BELONGING to a networking group netted a Kidderminster entrepreneur a deal to print West Bromwich Albion football club manager, Bryan Robson's, business cards.

Rob Newton recently secured the contract to print the club executives' cards, including Robson's, thanks to his membership of the Wyre Forest branch of BNI - Business Network International - the world's largest business referral organisation.

The Wyre Forest group, which has been running for more than three years, is one of 780 in the UK.

Each branch limits itself to one member from a particular industrial or trade sector and meetings focus heavily on lead generation, rather than being just social get-togethers.

Members of the Wyre Forest group meet over breakfast at Kidderminster's Briars Hotel every Tuesday, which has proved particularly worthwhile for two of them, who have each won £80,000 worth of business thanks to the contacts they have made.

Mr Newton, a committee member, who lives in Kidderminster and runs PJR Print Systems in Droitwich, said the branch was now keen to boost member numbers from the current 19.

He has only been involved with BNI, which originated in the United States, for the past nine months but reaped early dividends.

"You have to bring a referral or a visitor to each meeting to make sure there is genuine business passed on at each meeting," said Mr Newton.

Explaining how he won the football club business, he said: "One of the members knows the financial director at West Brom. He got me an introduction and I got an order from that."

Being a Birmingham City fan did not prevent Mr Newton clinching the deal.

The motto of BNI was "Givers Gain", said Mr Newton, adding: "The more you give, the more you get back."

During the breakfast meetings, members can speak for a minute on what they have been doing. Every so often, members are given the floor for 10 minutes to talk at greater length on what they would like to see happen in the future.

More information on the Wyre Forest branch is available from membership co-ordinator, Angela Pountney, on 0845 456 4664 or at angela@hiline.co.uk