The BNI UK Podcast

In this episode of The BNI UK Podcast, Ed Nell and national director Mike Holman welcome Jon Zink (Godiva BNI, Coventry), who shares how he went from never having done business networking to generating over £2.1m in revenue and passing nearly £3m in four years, placing him consistently in the UK’s top four BNI members. He credits BNI’s structure, Givers Gain®, and a disciplined approach to referral networking for transforming his confidence and results.Key TakeawaysLead with giving. Jon flipped a direct-sales mindset into Givers Gain: learn about others first, help them, and the reciprocity follows, fuel for warm introductions, qualified leads, and long-term strategic partnerships in professional networking.Treat your chapter like a sales team. Be specific in your weekly ask, who, why, and how to introduce so members can spot opportunities; clarity beats “anyone” every time for lead generation and business development.It’s not just a 90-minute meeting. Results come from consistent activity beyond the room: 1-2-1s, tagging on Facebook and linkedin networking, and inviting ideal visitors, especially strategic trades like agents and brokers.Use training to grow confidence. BNI education (from 60-second skills to presentation training) helped Jon go from public-speaking anxiety to confidently presenting and launching groups.Broaden your pipeline beyond the room. Jon scouts Facebook recommendation groups, recommends chapter specialists (e.g., mortgage brokers), and receives steady cross-referrals from lettings/estate agents, classic b2b networking and local networking in action.Key Moments“Pre-Covid I’d never even considered networking… I had a preconceived idea… early mornings only… It was probably the best thing I ever did for my business.” (On discovering BNI and the mindset shift into professional networking.)“You can’t just turn up once a week and expect results… it’s not a 90-minute BNI.” (Consistency beyond networking events drives lead generation.)“Imagine a one-minute brief to a 20-person sales team… ‘any sales will do’ won’t work.” (Be precise in your ask, who to meet and what to listen for.)“Get there early, leave late… the business is created in the open networking at the start.” (Why the pre-meeting window matters at breakfast networking.)About the GuestJon Zink is a BNI Director Consultant and Utility Warehouse partner, helping households and businesses simplify and reduce their utility costs. Based in Cofton Hackett, Birmingham, he supports clients with practical, straightforward advice across essential services, acting as a single point of contact for switching and ongoing support. Through his BNI role, Jon focuses on helping members grow profitability by expanding referral networks and building stronger relationships.About BNIBNI is the world’s largest referral networking organisation. Local chapters meet weekly with a proven agenda based on Givers Gain®, helping members build credibility, share qualified referrals and grow revenue. With training, 1-2-1s and clear metrics, BNI turns business networking into predictable results for SMEs and professionals. Visit as a guest to experience the format.Find Out More: https://bni.co.uk/en-GB/index

In this episode of The BNI UK Podcast, Ed Nell and UK National Director Mike Holman welcome Tim Cook, Senior Director of Product Management at BNI Global and former UK National Director. Tim explains the origins of BNI’s member traffic lights, why they’re now being standardised across more than 70 countries, what’s changed in the new global model, and how members can use their scores as a practical coaching tool to get better results with less wasted effort.Key TakeawaysTraffic lights are a coaching tool, not a stick. Tim is clear that member traffic lights were never designed to “beat people up”. They exist to highlight the activities that drive results, create friendly competition, and shine a light on members who are actively contributing, not to label people as “bad members”.Global standardisation unlocks better tools for members. Over time, different countries created their own versions of traffic lights. The new global model brings the best of those together, backed by data analysis, so BNI can build better systems, including app features that will eventually give members tailored prompts on where to focus. The new system splits points into two broad areas:Participation & engagement (c.40%) – attendance, 1-2-1s and CEUs: the basics you must do to build relationships and skills.Value-add (c.60%) – referrals, Thank You for Closed Business, visitors and sponsorship: the activities that actually generate business and grow the chapter.Thank You for Closed Business and sponsoring new members each carry a relatively small weighting, because you can’t fully control whether business converts or an application is accepted. The emphasis is on consistent, controllable behaviours: showing up, meeting people, learning, inviting and passing referrals.Visitors now count across chapters and sponsorship is recognised. Members can now earn visitor points when guests attend other chapters, encouraging cross-chapter support, especially where someone’s own category is locked out locally. Testimonials no longer score points but they still matter. Written testimonials have been removed from the global scoring because they weren’t tracked consistently worldwide.Use the colours as a guide, not a judgement. Think in colour bands, not point totals:Grey – you’re not yet engaging with the basics (or you’re brand new).Red – you’re doing some foundations but struggling to turn effort into value; this is where support and mentoring help.Amber – you’re contributing and should be seeing returns, with scope to refine.Green – you’re highly engaged across the board and a role model for others.Tim’s ideal is for members to get the best possible return on investment for the least amount of time, by concentrating on the activities the data shows actually move the needle, rather than doing “everything” for the sake of points.Key Moments“If you can’t do the basics, it’s very unlikely you’ll achieve the bigger contributions.” (Why attendance, 1-2-1s and education are the non-negotiable foundations of success in BNI.)“My goal is for members to get the best return on investment for doing the least possible work.” (On focusing members on high-value activities rather than chasing points.)“You don’t get into the green unless you’re doing a bit of everything, honestly.” (Tim’s view of green-band members as all-round contributors to their chapters.)“It’d be great to have a 100-point club… it will only be the top one or two per cent who make it.” (On future global recognition for the very highest performers in the new system.)About BNIBNI is the world’s largest referral networking organisation. Local chapters meet weekly with a proven agenda based on Givers Gain®, helping members build credibility, share qualified referrals and grow revenue. With training, 1-2-1s and clear metrics, BNI turns business networking into predictable results for SMEs and professionals. Visit as a guest to experience the format.Find Out More: https://bni.co.uk/en-GB/index

