Spotlight on – Peter Higgs, Executive Director of BNI West Midlands

23^rd April, 2021

Peter Higgs

Tell us a little bit about your business…

Pete and his wife Penny own Business Network International (BNI) for two regions of the UK, namely Birmingham and Coventry and the Black Country, that together encapsulate the West Midlands. BNI is a worldwide leading networking organisation that help people and businesses connect and collaborate in helping find opportunities for one another in a friendly, fun, but structured environment that delivers outstanding results.

How did you get into the industry?

Pete left the corporate world after being Managing Director of a multi-national plastics business and wanted to help smaller local businesses in order to spend more time with his family. Pete purchased the region just 3 months into his BNI membership as their “Givers Gain” mantra resonated with his own values.

What are the biggest opportunities and challenges in your industry?

The most difficult element, excluding the current COVID challenges, are the variety of roles business owners have to juggle as they grow. As a small to medium size business you have to manage the new business development, managing current operations, Marketing, HR, Admin, etc, etc. Until you can generate the correct balance of sustainable business with the staff to support owners are continually prioritising their resources. Luckily the use of other local businesses in specialist areas can help to support that growth if we collaborate more.

How would you describe your leadership style?

Relaxed and relational so we create an environment where everyone can be fairly challenged, but safely supported too. A strategist with a firm focus on the long term and ensuring we walk the right path, do the right thing and don’t get distracted.

How do you get the most out of the people who work for you?

Recruit the right people in the first instance, which means attitude and values first. We align values so we ensure we are all benefitting from each of our individual and team successes. We also recognise each other’s strengths and weaknesses to better support one another.

What are the most crucial elements to your business running smoothly and being successful?

Clear communication and support for one another and ensuring we develop people first and foremost. Helping develop business owners to recognise they don’t need to be the expert in every area, but to accept help from other local people and focus on growing their business for the long term.

How has the past 12 months been for you?

BNI reacted very quickly to offer online meetings via the Zoom platform. This enabled members to continue supporting one another and keep their businesses alive. We have seen some of the most selfless acts of support and caring given to fellow members and the levels of personal support given to one another has been heartwarming.

Is there anything you’ve learnt during the pandemic that you’ll take forward in your business?

The power of small actions of kindness. A phone call to see how people are or a thank you for some help, can really help make a difference. We value recognition as one our Core Values in BNI, but more small acts of kindness can only be a good thing.

What will the next 12 months look like for your business?

We are offering networking for both online and in person, once the rules allow. This will mean more choices for members, but also another time of change to go through. Our focus will be on helping people communicate clearly and safely through this change and ensure we help everyone feel safe, whilst still providing the opportunity to grow their businesses.

What are the highlights of your career so far?

Heading a multi-million pound corporate and working with some of the world’s largest Retailers and their suppliers gave me some amazing opportunities and learnings. I also developed a new specialist leasing product and took it to market, that is now used around the world. Promoting and developing people has to be the continuing highlight though.