BUSINESS networking group, Milk No Sugar?, which launched in Bewdley during August, aims to create more new business opportunities at its next meeting.

It will be held on Wednesday, October 14, at the Hop Pole Inn, from 11am to 12.30pm.

"We'll definitely be going again." said Andy and Frances Offer, of Whyle House Lamb, Hereford, who said they got: "One firm order for a whole lamb and a very positive introduction which, we now hope, will lead to a regular order."

Debra Turnbull, of Worcester-based Astryd Business Consultancy, commented: "I really enjoyed it and spoke to many new people, swapping and discussing business options and ideas, and I'm now looking forward to taking this further at our next meeting."

The group will meet every second Wednesday of the month, hosted by Nigel Tinsdale, of Tinsdale Investment Management, Load Street, Bewdley.

He said he was delighted by the response, adding: "The idea of Milk no Sugar? was to collectively bring ideas to the table and to learn from each other of what can and has worked for others and how it can be used and adapted to other business models, with the result being new local business opportunities."

The group's aim is to provide a positive business platform for local businesspeople to share, learn and connect with each other to do business and help to keep business local.

Recession or no recession, according to Mr Tinsdale, doing business locally provided a number of positive business benefits, including reduced road miles and increased customer loyalty.

He said: "Smaller companies tend to do better precisely because of their size and their capacity to adapt to changing circumstances, the result being that many of them come out the other end far more profitable."

Open to all local businesses, meetings are free to attend with no subscription or meeting fees.

For more information or to attend the next meeting, contact Tinsdale Investment Management, on 01299 405631 or email: info@tinsdale.co.uk