In this episode of The BNI UK Podcast, Ed Nell and National Director Mike Holman are joined by Birmingham Area Director Dawn Adlam, who supports over 200 members across the region. Dawn shares how she went from being crushed by her first “no” to confidently inviting visitors for 17+ years, using a simple, repeatable system that brings a steady flow of guests and tens of thousands of pounds in business into BNI chapters.Key TakeawaysInviting is a mindset, not a mystery. If you tell yourself that inviting visitors is hard, it will be. If you decide it’s easy and treat every “no” as one step closer to a “yes”, it becomes just another positive habit in your business rather than something to fear.Visitors spend money and raise everyone’s game. Chapters with visitors in the room see more energy, better 60-second presentations, stronger leadership performance, and more business. Even visitors who never join can still spend thousands with members and receive referrals themselves.Treat inviting as prospecting, with a simple system. Dawn works in small, consistent blocks: five invites a day (around 100 a month), mainly via LinkedIn and Google Maps. She searches by profession and location, sends a personalised invite, and always follows up because clicking “connect” without follow-up is wasted effort.Make the visitor experience personal from first contact to follow-up. Give clear times, dates and costs, offer two possible meeting dates, and arrange a personal call the day before. Let them know who will meet them at the reception and what to expect, as many visitors feel nervous walking into a room where they don’t know anyone.Handle objections and keep good contacts warm. “Too busy” often means “not a priority yet”. Offer later starts, online or hybrid options, ask permission to follow up in six months, and, where appropriate, ask if they know someone else who might benefit. A polite “no” today can still become a great visitor tomorrow.Key Moments“A ‘no’ is good because it gets you closer to a ‘yes’.” (On reframing rejection so you don’t stop inviting after the first knock-back.)“I’m not inviting them to join, I want them to come along for the opportunity.” (Why shifting the focus to what’s in it for the visitor makes inviting feel natural.)“You can’t say the wrong thing to the right person.” (Encouragement for members who worry about using the ‘perfect’ script.)“If you have five power teams of eight, you’ve got a chapter of 35 members.” (How focusing on power teams and their gaps makes inviting more strategic and effective.)About BNIBNI is the world’s largest referral networking organisation. Local chapters meet weekly with a proven agenda based on Givers Gain®, helping members build credibility, share qualified referrals and grow revenue. With training, 1-2-1s and clear metrics, BNI turns business networking into predictable results for SMEs and professionals. Visit as a guest to experience the format.Find Out More: https://bni.co.uk/en-GB/index

