The Mussel Club launches website

Jun 21 2010 by Chris Knox, The Journal

THE growth of one of the region's networking groups to over 500 members has led to the creation of a new website to help create further business opportunities in the North East.

The Mussel Club is now sharing a wealth of business opinion, a list of members and a full schedule of networking events on its website www.themusselclub.com , as it looks to support the region’s business community on the road to recovery.

David Cook, a financial adviser with the St James’s Place wealth management subsidiary ACA Financial Services, started the Mussel Club six years ago with a handful of local entrepreneurs to explore mutual business opportunities.

Members meet up at a pre-arranged restaurant (with mussels on the menu), where they can meet fellow entrepreneurs to talk business or just build up contacts in a relaxed environment.

The next Sunderland Mussel Club will be held at Villa del Porto on Thursday, July 15, when Coun Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, will be speaker, while the next event in Newcastle will take place on Thursday, July 22, at Orchid, where they will welcome Newcastle International Airport chief executive David Law as speaker.

Mr Cook said: “There are no name badges, speed-dating-style introductions or long, boring presentations.

“Members tell me they enjoy our gatherings because of the non-pressurised social atmosphere where doing business usually evolves naturally and at a more relaxed pace.

“Regulars are guaranteed a compelling mix of local varied restaurants with speakers who are carefully chosen to interest the audience on current topical issues.

“In the last few months attendance has increased to a level that an interactive website seemed the next logical step.”