24 September 2008

Business opportunities for Worcestershire's female entrepreneurs and business women are given a boost as the Ladies in Business network sets up a new group in the County.

Local business women in Worcestershire will soon have the opportunity to network and exchange ideas when a new networking group sets up in the County.

Ladies in Business originally started life in Shropshire. Its aim is to encourage business women to get away from the workplace for just a short time in their working day and give them the opportunity to meet other like-minded professional women. Members are from all aspects of business and as a non-profit making organisation, the group likes to put something back into the community so any surplus proceeds at the end of the each meeting go to a chosen charity. The first charity to benefit will be 'Worcester Rape & Sexual Abuse', and was nominated for the work it does locally with women and children. 
Lib Worcester will be launched on 16th October with their first lunch taking place at St. Mary's School, Worcester.

The inspiration to set up a Ladies in Business group in Worcestershire came from Diane Sheldon, Area Manager with Lloyds TSB Commercial. The bank has joined forces with MFG Solicitors, Kendall Wadley Accountants, St Mary's Worcester, Worcester College of Technology and Marketing IQ to offer the business women of Worcester a networking opportunity with a difference.

Commenting on the setting up of LiB Worcester Diane said,

'At Lloyds TSB we feel that we have a unique proposition for business customers with the high number of women Relationship Managers in the Hereford and Worcestershire Area.  Further investigation led us to liaise with Anita Roberts also of Lloyds TSB, and initiator of LiB, Shrewsbury and this led to the decision to expand the successful organisation into Worcestershire.

'Sally Morris, Partner at mfg Solicitors and member of LiB, had already expressed an interest to Anita about being involved, and was the first to sign up as co-sponsor.

'Worcester College of Technology's Lesley Welch, Project Leader had also indicated a desire to utilise the skills they offer to start-up businesses, and could see this as a fantastic opportunity.

'Looking at the successful model of Shrewsbury we wanted to provide a diverse expertise of solutions to the Worcester Members.  The keenness and professionalism offered by all the sponsors meant that the team behind LiB, Worcester was quickly agreed and preparations begun in earnest.

'St Mary's School, being the only independent girl's school in Worcester will be the host venue for the lunches, offering an interesting and picturesque venue.  St Mary's provides independent education for girls up until the age of eighteen and is part of a large international foundation and has sister schools in almost every continent as well as on our doorstep in Reading.

'Liz Needham and Nicky Gutteridge of leading firm of chartered accountants and business advisers Kendall Wadley are well known locally and able to bring financial and local business skills to the table.

'Angela Baker, Marketing IQ set up her business in 2005 following a successful career in marketing and PR and being a fairly new business herself, will affiliate with LiB's members as well as advising on PR and marketing.'

Lloyds TSB will be represented not only by Diane Sheldon, but by other colleagues at the forefront of the Commercial Banking team in Worcester.

The first speaker is Heather Gorringe, the founder of Wiggly Wigglers in Herefordshire, who will be giving members an insightful and upbeat talk about the business which connects farming with gardening and won the British Small Business Champion Awards in 2005.

Diane concludes,

'The sponsors are all excited about the prospect of working together and bringing women in business or those looking to start in business together in an informal and friendly environment. An opportunity to meet, network and gain information that will hopefully enable the individual businesses to be strengthened and long-term relationships built.'

If you are interested in joining LiB Worcester, then visit Lib's website at network.ladiesinbusiness.co.uk. Alternatively you can contact Tina Winter at Lloyds TSB on Tel: 01905 26083    or e-mail:tina.winter@lloydstsb.co.uk