Our members include financial experts, marketing gurus, printers, IT support, web designers, interior designers, business coaches and property specialists – it’s this diversity that enables us to do business with each other.
It's not just the members that are important, however, but all the people they know who they can refer us to. It's a market you can tap into – all you have to do is come along to one of our networking events!
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‘I’ve been a member for three years, and the most amazing thing about Hadlee isn’t just the referrals I receive, but the support network. If I need anything in my business, there are people I know and trust who can help me. And if I have an issue, there is always someone there who has experienced something similar that I can talk it through with. My best referral in the last six months? It was worth about £40,000. Oh yes! I more than cover my membership fee, which is why I renew each year.’
Mandy Risso, Rivendell Carpet and Flooring, www.rivendellcarpets.co.uk
‘The members of Hadlee have got me in front of companies I couldn’t have dreamed of doing business with.’
Nick Sladek, Dekken, advertising agency, www.dekken.co.uk
‘Referrals for CSM over the last 12 months totalled £27,900! Hadlee has been fundamental in our business growth but, Hadlee delivers much more than just financial returns, shared expertise, business knowledge and great fun!’
Oakleigh Wood, Customer Service Measurement Ltd, market research, www.csmsurveys.com
‘I originally joined Hadlee on the recommendation of my bank manager. He thought it would be a good place for me to meet like-minded business people where I would also be able to benefit from a big pool of knowledge. The regular meetings help me keep focused on developing my business every week. I do get sales from it, but that isn’t the main reason I have renewed my membership every year since I joined in 2003. I would still renew even if I got no referrals, because of the added-value it offers in terms of access to knowledge, advice and support.
David Carne, Bedlam Beds, www.bedlambeds.com
‘I joined Hadlee to find more customers and work along side a great bunch of girls and guys. Soon after joining, I was given a referral which was worth about £2,000. What I like about the group is that I learn so much about business and working with other people.’
Steve Davis, In Style Marketing, sign maker, www.instylemarketing.co.uk
‘I was so impressed by the members during my first visit that I decided to join immediately. That was back in November 2005. It has generated around £160k premium income for us so I have renewed ever since. One particular referral was worth about £100k. What I also get out of Hadlee is support to help me grow as an individual, good referrals to grow our business, good training, and working with a group of like-minded individuals.’
Sharon Watts, Hayes Parsons, insurance broker, www.hayesparsons.co.uk
‘I joined Hadlee because I wanted to make connections with other local companies and expand our business. It started to deliver referrals for me from the second meeting and I
recouped my joining fee in the first month. As well as gaining business, the group gives me a pool of contacts I can draw on, companies I can trust.’
Chris Barbour, OMB Direct, graphic design, www.ombdirect.co.uk
‘I am a new member of Hadlee, having joined in the last month on the recommendation of an existing member. I already did some networking on a monthly basis, but wanted to step this up. I also want to grow my business, and joining Hadlee seemed an ideal way of extending my reach. I find it useful to meet people with a similar mind-set who are happy to chat about business in general and offer advice. It’s also opened my eyes to other avenues that I’d never thought of. For example, I’ve gained new ideas on how to market my business.’
John Williams, Absolutely PC Ltd, IT support for small businesses, www.absolutelypc.co.uk
‘I joined Hadlee recently because I was so impressed by all the expertise in the room. I believe that networking is the best way to market yourself, particularly in finance, where a lot of trust is needed.’
Sally Moore, Morgan Stone Independent Ltd, IFA, www.morganstoneindependent.co.uk
‘I joined Hadlee last week! I joined because I felt really at home. People are so friendly there. Networking is about people, isn’t it? And they’re great. I also felt that there would be some really good synergy between what I do and several other members of the group.’
Jamie Adams, DesignRock, interior architecture, www.designrock.com
‘I love Hadlee because of the support network it offers, and the camaraderie of the members. Working on my own can get lonely, so being able to talk to other business people who understand where I am at, and what challenges I am facing, is invaluable. One great referral more than paid for my membership. It was £18k, and may lead on to other business.’
Ruth Moody, Farscape Development Ltd, training and development, www.farscapedevelopment.co.uk
‘I joined Hadlee in August 2005, having just set up my new legal practice, and I was keen to attract new business. I have just renewed my membership for my third year because Hadlee has been an essential part of my business growth strategy. In fact, the value of the business that I get from BNI is in the region of £20,000 and the support that I receive from my Hadlee colleagues has been crucial in the growth of my practice. Not only has Hadlee grown my business, it has also introduced me to a wide range of suppliers of goods and services that I need for setting up and running my office, and that I can recommend to my clients.’
Richard Erridge, Richard Erridge & Co. Solicitors, www.richarderridge.co.uk
‘I am delighted to be a member of Hadlee, and have been a member for over three years. I will be renewing next time around as well. The reasons are simple: it generates good quality referrals for both our blue and white collar recruitment businesses, and it provides a support network of like-minded business professionals who are always there when you need them. In the last six months, my best referral has been for a permanent placement worth £3,250 initially, with a genuine opportunity for repeat business.’
George Campbell, FSP Limited, recruitment, www.FSP-ltd.co.uk
‘I’m a long-standing member of Hadlee. It generates 70% of my clients through referrals from people within the group who recognize the value of investing in a business coach. My best referral in the last six months was worth £18,000. From the group, I also benefit greatly from sharing knowledge, business discipline, creative thinking, strategic partnership relationships and good friends who I trust.’
T Bramwell, CoachMeNow, business growth coach, www.coachmenow.org
‘Being a member of Hadlee benefits our sales. About quarter of our turnover now comes through Hadlee members. The largest referral I received recently was for on-going business worth around £12,000 a year. What I like about the group is that you can share stuff with them. I get a lot of support from members, and have also made some good friends who I meet regularly outside the regular meetings.’
Sanjeev Bakrania, Safran Office Supplies, www.safranoffice.co.uk
‘I have been a member of Hadlee for five years and I have never regretted a day of it. It is not possible to run a small business successfully without a reliable network of suppliers and a good sales force. Hadlee has provided just such a group. From a personal perspective, it has been a pleasure to network with a group of like-minded people who share the same business ethos of hard work and determination whilst at the same time enjoying the fun of good camaraderie. From a business perspective it has been a no-brainer – it has repaid the annual subscription many, many times over.’
Jeremy Floyd, accountant, jfloyd@jfassociates.co.uk
'Five years ago, I was highly sceptical of the horribly American "networking" malarkey. Five years on I have to say it has certainly worked for my business. I guess I get £40,000 worth of turnover a year from Hadlee and related contacts, so it has really been worth getting up early on Tuesdays for me.'
Robin Parker, Competitive Colour Print, www.ccprinting.co.uk
