you're focussed and you have a dream and you're willing to make a sacrifice, you are the person we want in the group.