News
LOCAL BUSINESS NETWORKS EXPANDING THROUGH OPEN DAYS ACROSS WEST YORKSHIRE
Businesses across West Yorkshire can network at one of our Open Days to experience business networking the modern way. During our Open Days you will see the benefits of our unique online referral system backed up with monthly meetings using our TRN Shuffle. The TRN Shuffle allows you to meet and introduce your business to each person at the meeting in small comfortable groups. If you like what you see and it is your first meeting you can join one of your local networks and a promotional annual membership fee.
Visit our Meeting page to view up coming meetings and Open Days.
HALIFAX BUSINESSES TAKE RECESSION BUSTING ACTION
Halifax businesses are turning their backs on the economic doom and gloom and taking positive action by setting up a sales referrals group from the very relaxed surroundings of The Imperial Crown Hotel based in the town centre.
The local business men and women are from very different businesses but have come together with a common goal - to create more business. Recognising that pitching in the dark and cold calling is little more than futile the collective approached the Yorkshire based sales referral organisation, The Referrals Network, to ask for a Halifax group that they could grow.
Dave Randall, managing director of The Referrals Network says: “We are really happy to be in Halifax, the business people have so much get up and go and really want to grasp the nettle. We were approached because not only are we unique with our online sales referrals facility but we can prove business opportunities have been realised through us. In just over two months one of our Leeds groups created £11,000 of invoiced business and two members in Huddersfield doubled their turnover overnight. In fact only last week a member received a three thousand pound referral!”
Hunters Estate Agents, Roofline Residential, Cuttin Edge Carpets, Utility Warehouse, Creative Concept, Calvins Electrical, Sent2Print and Roofline Residential Ltd are all founding members of the Halifax group of the Referrals Network and hope that the recently reported 73 thousand pounds of invoiced business amongst other groups within the Referrals Network will extend to Halifax’s own business economy.
The Referrals network gives local businesses the opportunity to thrive and beat the competition through the support of fellow group members. The groups use traditional networking meetings to build face to face relationships; but the unique focus of The Referrals Network is its use of technology. Its online marketplace is where all the business is exchanged and it seems its ease of use and accessibility is just what businesses are looking for.
Dave adds: “Business success around networking is definitely growing for us. Our members realise their business confidence is coming from concentrating on good business relationships with fellow members which in turn is keeping the focus very much local and contributing to Yorkshire’s economic survival.”
Extending this opportunity to other businesses in Halifax The Referrals Network are running an open event on Wednesday the 21st March from 4pm until 6.00pm at The Imperial Crown Hotel, 42-46 Horton Street, Halifax, HX1 1QE. The event will host a two key note speakers, afternoon tea and will provide a format for business networking. A charge of £10 per head or £15 for two will be taken at the door.
The beauty of The Referrals Network is that it combines both the ease and convenience of online networking with regular meetings and flexible payment terms in a real world environment. The Referrals Network is the only UK online referrals networking facility with groups in Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax and Bradford with expansion quickly progressing across other sites in Yorkshire and Lancashire. www.thereferralsnetwork.co.uk.
RECESSION BUSTING £86K OF GROWTH FOR BUSINESS GROUP
Yorkshire based The Referrals Network is bucking the gloomy economic trend and giving their members more bang for their buck with a reported 86 thousand pounds of recorded business won and invoiced during the past year.
The referrals group has groups in Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford, Halifax and Wakefield and offers local businesses the opportunity to thrive and beat the competition through the support of traditional networking meetings and an online marketplace where they can exchange and manage referrals anywhere at any time from any internet-enabled device.
Helping members manage their cash flow has led to an increase in membership as monthly direct debit membership is proving to more palatable against a one lump-sum payment which many companies are reporting they are just don’t feel confident enough to draw out of their bank
Dave Randall, managing director of The Referrals Network says: “In a recession small to medium sized businesses need services like ours to help them find new contracts.
“We have proven opportunities and realised great things for our members in just over two months one of our Leeds groups created £11,000 of invoiced business, two members in Huddersfield doubled their turnover overnight.
“Business success around networking is growing for us as our members realise their confidence in the economy is growing through the relationships they build with other members.”
