A BUSINESS group aimed at bringing together firms in Knutsford has revealed its plans for the year ahead.

Network Knutsford was founded by Knutsford solicitor Marco Dellapina in 2009 to create a network for businesses to meet up, get to know each other, exchange ideas and do business.

Over the years attendees have taken turns helping to run the group.

At the moment Helen Rogers is carrying the baton.

Helen first attended Network Knutsford five years ago when she set up Knutsford Admin, a secretarial services, bookkeeping and clerical training business.

Helen said: "Establishing a business on your own is daunting and can be rather lonely, attending Network Knutsford was invaluable, the support from others who had already been in business a few years helped enormously."

Following a survey of attendees the group is now going to continue to meet on the third Thursday of every month (except December) from 6pm to 8pm, alternating between meeting at Jack Rabbits, King Street and going on a visit to a business.

On January 21 the group will be visiting the Mere Resort and Spa.

Joe Gates, business development manager at the Mere. is organising a tour of some of the behind the scenes running of the hotel, restaurant, golf and spa, and the new general manager will speak briefly on the importance of staff training.

Later in the year the group will be visiting Kara's Kitchen, to hear how her business has developed and taste some of her fayre.

Network Knutsford is keen to encourage anyone who run, or are thinking of running, their own business to come along and share their own highs and lows of self employment and seek answers to any questions they may have, perhaps: marketing, social media, recruitment, insurance and even how to have a day off.

Network Knutsford is not a membership organisation, attendees can dip in and out as their workload allows, the cost of each evening is £15 which includes a drink and light food.

All enquiries to office@knutsfordadmin.co.uk (please leave a number if you would like to speak on the phone).

Network Knutsford's website is currently being redeveloped but do follow on Twitter @NetworKnutsford.