A NEW networking group for the East Lancashire area has been launched offering and informal but structured setting.

4Networking Burnley will meet every fortnight at Roaming Roosters between 8am and 10am, with the next meeting today. (thurs)

Businessmen and women can come along for breakfast and the opportunity forge links with other new and established companies in the area.

Sam Keenan, area leader for the group, said: It's the first one in Burnley covering all of East Lancashire.

“It's a nationwide organisation which organises and runs breakfasts, lunches and evening meetings during the year.

"The first meeting had a brilliant turn out. We had 35 people attend and we had great feedback from everyone, and a real buzz about the meeting.”

The fortnightly meeting will follow the same format each time - 30 minutes of open networking, breakfast, and then a 40 second introduction networking round with people introducing themselves and what they do.

At 9am a speaker offers a foresight into the future of business, sharing their expertise and knowledge.

To finish there are three ten minute business meetings and a chance for people to swap cards and contacts.

Sam, who works for +24 Marketing in Burnley, said: “It is more structured than most networking events, but also more informal.

“We had members travelling from Birmingham and Cheshire to be at the first Burnley meeting.”

The organisation is part of the national 4Networking group, based in the south west of England. It was set up by motivational speaker Brad Burton, who is due to appear on Sky’s Fortune Hunter soon. Members can travel to any of the meetings, offering a way to expand contacts.

For more information visit 4networking.biz.