Boosts for businesses earns Chris title of top networker

It’s a debate that could rage for months, but a website developer, from Wetherby, in West Yorkshire, has a strong claim to rank among the country’s best.

Chris Carroll, 29, the owner of Pixelvector, a web design and brand management agency, has given 40 qualified business referrals over the last year. These referrals have helped to boost turnover among his network of business contacts.

He’s been rated as the UK’s most successful networker by BNI (Business Network International), the world’s largest business referral organisation, which has 15,000 members in the UK.

Mr Carroll is a member of the Network Central group, in Leeds. He believes that networking isn’t simply a question of handing out business cards and hoping for the best.

He’s a good person to know because each business referral given by Mr Carroll is worth, on average, £38,120, according to research by BNI.

He said: “Understanding what our group members want – instead of going out for everything – is key. Finding out what they really want leads to the best referrals for them to create more money.

“I try to have a real understanding of their businesses and pass that on to my clients.”

Charlie Lawson, BNI’s national director, said: “Chris’s success is down to the core principle of successful business networking. If you build a rapport and like someone, you will want to do business worth them. I believe Chris has worked hard at this and his figures prove his commitment to giving a high number of valuable business referrals on a regular basis – no easy feat.”

According to stats from BNI, his referral giving has reached a “tipping point”.

Mr Lawson receives double the referrals he gives within his local group.

He has calculated that after being a member for three years, 80 per cent of his business comes from the members in his group.