Read BNI

Read BNI Read BNI is a chapter of BNI (Business Network International) based in West Swindon. Find out how you can come to our next meeting!

BNI is the world's leading business referral organisation and is great for building your professional network. Read BNI is a Swindon based chapter of BNI (Business Network International) which is the worlds largest and most successful business referral network.

⭐️ TESTIMONIAL ⭐️Laura Caddy of Laura Caddy Lifts gave a glowing testimonial to Hayriye Mazzotta and Jamie Faircloth of ...
30/10/2025

⭐️ TESTIMONIAL ⭐️

Laura Caddy of Laura Caddy Lifts gave a glowing testimonial to Hayriye Mazzotta and Jamie Faircloth of Smart PA in yesterday's meeting.

Laura said:
"A truly reliable, resourceful, and detail-oriented VA who makes my work life easier.”

I’m an online fitness coach, and do everything in my business. I never thought about working with a VA until I joined BNI, and realised that by delegating tasks that I didn’t want to do or aren’t good at, would save me time and money in the long run.

I’ve been working with Hayriye and her associate Jamie from Smart PA for a few months now, and they have been fantastic! I’ve wasted so much time trying to figure out how to create landing pages and making emails look professional, and in just an hour Jamie did a much better job than I could have done in a week.

Thanks to their support, I’ve been able to focus on the areas of the business that I love – helping my clients achieve their goals and writing bespoke workout plans, and being able to reply quicker to their questions! I feel like a weight has been lifted and I’m levelling up my business.

Jamie also increased my Instagram following and started conversations with my ideal client, which is also something I didn’t have time for. The engagement on my account grew tenfold, and the next stage is to have Smart PA do my social media posts with the wording and direction I give them, as again – I don’t have the time or skills to make them “look pretty” but I know the content is good.

They are there whenever I have a question, are super quick to reply (we even have a WhatsApp group) and we have check in calls once a week. I feel so supported working with Hayriye and Jamie, and I’m so glad I made the decision to work with them. I tell all my friends that they need a Hayriye in their life!! Beyond her skills, she’s dependable, proactive, and a joy to work with.

I wholeheartedly recommend Hayriye from Smart PA to anyone looking for a dedicated and professional assistant."

This week, we had the pleasure of hearing from Tom Brennan of Ted Mortgages. Despite the name, Tom is not “Ted”! The com...
29/10/2025

This week, we had the pleasure of hearing from Tom Brennan of Ted Mortgages. Despite the name, Tom is not “Ted”! The company name is actually an acronym representing the important figures in his life: Tom (the owner), Emily (his wife), and their dogs, Walter and Teddy.

Tom began his career in mortgages back in 2013 with Halifax. However, he made the decision to leave after discovering that his own mum had never been offered a mortgage review—a missed opportunity that could have saved her thousands of pounds. He then moved to Nationwide, a building society designed to serve its members. But when he was declined a mortgage by Nationwide, only to be approved by another lender, he knew it was time for a change.

That led to the creation of Ted Mortgages—a company built on doing things the right way. Unlike banks and major lenders, they pride themselves on being ethical, professional, and committed to exceptional service—something clearly reflected in their extensive collection of 5-star reviews.

Alongside mortgage services, Ted Mortgages also offers personal insurance, including income protection, critical illness cover, home insurance, and more. Better yet, they charge no fees for residential mortgages.

Tom's ideal referral partners are:
• Solicitors
• UW Partners
•Property Developers
• Architects
•Estate Agents

And of course his ideal referrals are first-time buyers or people who are looking to remortgage.

If you or someone you know might be interested in speaking with Tom, get in touch with him TODAY!

This weeks feature speaker is Tom Brennan, our resident Mortgage Advisor from Ted Mortgages. Tom would like to see the f...
27/10/2025

This weeks feature speaker is Tom Brennan, our resident Mortgage Advisor from Ted Mortgages.

Tom would like to see the following at the meeting:
• Solicitors - Commercial, family, law, conveyancing
• Property Developers - New build, residential sites
• Architects
• Independent Estate Agents - without mortgage bureau
• Business owners and MDs

If you are one of these people and would like to come along to see how Tom can be a good referral partner for you, then drop us a message to register.

