They were at an introductory breakfast meeting at Holmewood Hall, Holme, near Peterborough, to hear about The Academy for Chief Executives.

Successfully helping businesses for 13 years, The Academy for Chief Executives (www.chiefexecutive.com) is not a networking club, but a national organisation of groups providing mutual support, inspiration, advice and learning.

Typically, there are 15 members per group, from non-competing businesses, in what has been described as "the board you could not afford". In effect, members act as unofficial non-executive directors.

Academy licensees Phil and Joanna Jesson launched the forum in January 2007.

The academy also operates leaders' forums for chief executive officers of smaller businesses, directors and senior managers.

Phil and Joanna already have the city forum off the starting blocks and set to grow.

The breakfast meeting attracted sufficient interest to grow both forums.

Joanna said: "it can be lonely at the top, especially in the present economic climate, which is why the academy is there to help.

"We feel we can provide an added benefit to Peterborough small businesses in these turbulent times.

"Apart from the monthly meetings, we offer one-to-one coaching, annual retreats, an internet community and meetings with other academy groups.

"The breakfast meeting was a huge success, and included a talk by master business coach Neil Greatorex on How to Run Your Business in Only One Hour A Day.

"There was a wide range of businesses present, and we expect both forums to be oversubscribed."

For more information about The Academy for Chief Executives, the Peterborough Chief Executive Forum or Leaders Forum, call Phil on 07774 241 207, or Joanna on 07968 445990.