The beauty of The Referrals Network is that it combines both the ease and convenience of online networking with regular meetings and flexible payment terms in a real world. The Referrals Network is the only UK online referrals networking facility with groups in Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Bradford and Halifax with expansion quickly progressing across other sites in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
BOOST TO COVERAGE FOR CARPET FIRM
Leeds based carpet company are enjoying the benefits of covering their market through the rapid referral success of a £3k deal being struck through just one fellow member of the online networking group The Referrals Network.
BKM Carpets joined The Referrals Network to explore far-reaching fruitful business opportunities as a result of the impact they had felt due to the drop in high street customers.
in the region, which were previously beyond the company’s primary existing marketing activities because these were focused on traditional advertising and word-of-mouth recommendations.
The Referrals Network group differs from others because it enables businesses to grow through its unique online business referrals system which allows members to refer business without the penalties of compromising day to day business activity.
BKM Carpets owner Mark Lightowler says it was this flexible and proactive approach which gave him the incentive he needed to sign up. ‘I could immediately see fruitful opportunities where I could refer other businesses while I’m going about my work, especially for other tradespeople like plumbers or decorators.’
Within just one week of joining the group, BKM secured a £3k contract through a fellow member’s referral. ‘Obviously securing this work was a fantastic boost to my business,’ says Mark. ‘Since then, I’ve also gained one or two jobs with letting agents, which was one of the streams of business I’d been working towards getting into for some time.
I’d definitely recommend The Referrals Network to others, whatever your business may be. I’ve not only won work immediately but it’s also opened up future opportunities to develop my business, through the variety of contacts I’m now regularly connected to.’
The Referrals Network is the only UK online referrals networking facility and already has two groups in Leeds, one in Wakefield and one in Huddersfield with expansion quickly progressing across other sites in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
SHORTLISTED - LOCAL BUSINESS ACCELERATORS COMPETITION
We’ve made the shortlist list to be part of a groundbreaking national initiative that will harness the power of local newspapers. We're one of eight companies waiting to learn whether we will be one of three to win this fantastic opportunity. The initiative is called The Local Business Accelerators campaign and it’s searching to find the region's most promising young businesses. If we win we’ll receive three months free advertising in the Huddersfield Examiner and a mentor!
Keep your fingers crossed for us.
REFERRALS ARE INNOVATION FINALISTS
The Referrals Network team are giving themselves a huge pat on the back after becoming finalists in the Business Innovation category of The Reporter Series Business Awards 2011.
The team were given the good news during the awards dinner at the Gomersal Park Hotel, in Gomersal last week where the best and the brightest businesses in the region were in attendance.
Ish Hussain from The Referrals Network says: “It was a great honour to be invited to the awards and be recognised for the hard work we have put into the business. Thank you to our team and all our members for their support and messages of praise.”
APPLES ARE VERY ROSEY IN HUDDERSFIELD
Huddersfield based Applegate Lettings are celebrating sales referral success as their turnover increases by over 20% in just over a year through referrals alone from their fellow online networking group members from The Referrals Network.
Applegate joined The Referrals Network to develop strong local connections and business relationships to help their fledgling business fly in the years ahead; and after only one year the company is moving from success to success.
The company’s owner Amy Wray puts her company success down to her honesty and effort in developing business relationships. Amy says: “It’s tough for everyone right now. Long working hours are a day to day reality when you run your own business and as the list gets longer it just seemed impossible for me to focus on that all important new business. I cannot express how much the members of The Referrals Network have helped me. It’s refreshing to see the barriers down and businesses looking out for one another.”
Applegate Lettings are a unique company who needed a unique networking facility that allowed the company to focus on customer relationships and service. Because the network is online Amy can run her business and still network and refer business no matter what time of the day it is as it’s always open. Amy added: “This is probably why at least 65% of the company’s business derives from customer recommendations. We simply have the time to look after the people that make our business – customers.”
The philosophy of the Referrals Network is face to face meetings are still important and individual contribution to the success of the group is noted and graded but there is no obligation to conform; rather The Referrals Network believes business people working towards a common goal can manage their own commitments successfully to help each other. After meeting fellow members to learn of the services they provide meeting every week there after is only to pass referrals and this interaction is online! Preferring to make networking available to all The Referrals Network have taken the hassle of early morning or late afternoon weekly meetings and replaced them with a robust group system that still involves ownership and responsibility but eliminates restrictive rules that don’t complement modern day living and life. The Referrals Network is the only UK online referrals networking facility and already has two groups in Leeds, one in Wakefield and one in Huddersfield with expansion quickly progressing across other sites in Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The Referrals Network go green
The Referrals Network is celebrating after being named as one of the greenest in the District.
