BNI recruits: Scott Ashford, Llanelli gas services engineer, left, and environmental services consultant Philippa Stanley, right, are welcomed into membership of the BNI Endeavour Llanelli branch by BNI area director Nick Romanello.

A popular Llanelli business breakfast club is going from strength to strength with the announcement it has recruited three new members.
The trio of new members at the Business Network International (BNI) Chapter in Llanelli is made up of environmental consultant Philippa Stanley (who was renewing her annual membership), Llanelli architect David Darkin and gas services engineer Scott Ashford.
Membership of the BNI business network is all about being part of a bigger team, said Llanelli chapter chairman Graeme Fox.
Everyone comes to a BNI meeting with their own individual skills and talents, but the power of the meeting comes through the way members work together.
These are challenging times in business and the club is really useful as a support mechanism. You know that fellow members are there to support you and to encourage you to do better in business.
The BNI Chapter in Llanelli is continuing to look for new members for the Thursday morning club at The Diplomat Hotel in Llanelli.
Kick off is 7am, said Mr Fox.
Yes, its an early start. But it does help you get some quality time at the start of the day to give your business a lift and, lets face it, nowadays everyone needs help and support to meet the challenges posed by the state of the economy.
One of the things new members are always impressed with is the fact that the meetings create a real buzz in the morning. We start the day energised as theres a lot of enthusiasm in our meetings.
Significantly, membership has gone up from 12 to 22 in the last 12 months as more and more businesses appreciate the benefits of joining the business network.
It is estimated that each seat around the Llanelli BNI breakfast table is worth more than 12,000 in business.
The key to this is in the make-up of the BNI membership. No two businesses in the BNI are allowed to be in the same category, so you get a mix which can be as varied as the proverbial butcher, baker and candlestick maker.
In Llanelli, the membership includes a plasterer, electrician, builder, web designer, IT support consultant and an accountant.
It really is a great mix, said Mr Fox.
As well as the networking and the support BNI provides, the meeting also enables members to pass business referrals to each other, which can vary from firm orders from one business to the next or an introduction to a potential client.
The business between the BNI members is monitored and in money terms we know that the BNI members have done more than 200,000 worth of business between each other over the course of 12 months.

BNI details: Endeavour BNI (Llanelli), Venue: Diplomat Hotel, Felinfoel, Llanelli, SA15 3PJ. Meeting time: Thursday 0700am - 0830am.
If you are interested in joining the Llanelli BNI, then ring the clubs chief experience officer Phil Evans for an informal chat on 07796 990493
Website
www.bni-southwales.com

Welcome on board: BNI Llanelli chairman Graeme Fox, right, welcomes Llanelli architect David Darkin into membership of the business breakfast club.