A recently formed business leaders’ network is on course to hit its membership target within less than a year of being set up. The Manchester Enterprise Group, which meets weekly for breakfast in the panoramic Cloud 23 bar at the Hilton Deansgate, has entered the New Year with just three places remaining before it hits its initial target of 25 members.

MEG, as its members know it, was founded in March 2017 and already boasts 22 full members from a wide variety of sectors. In addition to its regular members the group also attracts a range of guests to its weekly meetings, which take place on Thursday mornings from 7.00am.

New members do not currently incur a joining fee but, once MEG hits its initial target of 25 members, a £195 charge will apply. Members all pay a monthly fee of £55 to cover the venue and catering, while guests can pay £14 to attend on an ad-hoc basis.

MEG is not run for profit, and all fees go to pay for the group’s running costs.

During its first nine months MEG has welcomed more than 90 guests to its networking sessions, and guests are welcome to attend all meetings. However, the group also holds dedicated visitors’ days in which the format is slightly adjusted to ensure maximum value for non-members.

The next of these visitors days will be held on Thursday 15 February. Tickets are available from Eventbrite.

MEG was the brainchild of five longstanding members of a franchised city centre networking organisation who wanted to create a less pressurised group that, while being no less commercial, was run by and for senior decision makers and business owners, according to their priorities.

The founding members were: William Seabrook, director of branding specialists Seabrook Associates; Christopher Ball, director of Christopher Ball Photography; Phil Greenwood, accountant and business adviser at chartered accountants BTMR; Calvin Husbands, managing director of financial planning firm Heavenly Finances; and Robin Raymond, director of commercial heating systems supplier AFS Biomass. All remain committed members.

William Seabrook, co-founder of MEG and chair of the group, said,

“We set up Manchester Enterprise Group because, after many years doing it someone else’s way, we wanted to create a networking format that would deliver real business results for members while also providing a really enjoyable and inspiring experience every week.

“We have already seen significant volumes of business transacted via the group but, just as importantly, members regularly use our meetings to help them develop ideas and reach decisions. Running a business can be a solitary occupation and the success of the group over the past nine months shows how much value members place on the support network that MEG provides.”

Representatives of all sectors are welcome to attend MEG meetings as guests. As its profile matures the group is looking, in particular, to welcome new members from the legal, insurance, office supplies and charity sectors, as well as various trades.