The Referrals Network received an award for outstanding work in the promotion of sustainable practices in the workplace during an awards event which was held at Dewsbury Town Hall last week.
Cllr Mehboob Khan: "It's great to see so many businesses improving their green credentials, whether it's increasing recycling or reducing the waste and pollution that their business generates - we are extremely supportive of their efforts and hope that they continue to strive for sustainability".
"We are proud of our green credentials here in Kirklees and I hope that other businesses are inspired by the efforts of their peers and that we see even more great entries at next year's awards".
Company growth and a new member of the Team
The Referals Network has expanded it's growing team by employing Kaya Redmonds as a sales and promotions executive.
Kaya, from Wyke in Bradford, will be heading up the growing team's sales and promotions department as the online sales referrals network expands to other town's and cities nationwide.
Kaya Redmonds says: "Given that The Referrals Network is a unique online sales referral networking organisation it's quite apt that I found this position online.
We have exciting times ahead and as the company grows I am very much looking forward to developing my role and the companies profile".
Reporter Series New Business of the Year 2011
The Referrals Network success and phenomenal growth over the past 12 months has been recognised with a nomination for The Reporter Series New Business of the Year Award 2011.
The Reporter Series District Business Awards 2011 showcase the best in the business in Kirklees and celebrate what’s best and thriving in its business community.
Ish Hussain, Financial Director of The Referrals Network says: “We are extremely proud to have made it to the nominations. It’s thanks to our network members embracing our unique online system that we have got this far and accomplished so much.”
To view the full Newspaper article please click here.
Come and support us at the awards ceremony on the evening of the 27th October at the Gomersal Park Hotel, Gomersal.
Kirklees Business Conference 2011
Now in its third year The Referrals Network will be exhibiting at the Kirklees Business Conference on Thursday September the 29th to support the whole ethos of the show – to help Kirklees businesses.
The Referrals Network will be on hand to offer business networking advice and ignite people’s interest in a new way of networking. Dave Randall, TRN MD says: “No business becomes successful without the assistance of other companies and individuals. This is certainly true of our own business, without the support, relationships and backing from other businesses we wouldn’t be where we are today."
Come and support us and learn why we’re different at KBC, Galpharm Stadium,Huddersfield, stand 16.
Kirklees Green Business Awards 2011
The Referrals Network is sponsoring the Kirklees Green Business Awards, which recognise businesses working hard to reduce their carbon footprint and help the environment.
The Referrals Network is promoting its ethics of environmentally sound business by supporting the Kirklees Green Business Awards 2011 with sponsorship.
Dave Randall, MD of The Referrals Network says: “We have developed our business with our carbon footprint in mind and believe in supporting the awards in their work to recognise companies that do the same”.
The Referrals Network will have a stand at The Kirklees Business Awards 6th October 5.30-8.30pm at Dewsbury Town Hall – come along and see us.
"Premiere Plastering Services wins more referrals" says The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
The Huddersfied Daily Examiner 30 August 2011 reports "A PLASTERING company is skimming off more work after joining a technology-focused networking group. Slaithwaite-based Premiere Plastering Services has increased its weekly income by £569 since joining The Referrals Network in January. So far, the company has made more than £11,000 as a result of developing relationships and helping out fellow colleagues and business owners..." Read more about the story in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
"Network is getting referrals from its members" says The Yorkshire Evening Post
The Yorkshire Evening Post 28 June 2011 reports "A NEWLY-launched network has helped boost business in Wakefield. The Wakefield Group of The Referrals Network, which was launched two weeks ago, has seen its 17 members exchange 45 sales referrals leading to more than £1,000 in recorded sales..." Read more about the story in the Yorkshire Evening Post.
"The Huddersfield Referrals Network brings new technology to networking" says The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner 20 June 2011 reports "A NEW kind of business networking is making strides in Huddersfield. Now members are reporting increased sales by embracing new technology through The Referrals Network. The group helps businesses to grow through an online business referrals system which fosters good relationships and traditional networking within an online format. It allows members to refer business without compromising their day-to-day business activity..." Read more about the story in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner
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