A businessman who set up breakfast networking clubs based on speed-dating principles has signed a partnership with Business Link in the West Midlands.
The Business Over Breakfast (BoB) clubs were set up by managing director Geoff Cox, who said he believed the secret to netting new business deals is by word of mouth referral.
The clubs meet at various venues across the region every other week where they put forward a 60-second presentation to members and visitors over a spot of breakfast.
Business Link helps towards 50 per cent of the funding for marketing the clubs’ website at www.bobclubs.com.
Mr Cox said: “This is the fifth year of operations and from starting off as one club, we are now all around the Midlands. We restrict membership to one person per business sector so that members have no competition, only advocates.
"Every member benefits from having between 30 and 40 other members promoting their products and/or services by word-of-mouth recommendation to their business contacts.
“Our clubs are all about helping members not only to get more quality business, but also helping them improve their presentation skills and being able to meet with and develop mutually beneficial relationships with other business people on a regular basis.”
After signing the deal with Business Link, the networking clubs have expanded to the point where they now have members as far away as Sunderland and London.
Mr Cox is also in talks with potential partners in Hong Kong, India, New Zealand and Australia.
Business Link promotions manager Jon Dee, who recently signed up to the Stourbridge club, said he thought joining BoB Clubs was the ideal way to try and help more companies reach their potential.
He added: “There are companies out there who we haven’t reached yet so by signing up to the BoB Club, we can access many more people that way.
“There will be people who attend or have been recommended as referrals. Hopefully we could get these people included on our Supplier Register, which is a recognised list of business consultants who are specialists in their fields and can help assist other companies.”
