Platinum Point networking group helps St Albans’ businesses to generate some £1.9m

PRLog (Press Release) - Apr. 13, 2011 - Platinum Point, the St Albans-based business breakfast group which has just celebrated its fifth anniversary, has revealed that the group’s members have generated an estimated £1.9m in revenue for fellow members’ businesses over that period.

Tim Parfitt, managing director of the St Albans-based web design and digital agency Netcel, commented: “As a group, we don’t keep records of the amount of revenue we receive when another of Platinum Point’s members refers us to one of their clients.

“However, at a conservative estimate, group members can identify that their businesses have collectively generated some £1.9m of revenue from intra-group trading and from business referrals from other group members since Platinum Point’s inception in 2006.

“In the current economic climate, being part of such a business networking group is well worth the modest cost of membership,” he added.

Begun by a small number of St Albans based businesspeople who wanted to improve on the business networking opportunities then available, Platinum Point meets from 7am to 9am each Tuesday morning. Membership of the group is by invitation and currently stands at 16.

“While the group provides extremely useful extended business networking opportunities, much of the value in being member derives from the input of fellow members at the meetings – which are always ‘different’,” said Carl French, of business franchising specialists, Replico. French, who is one of the group’s founders, recently became chairman of Platinum Point.

”Being chairman of the group is really about ensuring that meetings keep to time because they usually generate a great deal of lively discussion,” he explained. “Each member takes it in turns to be responsible for the content of a meeting – and so each meeting is unique.”

Fellow Platinum Point member, David Priseman, a business analyst and consultant, added: “This means that members offer insights into the industries they serve, as well as providing valuable tips and techniques which other members can apply in their businesses too. There is no way of measuring, in revenue terms, the amount of business that these tips help our members generate but it must be substantial.

“Importantly, too, in today’s challenging economic climate, we’re able to offer each other morale-enhancing friendship and encouragement,” he said.

From time to time, the group welcomes visitors – including St Albans’ MP, Anne Main; the inspirational speaker and life coach, Jim Rees; Ron Overton of the St Albans-based charity, ReachOut Plus, and Territorial Army (TA) officer, Rhys Little, who spoke about his experiences while serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Anglian Regiment as well as outlining the advantages to employers of employing TA soldiers.

“As a relative newcomer to the group, Platinum Point has helped me to rapidly increase my business network of contacts – and customers – and has taught me a great deal in terms of what to do and how to do it in order to be successful,” said Tom Boother, of the Hatfield- based customer relationship management specialists, Live Software Solutions. “I always look forward to Tuesday mornings – and I’m looking forward to many more years of Platinum Point.”

End

About Platinum Point

Platinum Point is a business breakfast networking group with a difference. Based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and begun in 2006, the group meets on Tuesday mornings to exchange business development tips; learn about fellow members’ businesses and business issues, and to build up mutual trust by ‘getting to know’ one another. Rather than encouraging members to ‘sell’ their products and services to other members, Platinum Point encourages members to get to know – and trust - their colleagues so that they will be happy to refer them to their clients.

Over the past five years, the group – which has averaged some 14 members over that period - estimates that its members have generated over £1m of business for their colleagues in that time.

About Bob Little Press & PR

Bob Little Press & PR – a member of Platinum Point since 2006 - provides business-to-business public relations (PR) services, telling the truth as you would want it told. Over the years, it has drawn many of its clients from the learning technologies sector, especially corporate e-learning. Currently, it has clients from around the world in this sector and the firm’s senior partner, Bob Little, is well known internationally as a writer and commentator on e-learning.

Bob Little Press & PR is committed to:
   Providing a personal service to its clients, taking time to understand each client's specific business goals and strategy.
   Ensuring that its clients' messages are presented in the most effective way through the most effective and cost efficient channels.

In addition to providing PR services, Bob Little Press & PR runs training courses, publishes books and can produce ezines, magazines, newsletters, house journals, books, white papers and marketing literature.

Further information:
Platinum Point (founder members):
Adam Gray, +44 (0)7779 572122, adam@grayuk.com
Carl French, +44 (0)845 5820 142/ 07973 625290; carlfrench@replico.biz
David Priseman, +44 (0)1727 836 269/ 07957 696374; david.priseman@nyrascapital.com
Derek Blair, +44 (0)1442 220150; derek.blair@pinkhamblair.co.uk

Media:
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, +44 (0)1727 860405, bob.little@boblittlepr.com