🗓️ Wednesday 22nd October
⏰ 06.30-08.30
📍The Village Hotel, Swindon, SN5 7DW

This week, we were delighted to have our Director Consultant, Russell Frost, lead an insightful Referral Skills Workshop...
22/10/2025

This week, we were delighted to have our Director Consultant, Russell Frost, lead an insightful Referral Skills Workshop.

Russell guided us through the process of setting a clear BNI Membership revenue target by breaking it down into practical steps:

• What is your average order value?
• How many new clients do you want from BNI?
• What is your conversion rate?
• And how many referrals will it take each year to hit that goal?

This exercise was incredibly useful in helping us sharpen our 60-second presentations to ask for specific, high-quality referrals.

He also clarified exactly what counts as a referral and what can be entered into BNI Connect — emphasizing that these should be qualified opportunities to do business.

Next, Russell introduced “The Referral Tree”, a fantastic tool for 10-minute presentations. It helps map out:

• Your existing clients
• The businesses you’d like to work with
• Your key referral partners

This not only identifies new opportunities for your business but also creates ways to give referrals to others who may benefit from connecting with your current clients.

Finally, he walked us through the Customer Care Checklist — a simple yet powerful document to share with clients. It opens the door to introducing them to other trusted professionals in your network, creating more value for everyone involved.

Last week's feature speaker was Stewart Bellinger, our resident Financial Advisor from Bellinger Financial Planning, who...
22/10/2025

Last week's feature speaker was Stewart Bellinger, our resident Financial Advisor from Bellinger Financial Planning, who spoke to us about the importance of pensions.

Stewart explained that in the 1970s, most people retired at 60 or 65, and with an average life expectancy of around 70, their pension savings didn’t need to stretch too far. Today, however, people are living significantly longer, which means pension funds need to last much longer too.

He also highlighted that employers can no longer enforce a retirement age, giving individuals the flexibility to work for as long as they choose. This makes it even more important to plan ahead.

Seeking expert advice from Stewart can help ensure you make the most of your money and enjoy the lifestyle you want well into retirement.

Fantastic presentation Stew. We look forward to sending referrals your way now we know more about your services and how you help people.

⭐️ NEW MEMBER ⭐️ We’re excited to introduce Laura Caddy from Laura Caddy Lifts who joined BNI Read back in July!Laura he...
14/10/2025

⭐️ NEW MEMBER ⭐️

We’re excited to introduce Laura Caddy from Laura Caddy Lifts who joined BNI Read back in July!

Laura helps professional women over 35 feel strong, confident, and empowered in their bodies - without extreme diets or unrealistic routines.

Her mission is to support busy women, mums, and those navigating life changes like postpartum recovery or perimenopause with personalised online fitness coaching that fits into real life.

Her services include:
• Bespoke fitness programs
• Quick and easy meals
•121 coaching

We’re thrilled to have you in our chapter, Laura, and can’t wait to support your journey with referrals and watch your business thrive.

👉 For all things health and fitness related, reach out to Laura today!

This weeks feature speaker is Stewart Bellinger, our resident Financial Advisor from Bellinger Financial Planning. Stewa...
13/10/2025

This weeks feature speaker is Stewart Bellinger, our resident Financial Advisor from Bellinger Financial Planning.

Stewart would like to see the following at the meeting:
• Bookkeepers
• Solicitors
• Estate Agents
• Healthcare/Private Medical Insurers

If you are one of these people and would like to come along to see how Stewart can be a good referral partner for you, then drop us a message to register.

🗓️ Wednesday 15th October
⏰ 06.30-08.30
📍The Village Hotel, Swindon, SN5 7DW

This week, our group had the pleasure of hearing from Emma Kersey from Proficient-ly.Emma shared a personal and professi...
09/10/2025

This week, our group had the pleasure of hearing from Emma Kersey from Proficient-ly.

Emma shared a personal and professional journey that’s anything but ordinary — from cabin crew, to recruitment, to even nearly landing a role on Hollyoaks! 🤩 But she said her biggest achievement in life is becoming a mum to her two children.

She then introduced us to the powerful Profit Triangle she uses with her clients:
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Your Team (Engine)
🙌 Your Customer (Impact)
🚀 Transformation (Outcome)
= 💰 Profit

Emma also told us about an exciting milestone this year — she’s taken over the training arm of Proficient-ly, expanding her ability to support businesses in achieving sustainable growth.

