A Lincoln branch of an international business networking group has celebrated a successful first year, with members drumming up new business worth almost £400,000 to date.

The Tennyson chapter - named after the local poet Alfred Lord Tennyson - of Business Network International (BNI) meets weekly, giving members the chance to share ideas, network and learn know more about each others' businesses.

BNI works by promoting businesses through word of mouth, so the members of a chapter become a 'sales force' for one another.

Since being established on 1 July 2008, the Tennyson chapter has now grown to 27 member firms including an insurance broker, solicitor, accountant, five-star hotel, car dealership and a Google AdWords specialist. A total of 949 referrals have been generated between member firms, leading to new business worth £391,799 so far.

Jeannine Peta Thornley, marketing co-ordinator at Nicholsons Accountants, who was secretary-treasurer during the group's first six months, and then chapter director for the next six, said all the members were enjoying the benefits of being part of the group.

She added: "We've got a real cross-section of businesses in our group who can help one another out by promoting fellow members to our own contacts and associates. It's a very simple concept - if someone generates business for you, you want to do the same for them, and everyone wins as a result.

"It's also a chance to meet in a relaxed setting to share information and ideas, and keep ourselves up to speed with developments in the local economy generally."

David Lee, managing director of insurance broker JE Sills took over as chapter director a couple of months ago. He said: "The group has surpassed all our expectations in the first year and we are still attracting interest from new members, so I believe the group will continue to grow in size over the next year and beyond, which can only be good news for our all of our members."

The group meets every Friday, from 6.45am to 8.30am at Yots Bar and Bistro, The Landings, Burton Waters. For more information, contact Jeannine Peta Thornley at Nicholsons on 0845 2766555.