From the Back Bedroom to Number 10: Why the North's Moment Is BforB's Moment Too
- BforBInternational
- Jul 27
- 2 min read
On 20 July 2026, Andy Burnham, the "King of the North," nine years the Mayor of Greater Manchester walked into Downing Street as Britain's new Prime Minister. Whatever your politics, it's a genuinely proud moment for the region: a leader shaped by Manchester, carrying its values onto the national stage, with a vision to put real power back in the hands of the regions that shaped him.
It's a story that feels close to home for us, too.
Our Own Back Bedroom
Twenty-five years ago, long before "devolution" was a word anyone used in Westminster, Mel and John Fisher started BforB from a back bedroom in Eccles, Manchester. Just an idea, a spare room, and a simple belief: that small business owners do better when they genuinely know, like, and trust the people around them — built one meeting at a time, right here in the North.
That humble beginning grew into the UK's first home-grown business networking franchise. A quarter of a century on, it's a global network proudly still headquartered in Manchester, still guided by the same founding idea: real growth starts local.
Two Northern Stories, One Shared Instinct
Burnham's defining pitch as Prime Minister has been a "devolved North", putting real decision-making power into the hands of the regions and mayors who understand their own communities best. He's spoken about a Number 10 office in Manchester, and about lifting the country up from the ground, community by community.
It's humbling to see the same spirit we've tried to build in every BforB group for twenty-five years, now shaping the national conversation. Every one of our groups has its own personality, its own mix of businesses, and its own local leadership shaping what that community actually needs. We've always believed referral marketing works best when it's genuinely personal when the person passing you a referral truly knows your business, your patch, your customers.
What This Means for BforB Members
Beyond the symbolism, there's something genuinely encouraging here. A national conversation about empowering regions, investing in local growth, and supporting small businesses puts communities like ours right at the heart of the country's next chapter. We're proud that twenty-five years of BforB members have already been quietly living that out generating tens of millions of pounds in referred business, one relationship at a time.
Whether you're a member in Manchester, Bolton, Staffordshire, or one of our newer franchise territories further afield, the idea has stayed the same since that first back bedroom in Eccles: build the relationships, and the business follows.
The North gave Britain its next Prime Minister. It gave British business networking BforB, twenty-five years earlier. We're proud to share that home.
Want to be part of the next chapter of BforB's story? Find your nearest group or explore franchise opportunities in your area.
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