With business start-up rates in the North-East lagging behind other regions, organisations supporting entreprenurism have a crucial role. Marie Carter reports.

THERE was a time when networking as a buzzword was greeted with a snort of derision. Surely that sort of thing was best suited to the arcane world of London media types?

Things change - and with a vengeance. The rash of business networking groups springing up the length and breadth of the country can vouch for that. Whether you delight in a business breakfast, safari lunch or post dinner meet and greet, the networkers have it covered.

But what if a 6.30am biz breakie, canapes at lunchtime or a sweaty and joyless pressing of business cards into clasping hands isn't quite your thing? Well, the good news is that there are alternatives.

Groups such as Durham Business Club - or DBC - are an increasingly successful option.

Now going for a quarter of a century, this 200-strong club has prospered, not only because of its low-key and non-cliquey meetings and events, but because of its Training Provider status. It is no longer confined to just networking.

The club delivers highly effective apprenticeship programmes for 16 to 24-year-olds, providing NVQ and other professional training in accountancy, business administration, customer service, beauty therapy and hairdressing.

The club has modest offices in Chester-le-Street, but will be moving to the Mile Centre (the former Mechanics Institute) in the town's Newcastle Road in the summer.

This facility will house the club's fully-equipped hair salon and beauty training centre, as well as meeting rooms.

Christine Yule, development director, says the two sides of DBC complement each other perfectly: "It works really well, as businesses benefit from access to well-trained apprentices and the young people benefit from what member businesses can offer."

Ninety-eight per cent of DBC "graduates" gain work during their apprenticeship training.

Although DBC is made up of mainly small and medium-sized businesses, larger organizations are welcomed with open arms. Companies such as Walkers Snack Foods are members. David Wheatley, of Walkers, said: "Since joining, we have hosted a group of children who, through Christine, were needing help on a business studies project at school. We see this type of activity as beneficial to the company as it maintains and enhances our good reputation in the local community, which we take very seriously."

Elizabeth Richardson, owner-manager of Poppies, a cleaning company based in Durham, says the club helped her during turbulent times. A member of staff moved on and she was left to run the business - which last year celebrated its 25th birthday - on her own. DBC stepped in with an administration apprentice who has now been with Poppies for two years. "She's been excellent, very efficient and an asset."

Self-named Giraffe Lady Ingrid Sylvestre, an illustrator and creator of the fictional Giraffe World, calls the group her business family.

She says that as well as making firm friends, "everyone is running a business and everyone has the same issues to deal with, like time and cash flow management".

DBC holds monthly meetings for networking and talks on everything from stress relief to effective selling. Members also have access to DBC website notice boards, directories and regular mailings. On joining, they receive a free listing in umbrella group Business Clubs North East's Your Business magazine, and access to other business clubs' talks/meetings or one-off courses.