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International Business Network

International Business Network

Expand your professional connections and grow your business

Expand your business potential beyond local limits. Join The Alternative Board (TAB)'s international business network and unlock new opportunities for strategic growth, global insights, and collaboration with business leaders worldwide.

What is an International Business Network?

An international business network connects professionals across regions and countries, enabling members to exchange ideas, referrals, and advice and gain insights from a wider community of business leaders.

At TAB, our approach uniquely blends local advisory boards with global connectivity through our exclusive TAB Connect platform. Members get targeted local support and strategic international collaboration—all within a structured, confidential advisory setting.

Related Insight: How to Develop an Effective International Business Strategy

19 Reasons You Need An Advisory Board

Why Join TAB’s International Business Network?

If you're a UK-based SME owner (5+ employees) without a structured senior leadership team, joining TAB provides:

  • Strategic Insight
    Make better decisions by learning from the collective experiences of a curated board of non-competing businesses.
  • Global Reach
    Access knowledge and insights from over 20 countries via the TAB Connect online platform.
  • Quality Referrals and Partnerships
    Build authentic relationships leading to meaningful, trusted referrals and potential collaborations globally.

  • Structured Monthly Meetings
    Monthly advisory boards combined with professional facilitation ensure maximum productivity and actionable outcomes.

  • Personalised Coaching
    Monthly one-to-one coaching sessions to support your implementation of strategic advice.

How is TAB Different from Other Business Networks like BNI?

While networks like Business Network International (BNI) primarily focus on referral generation through structured weekly meetings, TAB’s purpose extends much deeper:

Aspect TAB BNI
Main Focus Strategic advisory support & growth Referral generation
Meeting Structure Monthly facilitated peer advisory boards Weekly structured referral-focused meetings
Membership Approach Curated complementary non-competing peers Exclusive one-per-category membership
Additional Benefits 1-2-1 Coaching, strategic planning tools, online international connectivity (TAB Connect) Local chapter-focused referrals
Long Term Value Sustainable strategic business growth & decision-making clarity Short-term sales leads and referrals

 

68%

of our members said their turnover increased since joining TAB

91%

of members said their ability to address people or organisational issues improved 

87%

of members said their leadership skills improved with the support of TAB

How to Join The Alternative Board’s International Network

Joining TAB’s international network is straightforward:

  1. Locate Your Nearest TAB Facilitator
    Find the TAB board nearest to you.

  2. Initial Conversation
    Arrange a no-obligation discussion with your facilitator to explore if TAB aligns with your business needs.

  3. Experience a TAB Board Session
    Attend a complimentary session as our guest. See first-hand the strategic value TAB brings.

  4. Become a Member
    Start attending monthly board meetings, benefit from personal coaching and leverage TAB Connect globally.

  5. Maximise Your Membership
    Download business guides, use strategic tools, and participate actively to ensure continuous growth.

Experience a TAB Board Session

 

Helen Mill (blue jacket), TAB Franchisee for North East Scotland
Small Business Coaching Services

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Business Network International (BNI) is a global referral organisation with local chapters focused on generating business leads through structured weekly meetings. Each chapter allows one representative per professional category.

A peer advisory board, such as TAB’s, comprises non-competing business owners who regularly meet to provide strategic advice, accountability, and insights to one another in a structured and facilitated setting.

TAB is ideal for SME owners and MDs with five or more employees seeking structured strategic support, clarity in decision-making, and business growth without internal senior management teams.

TAB advisory boards meet monthly for approximately half a day. Additionally, members receive monthly one-to-one coaching sessions.

Although referrals aren't TAB’s primary focus, meaningful referrals often emerge naturally due to trust built within the peer boards and global connectivity through TAB Connect.

Yes, you can attend a TAB advisory board session as a guest. We encourage this approach to ensure TAB fits your needs and expectations.

What our members say...

"TAB is an independent thought process, away from the influences and pressures of work. In the day-to-day job, you can get drawn into distractions, you often don’t have time to think, and you’re just firefighting problems. However, with TAB, getting out of the office and speaking with the board for the 3-4 hours we have together allows me to think more independently."

David Scalley, AJT Engineering

"I always feel uplifted and more confident following a board meeting.  The challenges we face as business owners are invariably those shared by the other board members. Bringing them to the table puts them in perspective and usually provides several options on how to tackle them.  Support, being non-judgemental and really trying to understand each other's businesses help make the meetings fun, enjoyable and, most of all, invaluable to the growth and well-being of my own business.  The regular one-to-ones help build on this with tough constructive advice.  I would be lost without the support of TAB."

Jan Buckett , JMB Accounting

"Before TAB, I didn’t really have anyone I could talk to about business issues. Getting reassurance from my board on things I’m thinking of doing gives me more confidence to get on with it. I really value the openness of my board and facilitator, which allows me to say what I’m feeling and thinking.  I’m now making longer-term plans and decisions about the business.  As a result, I enjoy running the business more because I know we’re heading in the direction, rather than focusing on short-term fixes."

Geoff Hunt, Hey Group

"I have a debt of gratitude to TAB after a 400% turnover boost. I can’t speak highly enough of The Alternative Board. It has made a huge difference to our agency. It’s something I would encourage business owners to think about. We wouldn’t have been able to achieve the growth we have without TAB."

Adam Bell, Moment

Having a Peer Board is an amazing asset to me. It’s a safe and supportive environment where you get the support of other business owners who are committed to your success. It’s allowing me to be candid and get different views on sorting out knotty problems.

Professor Deborah Eyre, High Performance Learning

"TAB has given me coaching sessions, focusing on the positive elements of my business and helping to grow and develop during what is probably the most difficult trading period we have encountered. TAB has also invited me to a monthly board meeting where I joined six existing members, all of whom have extensive business experience and have provided me with some invaluable advice, guidance and accountability."

Kelly Smith, Juice Personnel

Your Next Step – Start Your TAB Journey Today

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