Her three core offerings are:
• 🧭 Fractional Sales Director
• 📈 Upskilling Sales Teams
• 💼 Solopreneur and SME Coaching & Development

A huge thank you to Emma for such an engaging, authentic and insightful presentation. If you’re looking to supercharge your sales strategy, she’s definitely the one to talk to! 👏

This weeks feature speaker is Emma Kersey, our resident Business Advisor from Proficient-ly. Emma would like to see the ...
06/10/2025

This weeks feature speaker is Emma Kersey, our resident Business Advisor from Proficient-ly.

Emma would like to see the following at the meeting:
• Sales Directors
• Event Companies
• Managing Directors
• Local businesses with sales teams of more than 5

If you are one of these people and would like to come along to see how Emma can be a good referral partner for you, then drop us a message to register.

🗓️ Wednesday 8th October
⏰ 06.30-08.30
📍The Village Hotel, Swindon, SN5 7DW

✨ Exciting Times at BNI Read ✨Today marks a new start for our group as we welcome our brand-new Leadership Team:Presiden...
01/10/2025

✨ Exciting Times at BNI Read ✨

Today marks a new start for our group as we welcome our brand-new Leadership Team:

President: Laurie Kyle (taking over from Joanna Smyth)

Vice President: Hayriye Mazzotta (taking over from Nicki Kinton)

Secretary Treasurer: Peter Jones (taking over from Rob Young)

A huge thank you to our previous leadership team for laying such strong foundations — we’re ready to build on them and aim even higher!

Our Big Hairy Audacious Goals for the coming year are:
✅ Grow to 35 members (that’s one new member every month!)
✅ Pass £1.75m of business between us (up from £1.2m)
✅ Help every member achieve a 10x ROI
✅ Break into the Top 50 Chapters in the country

We’re passionate about supporting each other’s businesses and creating opportunities for real growth.

If you’d like to see how BNI Read can help your business thrive, drop us a DM — we’d love to invite you along to a meeting!

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hearing from Rob Young of Asset Guardian Wills, who gave us a powerful reminder that h...
25/09/2025

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hearing from Rob Young of Asset Guardian Wills, who gave us a powerful reminder that having a Will is all about making choices now to protect the future.

Rob explained why a Will is so important, including:
✅ Providing clarity in blended families
✅ Appointing guardians for children
✅ Ensuring items stay within the bloodline
✅ Leaving gifts to charity
✅ Preventing family disputes
✅ Avoiding the rules of intestacy deciding for you

He also opened our eyes to the importance of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) – both for health & welfare decisions and property & financial affairs – giving peace of mind when it matters most.

Rob meets most of his clients face-to-face, in the comfort of their own homes, and is backed by the Society of Will Writers, so you know you’re in safe hands.

His ideal clients are:
🏡 Homeowners
👵 Retired or approaching retirement
🎂 In their late 60s or early 70s

If you know someone who might benefit from this important planning — please connect them with Rob Young at Asset Guardian Wills Ltd.

Last week, we had the pleasure of hearing from Emma Wheeler a Utility Warehouse partner, who delivered a fantastic 10-mi...
24/09/2025

Last week, we had the pleasure of hearing from Emma Wheeler a Utility Warehouse partner, who delivered a fantastic 10-minute presentation about how she helps people save money on the essential services they already use.

Emma explained how bundling services with UW not only offers competitive prices but also brings extra benefits like:
• Cashback on everyday shopping
• 100% renewable energy for multi-service customers
• The ease of managing everything in one place

On top of that, Emma also mentors others to build a business doing the same – which is why BNI’s word-of-mouth referrals are such a great fit for her.

Great referrals for Emma include:
🏡 Homeowners
📦 People moving house
🏢 Estate & lettings agents
💼 Mortgage lenders & financial advisors
🔧 Tradespeople
🚚 Removal companies

Her ideal partners are: professionals, business owners, and anyone coachable, motivated, and open to network marketing.

A big thank you to Emma for sharing how UW makes life easier (and cheaper!) while also supporting sustainable living. 🙌

Address

Shaw Ridge Leisure Park
Swindon
SN57DW

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