In this episode of The BNI UK Podcast, Ed Nell turns the mic on national director Mike Holman to unpack what makes “pure BNI” work: a clear agenda, core values, and doing the basics beautifully so members see a real return on investment. Mike traces his 25-year journey from golf-club manager and BNI member to franchise owner and now national director, sharing how the system, structure and community fuel confidence, learning and growth for business.Key TakeawaysPure BNI = nothing added, nothing taken away. Chapters that run the standard agenda simply and well see the best results: focus, structure, and consistency are the differentiators in professional networking.Set goals and measure ROI. Treat BNI as part of your marketing strategy: decide what “good” looks like for the first 12 months, then align your activity to hit those targets in lead generation, business development, and qualified leads.VCP: visibility → credibility → profitability. Get to meetings early, network, and present well to build trust and open the door to warm introductions and strategic partnerships.Do quality 1-2-1s using the GAINS profile. Structure your conversations around Goals, Accomplishments, Interests, Networks and Skills to find referral opportunities faster in b2b networking and local networking.Dress for the referrals you want. Treat every chapter meeting like a client meeting; show up prepared and professional to inspire confidence when members introduce you.Inviting visitors: think giving first. Start with people you can pass work to; generosity increases engagement and reciprocity in a referral-led community.BNI is like a gym. Results come from consistent participation, meetings, 1-2-1s, and training, not from just joining.Core values matter. “Givers Gain®,” traditions and innovation, and lifelong learning run from chapters to global leadership. This culture underpins effective community building.Key Moments“VCP: to be profitable, you need to be credible; to be credible, you must be visible.” (Show up early, present clearly, ask for specific introductions, create warm introductions.)“Use the GAINS profile for better 1-2-1s.” (A practical framework for referral networking in b2b networking.)“Invite by giving: think who you can pass business to first, people turn up when there’s potential work.”About BNIBNI is the world’s largest referral networking organisation. Local chapters meet weekly with a proven agenda based on Givers Gain®, helping members build credibility, share qualified referrals and grow revenue. With training, 1-2-1s and clear metrics, BNI turns business networking into predictable results for SMEs and professionals. Visit as a guest to experience the format.Find Out More: https://bni.co.uk/en-GB/indexThe BNI UK Podcast is produced by The Media Insidershttps://www.themediainsiders.co.uk/

Welcome to the BNI UK Podcast, the show for business networking, referral marketing and small business growth. If you’re an entrepreneur, SME owner, consultant or local business leader who wants more leads, better clients and stronger business relationships, you’re in the right place.BNI (Business Network International) is the world’s largest business networking organisation, built on one simple idea: relationships create opportunities. In BNI chapters across the UK, members meet regularly, build trust, and help one another grow through structured introductions and qualified business referrals. The philosophy is Givers Gain®: when you actively give, support and connect others, you earn credibility, and that credibility turns into measurable success.Hosted by Mike Holman, National Director of BNI UK, this series goes behind the scenes of what makes networking actually work. Each episode features conversations with top-performing BNI UK members sharing real success stories, practical networking tips, and the habits that drive consistent referral generation. You’ll learn how to ask for referrals without feeling pushy, how to pass high-value referrals that build your reputation, and how to create memorable weekly presentations and 1-2-1 meetings that lead to genuine opportunities.We’ll explore the core values that power BNI: Givers Gain®, Lifelong Learning and Recognition. Expect clear, actionable advice on lead generation through networking, building strategic partnerships, improving your business development skills, and turning a contact into a long-term customer. You’ll also hear how members invite visitors, grow their chapters, use training and accountability, and maximise the full range of BNI membership benefits.Whether you’re new to networking, returning to in-person meetings, or searching “how to get more clients” or “how to grow a small business”, this podcast will help you build a network you can rely on. If you’re considering joining BNI, you’ll get a straight-talking overview of how BNI works, what happens in a chapter meeting, and why trust, consistency and giving first are the fastest route to sustainable business growth.You don’t need to be the loudest person in the room. BNI is networking for introverts and extroverts alike because it’s a proven system: learn how to network, build visibility, and develop a referral mindset over time. Members track results, celebrate wins, and recognise the people who help others succeed. From trades and property to professional services, health, finance and tech, the focus is the same: show up, add value, and grow together.Hit play on this trailer to hear what to expect from the BNI UK Podcast.About BNIBNI is the world’s largest referral networking organisation. Local chapters meet weekly with a proven agenda based on Givers Gain®, helping members build credibility, share qualified referrals and grow revenue. With training, 1-2-1s and clear metrics, BNI turns business networking into predictable results for SMEs and professionals. Visit as a guest to experience the format.Find Out More: https://bni.co.uk/en-GB/index