Growth club setting its sights on expanding into Leeds

The Fruit Tree Business Growth Club, which offers a networking and training programme, is set to launch in Leeds on September 6 at the Shine Business Centre, in Harehills Road.

The Fruit Tree Business Growth Club founder, Brian Butcher, said he had seen the Doncaster-based club go from strength to strength since it was launched last year.

He decided that Leeds was the perfect location to grow the club, because the city has a large number of fast-growing businesses.

He said: “I think the reason for our success is the culture that we generate within the group. The Fruit Tree is not a ‘go and sell’ networking meeting, it is a ‘go and give’ business club.

“We want businesses in Leeds to come along and find out what we are about. There is no commitment required, just come to the launch, meet our team of coaches and see if The Fruit Tree is for you.”

Members in Doncaster have already shared hundreds of referrals, with many generating business several times their annual membership fees.

Mr Butcher added: “Some of our business coaches are from Leeds and we already have the right people lined up to facilitate our meetings.

“All we need now is willing members who want to get involved and succeed together.

“Many networking meetings just focus on putting a large number of people in a room and hope that some connections are made.

“What we do is help people get to know each other on a more relaxed level by providing a ‘connect’ session where we eat together and really get to know each other rather than just exchange business cards.

“There then follows a structured training curriculum delivered by a variety of business consultants and personal coaches covering a wide variety of topics throughout the year.

“Many of these are done on a workshop-style basis so people can get to understand each other’s strengths as well as their business challenges.

“The final session of each meeting is where members then share their referral requests with each other and pass on any relevant leads.

“Another benefit of our structure is that, not only are leads and referrals passed within the group, but many joint ventures are also being created.”

Mr Butcher said the network had members whose target market was business start-ups.

He said these members were now getting together to create a ‘complete start up package’ so a new business owner can get their ideas off the ground quickly.

The Shine Centre has been developed inside the former Grade II Listed Harehills Middle School.

At least 91 per cent of the profits of Shine are re-invested in supporting entrepreneurs in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Leeds.

Places can be reserved by emailing [email protected]