A BOURNEMOUTH-based banking firm is celebrating a new partnership which gives it greater global reach.

Corporate banking network Wessex Entrepreneurs Ltd has recently secured partnership status with SAS, the global analytics market leader based in North Carolina, USA.

Wessex Entrepreneurs, now in its twenty-third year, is “an all-embracing business network” with 1,300 members across the business spectrum from micro-enterprises to SMEs and PLCs, and charities to the public sector.

By team building and using their comprehensive network of trusted contacts the Wessex model brings together people to make business happen more easily.

Described as “an analytics powerhouse for organisations seeking immediate value from their data”, SAS will act with the Wessex Entrepreneurs network as an interface between big and small businesses, providing mentoring.

The new relationship will also focus on the banking expertise of Wessex Entrepreneurs Ltd.

Tony Williams, CEO of Wessex Entrepreneurs, said: “This is a milestone moment for Wessex Entrepreneurs Limited offering tremendous new opportunities to connect and network with other business people, not only in the USA but worldwide.

“With SAS’ global reach of over 83,000 businesses, government and universities, and 96 per cent of the Fortune Global 500® using their technology, Wessex Entrepreneurs Ltd is now open to the world.”

The firm, founded in 1993, now has more than 850 members. The firm says: “Our relationship with SAS will focus on our banking expertise, also to act as an interface between big and small businesses. For SMEs it is difficult to find a corporate mentor and that causes the good ideas to miss profitable opportunities.”