Ref. 30807-08THE first meeting of a new business network proved to be a sell-out.

Some 120 businessmen and women attended the first lunch held by NRG Network Resource Group at the Village Hotel in South Marston yesterday.

NRG partner Martin Davies said: "I can honestly say we were absolutely astonished by the take-up.

"We had 120 and we had another 45 people who would have liked to have come along. It's fantastic.

"We are aimed primarily at the small to medium marketplace but we are also looking at how to make it attractive to the corporates.

"There was a wide range of companies, but primarily they were drawn from the value-added service sector."

The idea to start a networking group came to Mr Davies, a former IBM sales marketing executive, and his partners Kim Sharman, a former Cathay Pacific pilot and Nigel Talbott, an IT consultant who also runs a computer store in Pewsey.

Among yesterday's diners were specialist recruitment consultants, solicitors, public relations executives, and health and lifestyle experts.

Dennis Grant, chief executive of Swindon Chamber of Commerce, said: "Networking is one of the most important things in business."

The group's next lunch meeting is on Tuesday, July 6.

The organisers intend meetings to be monthly.

To find out more log on to www.network-nrg.com or call 0845 408 0639.