Angela Kinghorn

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, BNI Scotland North plans to grow its portfolio of chapters from 15 to 17 with the addition of the new online groups – one for the Stirling area, and another covering the Tayside, Perthshire and Fife regions.

BNI is a business referral organisation, with 275,000 members in 10,000 chapters across 70 countries. In 2020, members generated over £11.9bn through 11.5 million referrals.

Firms in the financial sector can join the new networking groups.

While a name for the Stirling group will be chosen by founding members, the other new chapter will be called Deas – Gaelic for south. This mirrors a decision to call BNI’s new group for the Highlands and Islands Tuath (or north in Gaelic).

Potential members of BNI Deas will be able to find out about BNI at an online event on Tuesday, February 16 (2pm). It is planned that BNI Deas will continue to operate on an online basis once the pandemic is over.

BNI Scotland North already has five groups in Aberdeen, two in the Highlands and Islands and additional groups for the Dundee, Elgin, Peterhead, Inverurie, Stonehaven, Montrose, Perth and Dunfermline areas. There are more than 350 members in total across the organisation.

All the groups – which provide a platform for members to share business leads and help others build new relationships – switched from face-to-face to online meetings at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Aberdeen-based executive director Angela Kinghorn owns BNI Scotland North with husband Bryan. She said: “The launch of two new BNI groups is a very positive sign. BNI provides a valuable platform as companies look to generate business referrals and develop new and existing relationships.

“I’m looking forward to engaging with business people in both areas, and supporting them during these challenging times.”