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.

At this week’s Read BNI meeting, our chosen charity SwimTayka was featured in a powerful 10-minute presentation from Bry...
07/01/2026

At this week’s Read BNI meeting, our chosen charity SwimTayka was featured in a powerful 10-minute presentation from Bryan Avery 🏊‍♂️

Bryan shared the extraordinary work Swim Tayka does to prevent drowning and save young lives, alongside his personal experiences of swimming with sharks and completing extreme endurance challenges where fear is managed, not fought.

The message was clear. This is not about spectacle. It is about courage, discipline and standing beside children and families who need access to swimming and water safety education.

Looking ahead to 2026, Swim Tayka is actively seeking support through corporate CSR partnerships and sponsorship opportunities with local, community-focused businesses that want their values to be lived, not just stated.

If your organisation is looking for a meaningful CSR partnership that delivers real local impact across Swindon and Wiltshire, this is a conversation worth having.

Thank you to Bryan for an inspiring presentation and for reminding us what purposeful business support really looks like. 

Great to be back in the room for our first BNI meeting of the New Year 🎉 There is something powerful about starting the ...
07/01/2026

Great to be back in the room for our first BNI meeting of the New Year 🎉

There is something powerful about starting the year together with clarity, structure and a shared focus on helping each other grow.

For anyone new to BNI, this is what we do. We bring local business owners together each week to build trusted relationships that lead to genuine referrals and long-term opportunities. It is structured, supportive and built around clear values, not awkward networking.

Discover more about Swindon's Read Chapter here:
https://bni-wiltshire.co.uk/wiltshire-read-bni-(west-swindon)/en-GB/index

We took time to recognise our Network Leaders for December, because recognition matters at BNI and it fuels growth.

December Network Leaders
• TYFTB (Thank You for the Business): Grace Brown – £13,990 👏
• Referrals: Bryan Avery – 16 🎉
• Visitors: Bryan Avery and Thomas Brennan – one visitor each 🙏

Today’s meeting also included a 10-minute feature presentation from Bryan Avery of SwimTayka, sharing the important work the charity does around drowning prevention and water safety, and the types of connections and support that help extend its impact.

BNI is about giving first, showing up consistently, and supporting others to succeed. When that happens, the results follow.

If you are a business owner who has heard of BNI but never really understood what happens in the room, we would love to welcome you as a visitor and show you how it works in practice.

Message us to find out more or to attend an upcoming meeting.

Our Leadership Team:
President: Laurie Kyle
Vice-President: Hayriye Mazzotta
Secretary/Treasurer: Peter Jones
Visitor Host Coordinator: Bryan Avery

Just before Christmas, we had a fantastic 10-minute presentation from Andy Platts of Jireh Solutions 👏Andy talked about ...
05/01/2026

Just before Christmas, we had a fantastic 10-minute presentation from Andy Platts of Jireh Solutions 👏

Andy talked about the difference between what businesses get from IT support and what they actually want. Yes, you get helpdesk support and projects — but what you really want is preventative, ongoing and strategic IT that stops problems before they start.

Andy shared how Jireh Solutions focuses on being proactive rather than reactive, delivering a secure, reliable and fit-for-purpose IT environment. From locking down computers, networks, cloud and backups, to advanced email filtering, multi-layered security, updates, monitoring and awareness training, their approach is all about protection, resilience and long-term alignment with the business.

Their mindset is simple but powerful: if their customer has a problem, they have a problem.

Jireh Solutions is particularly well suited to businesses that value quality, security and reliability — especially those with compliance or security requirements, those handling money or sensitive data, businesses with a reputation (or shareholders) to protect, and fast-growing teams. While they typically support organisations of 10–100 people, even a team of two can benefit from the right IT foundations.

If you know a business that fits this profile and is looking for IT support that’s strategic, secure and genuinely preventative, now’s the time to get in touch with Andy Platts.

This weeks feature speaker is Bryan Avery from our resident Charity, SwimTayka.Bryan would like to see the following at ...
05/01/2026

This weeks feature speaker is Bryan Avery from our resident Charity, SwimTayka.

Bryan would like to see the following at the meeting:
• Outdoor Swimmers
• Corporate Sponsors
• Swimming Coaches
• Adventure Filmmaker
• Shark Negotiator

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

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

18/12/2025

A few weeks ago, we came together for our annual Great Gift Exchange to support our resident charity, SwimTayka

Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we raised £720 for a charity that delivers free swimming lessons and vital drowning prevention education to children in underprivileged countries.

