A BUSINESS group is celebrating after reaching an important landmark - its 3,000th piece of business.

The Blackwell chapter of BNI, which meets at the New Grange Hotel in Southend Avenue, Darlington has been active for just over two years.

In that time, more than 3,000 referrals for business have passed between members. The 3,000th referral saw hypnotherapist Bill Cunningham refer business to fellow member Caroline Soullier, of ladies' tailor Selfishly Mine.

BNI, short for Business Network International, has more than 72,000 members worldwide. Only one person from each profession can join a chapter - one bank, one plumber, one florist.

When someone joins a BNI chapter, the other members carry the new person's business card. The chapter members will then recommend each other when they meet people who might benefit from various types of business.

Membership of BNI is worth, on average, £26,000 per year in real business, according to members.

Alasdair Ross, director of Blackwell Chapter, said it was not just a talking shop, and real business was exchanged every week.

He said: "BNI is about passing referrals, where somebody has expressed a genuine need and is expecting a call.

"Most people in business appreciate the value of referral business, but how many actually have a strategy for winning it?"

Blackwell was the first BNI chapter in the Durham and Cumbria region. There are now 17 chapters, from Barrow-in-Furness in the west to Seaham in the east.

BNI allows businesspeople to network, learn marketing skills, develop personal relationships and generate business.

"Being active in BNI is like having up to 40 salespeople working for you," said Mr Ross. "There are members of Blackwell Chapter who have built their businesses through BNI.

"Our 3,000th referral is a testament to that success. I'm just looking forward to the 5,000th referral - and the 10,000th."