WHEN Naomi Rowling's husband died suddenly last year she had to find a way of supporting herself and her four children.

Her solution was to become a regional franchise partner for Business Referral Exchange (BRE). She now runs six networking groups in the Thames Valley, including High Wycombe and Gerrards Cross, with two more planned this year.

"When David died of a heart attack at the age of 52 I had to find a way of supporting myself and my four children," she said.

"Possessing lots of skills and talents, but no formal qualifications, I knew I would have to find or create my own niche.

"I had previously had my own successful wedding cake business but felt that would be too solitary an occupation and I used to rely a lot on David's support to meet deadlines."

A friend told her about BRE which started in Potters Bar.

Initially, the thought of early mornings horrified her the groups hold weekly breakfast meetings to help generate new business leads. But she went to a number of different group meetings before deciding she could develop the potential to develop BRE in the Thames Valley and Oxfordshire.

Naomi has now recruited more than 100 companies from across the region and the individual groups are growing.

"People get to know each other very well. Everybody is giving to get back and it is a very powerful concept," she said.

"It is not what you know and not who you know but how well you know who you know and how much you trust them and vice versa."

The High Wycombe group meets every Wednesday from 7.30am to 9.30am at High Wycombe Cricket Club in London Road. The Gerrards Cross group meets on Fridays from 7.30am to 9am at the Bull Hotel, Oxford Road.

High Wycombe group chairman Brian Page, an independent financial adviser with Inter-Alliance, agreed. "Meeting every week and building trust and a good understanding of the other businesses in the group creates an unofficial sales force for each of us, all working to refer business opportunities."

More details on BRE is available from Naomi on 01993 706578 or visit website www.bre.uk.com