This is just the start—we’ll be hosting more fundraising activities for SwimTayka throughout the year.

This morning marked our final chapter meeting of the year.Here’s to an incredible 2025 and an even more successful 2026 ...
17/12/2025

This morning marked our final chapter meeting of the year.

Here’s to an incredible 2025 and an even more successful 2026 ahead.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

17/12/2025

Our final meeting of 2025 called for a festive send-off 🎄
Christmas jumpers and hats, seasonal tunes, and a Secret Santa with a twist! Gifts were opened one by one — and yes, stealing was allowed… one present was stolen four times 😄

A great way to end the year on a high. Proud to be part of a chapter filled with professional, driven, and passionate people.

Happy Christmas from BNI Read 🎅

⭐️ TESTIMONIAL ⭐️A few weeks ago, Laurie Kyle of  Giddy Octopus gave a glowing testimonial to Stephen Baron of Stephen B...
25/11/2025

⭐️ TESTIMONIAL ⭐️

A few weeks ago, Laurie Kyle of Giddy Octopus gave a glowing testimonial to Stephen Baron of Stephen Baron Photography.

Laurie said:

"I’d like to thank Stephen for his amazing help with a recent product photoshoot. Stephen was incredibly professional and made the whole process so straightforward and stress-free.

He took the time to talk through the purpose of the shoot in detail, which allowed him to bring along a thoughtful selection of props that really enhanced the final photos. Stephen also came fully equipped with his professional equipment and even took the time to talk me through each step of the process and why it was important to get right, making sure everything ran smoothly and ensuring that I was happy with each shot.

What really stood out to me was Stephen’s meticulous attention to detail. He carefully tested the lighting and flash setups, noticed subtle shadows I hadn’t even spotted, and made small adjustments that made a big difference in the final images. His eye for detail and commitment to quality were truly impressive.

The final photos were edited and delivered promptly, allowing me to launch my project on time without any stress. The images looked fantastic and perfectly captured the style I was aiming for.

I was so pleased with the results and the overall experience. I’d highly recommend Stephen to anyone looking for high-quality images, creative input, and a seamless professional process from start to finish."

Last week our networking group had the pleasure of hearing a brilliant 10-minute presentation from Laurie Kyle, the crea...
24/11/2025

Last week our networking group had the pleasure of hearing a brilliant 10-minute presentation from Laurie Kyle, the creative force behind Giddy Octopus.

Laurie has over 10 years of experience in the graphic design industry and launched her own business in June 2024. She showcased an impressive portfolio of recent work — including projects created for several members in the room. A perfect example of the true power of BNI collaboration! 🤝

Laurie walked us through the wide range of services she offers, from full branding and print design to digital assets and beautifully crafted presentations. She also explained her flexible branding packages and retainer options, designed to support businesses of all shapes and sizes.

It was fantastic to gain a deeper understanding of Laurie’s talents and capabilities — and we’re excited to send even more referrals her way!

If you’re looking to elevate your brand, Laurie is the one to call.

This weeks feature speaker is Laurie Kyle, our resident Graphic Designer from Giddy Octopus. Laurie would like to see th...
17/11/2025

This weeks feature speaker is Laurie Kyle, our resident Graphic Designer from Giddy Octopus.

Laurie would like to see the following at the meeting:
• Printers
• Marketers
• Social Media Marketers
• Videographers
• Business Owners

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

🗓️ Wednesday 19th November
⏰ 06.30-08.30
📍The Village Hotel, Swindon, SN5 7DW

This morning, we had the pleasure of hearing from Laura Caddy of Laura Caddy LiftsLaura qualified as a Personal Trainer ...
12/11/2025

This morning, we had the pleasure of hearing from Laura Caddy of Laura Caddy Lifts

Laura qualified as a Personal Trainer in 2017 and holds a Level 3 qualification in fitness, along with certifications in Pre and Postnatal Exercise and Nutrition and Exercise to Music. She also has a degree in Business and Marketing—and fun fact, she used to be a DJ!

Laura specialises in helping professional women over 35 get back into the gym, build strength and confidence, boost their energy and focus at work, and stay consistent, even with busy travel schedules.

Her ideal clients include:
• Senior corporate women and executives
• Successful female entrepreneurs
• High-earning professionals
• Frequent travellers
• Women in high-stress leadership roles

You can try out her TDEE calculator here: https://www.lauracaddylifts.com/tdee-calculator/

It was a fantastic and insightful presentation from Laura—let’s do our best to bring her a referral next week!

Address

Shaw Ridge Leisure Park
Swindon
SN57DW

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