Press Release
A group of Evesham companies have swept the individual categories at a prestigious business awards ceremony hosted by BNI, the world’s largest business referral organisation.
The annual ceremony, this year held in Stratford Upon Avon on Wednesday 6th June recognises the achievements of BNI members throughout the South Midlands. It is however the first time that a single chapter has taken all three individual awards.
Leading the successes was Mike Long, Director of BNI Evesham 2006-2007 for outstanding BNI Director. Sue Richardson, won the award for Membership Co-Ordinator and finally David Yates won the award for Education in networking skills .
David Bullock, BNI Executive Director put the feat into context
“BNI exists to nurture word of mouth business generation and it is the world’s leading business referral organisation. We set high standards for all our thousands of members world-wide. Every award winner has to shine particularly brightly and consistently to be recognised in this way. BNI Evesham has certainly led the way as a local business force. And against incredibly stiff competition from much larger towns such as Cheltenham, Worcester, Gloucester, and Stratford, Evesham has blazed a trail with this unique triple award for Mike, Sue and David.”
BNI is responsible for generating over £1Billion worth of business for its members annually. In the South Midlands region there are dozens of chapters based throughout Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and parts of the West Midlands. With around 500 members in the region, it has become an essential part of generating business for many firms. BNI attracts diverse organisations from across the business spectrum; from barristers to builders and every type of business in between. In Evesham alone around half a million pounds of business has been generated by BNI members for each other.
In 2006, Mike Long, Managing Director of Hi-Pix Photography took over the direction of BNI in Evesham. He appointed Sue Richardson, Managing Director of publishers, Word4Word of King Charles Court, Evesham as his Membership Co-Ordinator and David Yates CEO of design and marketing agency The Creative Thing became the Education Co-ordinator.
David Yates commented “We were all very surprised and quite flattered to be recognised in this way. We are members of BNI because it generates business for us. It is also gratifying to help our colleagues in BNI to generate business for their own companies. So when BNI itself decides to honour us in this way, it does make you think ‘I should be thanking them!’.”
BNI in Evesham are hoping to build on this success by increasing their membership quota. They are therefore currently considering applications for membership. For further information contact David Yates on 0870 7656461. Alternatively, please visit the BNI Evesham website at www.bnievesham.co.uk
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Mike Long | Sue Richardson | David Yates
