Read BNI

08/04/2026

08/04/2026

🐣 Easter fun with purpose at BNI Read, West Swindon 🐣

This morning’s meeting brought a brilliant mix of energy, community spirit and a little bit of Easter excitement… all in support of our chosen charity, SwimTayka 💛

We held a charity raffle packed with some fantastic prizes, all generously donated by our members, including:

🍫 Easter chocolates
🧁 A handheld mixer
🎨 Colouring books for kids
…and more!

Thanks to everyone’s contributions and enthusiasm, we raised over £120 to support SwimTayka’s vital work in drowning prevention education for children, both here in the UK and in communities where this knowledge is life-saving.

It was a great reminder of what BNI is all about. Not just business, but giving back, supporting each other, and making a real difference.

👏 Huge thank you to everyone who donated prizes, bought tickets and got involved.

📅 Wednesday mornings
📍 Village Hotel, West Swindon
⏰ 6:30am – 8:30am

Visitors always welcome.

08/04/2026

♦️ Nineteen business owners. One room. Endless opportunity ♦️

Every Wednesday morning, something powerful happens at BNI Read West Swindon.

Nineteen professional, driven business people come together to build relationships, pass referrals and genuinely support each other’s growth.

It’s not just networking. It’s a room full of energy, ambition and real opportunity.

And honestly… there’s no better way to start your Wednesday.If you’re serious about growing your business, making strong connections and becoming part of a supportive local network, why not come and see it for yourself?

You’ll be made to feel welcome from the moment you walk in.

📅 Wednesday mornings
📍 Village Hotel, West Swindon
⏰ 6:30am – 8:30am

Visitors always welcome.

Thanks to Daniel James Media for the awesome edit!

03/04/2026

👏 This Week at BNI Read 👏

A huge well done to Bryan Avery from our chosen charity, SwimTayka, who was recognised this week for his outstanding contribution to the chapter.

At BNI, we track referrals, visitors and TYFTB (Thank You For The Business) each month. For March, Bryan topped the charts across all three. A brilliant achievement and a true reflection of his commitment to supporting others in the room.

This is exactly what BNI is all about. Showing up, contributing, and helping others grow their businesses.

Congratulations Bryan, and thank you for consistently demonstrating the power of Givers Gain.

📅 Wednesday mornings
📍 Village Hotel, West Swindon
⏰ 6:30am – 8:30am

Visitors always welcome.

02/04/2026

♦️ This Week at BNI: Pranks, Precision and Powerful Connections ♦️

This week’s meeting (1st April) kicked off with a few classic April Fools’ pranks as members arrived… a great way to start the morning and set the tone.

Once we got going, the room was full of energy, positivity and intent. What really stood out was how specific everyone was with their referral requests. Clear asks create clear opportunities, and that’s where BNI really works.

Our education slot was delivered by Lisa Chaffey, The Transformation Coach from the BNI Reading Central Chapter.

Lisa brought a fun, interactive session to the room, using a simple game (and a Cadbury’s Creme Egg prize) to demonstrate a powerful point… the more specific you are with your referrals, the easier it is for others to connect you to the right people.

Our 10-minute feature speaker was stewart Bellinger from Bellinger Financial Planning.

Stewart shared a clear and practical overview of how he supports both businesses and individuals, with a strong focus on:
• Pension planning for companies with 10+ staff
• Business protection and key person cover
• Creating clarity around cash flow and long-term financial planning

Key takeaways:
• No upfront fees for advice, only when work begins
• Backed and guaranteed through St. James's Place
• Typical advice costs around 0.8%, compared to up to 1-3% elsewhere

Another strong meeting, full of great conversations, quality referrals and momentum building across the chapter.

Next week: Easter Auction 🐰
All proceeds will go to our chosen charity, SwimTayka. It’s set to be a brilliant morning, so bring your bids and get involved.

📅 Wednesday morning
📍 Village Hotel Swindon
⏰ 6:30am – 8:30am

Visitors always welcome.

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30/03/2026

♦️ Featured Speaker of the Week ♦️

This week at BNI Read (West Swindon), our 10-minute Featured Speaker is stewart Bellinger from Bellinger Financial Planning.

Stewart specialises in helping individuals make sense of their financial future, particularly those approaching retirement who have built up multiple pensions across different employers.

His focus is on simplifying, consolidating and creating clear, structured plans that give clients confidence in the years ahead.

In this week’s presentation, Stewart will be sharing insight into how people can take control of their pensions, avoid common pitfalls and ensure their finances are working effectively for their retirement goals.

With so many people unsure of what they have or where it is, this is an area where the right advice can make a significant difference.

Stewart also works with investors and entrepreneurs with portfolios of £3M+, supporting them with strategic financial planning and estate structuring to protect and grow their wealth over the long term.

Stewart is looking to connect with:
• Will Writers
• Solicitors
• Estate Agents
• Business Coaches
• Health Insurance Advisors
• Bookkeepers

BNI meetings are structured, focused and designed to build strong relationships that lead to real business opportunities.

If you’d like to meet Stewart and over 30 other local business professionals, come along as a visitor this Wednesday.

📅 Wednesday morning
📍 Village Hotel, West Swindon
⏰ 6:30am – 8:30am

Visitors always welcome.

27/03/2026

♦️ A great evening out with the BNI crew last night 🍕🍻

We always say that BNI is about more than just the weekly meetings. Taking time to get to know each other outside the room is where real relationships are built, and last night was a perfect reminder of that.

Not everyone could make it this time, but those who did had a brilliant evening. The food at Fratello’s was spot on, and we kicked things off with a few drinks at Rudi’s.

It was also a slightly emotional one as we said farewell to a true BNI legend, Andrew Platts, of Jireh Solutions.

With nearly 23 years of BNI behind him across different chapters in the Cotswolds and Swindon, Andy has been an incredible member, a great supporter of others, and a genuinely top bloke.

You will be missed, mate. Wishing you all the very best for what’s next 👊

Same again soon…

25/03/2026

♦️ This Week at BNI Read (West Swindon) ♦️

Another strong and focused meeting this week, built around one of BNI’s core values… Givers Gain®.

Peter Jones from The HR Dept shared why this is his favourite value, bringing it to life with real examples. By consistently giving referrals into the chapter, Peter has seen that generosity come back around, resulting in £000s of pounds in invoiced work. A simple reminder that what you put into the room genuinely comes back.

We also heard from our 10-minute Featured Speaker, Emma Wheeler from Utilities Warehouse.

Emma supports families across the local area by helping them reduce their household bills, often saving hundreds of pounds each year. With the rising cost of living across the UK, those savings can make a real difference, whether that is easing monthly pressure or helping families afford things like a well-earned holiday.

She also introduced the Utilities Warehouse cashback card, which allows customers to earn cashback when spending with selected retail partners, helping to reduce overall monthly costs.

We were also joined by Sheldon Thelis, Chapter Director Consultant, who spent time with the room and set a series of challenges focused on improving member experience and driving even stronger results across the chapter.

Alongside this, we welcomed some great visitors, heard a room full of strong 60-second presentations and continued building the relationships that drive real business.

And to round off the week, we are looking forward to a more relaxed evening together, catching up over pizza and a pint.

If you are serious about growing your business through referrals and relationships, come and see what BNI Read is all about.

📅 Every Wednesday
⏰ 06:30 – 08:30
📍 Village Hotel, Swindon

25/03/2026

♦️👏♦️

23/03/2026

♦️ Featured Speaker of the Week ♦️

This week at BNI Read (West Swindon), our 10-minute Featured Speaker is Emma Wheeler from Utilities Warehouse.

Emma helps households and businesses simplify their utilities by bringing essential services like energy, broadband and mobile into one clear, manageable package. Her approach is focused on making everyday services more efficient, cost-effective and easier to manage.

In this week’s presentation, Emma will be sharing how businesses and individuals can take greater control of their utility costs, streamline multiple suppliers into one relationship and reduce unnecessary overhead. With ongoing changes in energy pricing and service providers, having a clear, consolidated approach has never been more valuable.

Utilities Warehouse offers a practical, joined-up solution that removes complexity and gives customers better visibility and control over their monthly outgoings.

Emma is looking to connect with:
• Estate agents
• Trades professionals
• Network marketers

BNI meetings are structured, focused and designed to build strong relationships that lead to trusted, high-quality referrals.

If you are serious about strengthening your network, building strategic partnerships and growing your business through recommendation, this is an excellent opportunity to see BNI in action.

📅 Wednesday
⏰ 6.30am – 8.30am
📍 Village Hotel Swindon
👉 Register to attend

21/03/2026

♦️ This Week at BNI Read ♦️

Another strong meeting this week. The kind that reminds you why turning up every Wednesday really matters.

Nicki delivered a great education slot on CEUs and how they fit into the BNI journey.

CEU stands for Continuing Education Units. They are earned by engaging with BNI training, podcasts, webinars and learning resources. But it is not just about ticking boxes. It is about becoming better at what we do. Better networkers, better communicators and ultimately better referrers.

The more we learn, the more value we bring into the room. And when the whole chapter leans into that, the standard rises for everyone. Stronger relationships, better referrals and more business.

Ioan then shared a brilliant testimonial for Amanda at Grow Insurance, which really captured the essence of trust within BNI.

“Amanda was patient and straightforward, explaining things clearly and helping us understand what actually mattered for our situation.”

“We felt properly supported and informed, which made it easier to make the right decision.” 

That level of care is exactly why referrals work so well. You know your contacts will be looked after properly.

Peter rounded things off with an excellent 10-minute presentation on the upcoming Employment Rights changes.

He simplified what could be a complex topic, covering areas like day one rights, flexible working and employee protections. More importantly, he highlighted where businesses could be exposed if they are not prepared.

The key message was clear. Do not wait. Get ahead of it, review your processes and make sure you are ready.

This is what BNI Read is all about. Showing up, supporting each other and building businesses together.

📅 Every Wednesday
⏰ 06:30 – 08:30
📍 Village Hotel, Swindon

19/03/2026

♦️ Do you know what a BNI Referral is? ♦️

At BNI you will often hear members talk about referrals.

A referral in BNI is not just passing a name or contact detail. It is a warm introduction to someone who is expecting your call and is open to having a conversation about your services.

This is what makes BNI different from traditional networking. Referrals are built on trust, credibility and strong relationships within the chapter.

When you pass a referral, you are effectively recommending that person with confidence, knowing they will deliver a great service.

Quality referrals help members grow their businesses in a consistent and measurable way, turning conversations into real opportunities.

At BNI Read (West Swindon) we focus on building genuine relationships so that every referral passed has real value.

Interested in receiving more of the right kind of referrals for your business?

Come and visit us.
📅 Every Wednesday
⏰ 06:30 – 08:30
📍 Village Hotel, Swindon

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