Highlights of 2003
In addition to such events as “5 red hot tips to improve your marketing”, “Intuitive creativity for success” and “Web design and promoting your business on the internet”, the VWBN held four key events during 2003. The first of these involved hosting a 21 strong party of women from a similar Swedish businesswomen’s network in May. The Bear Hotel, Cowbridge provided the base for the event which included visiting VWBN members across the Vale: from The Gift House in Ewenny to Cocoa & Co., Goose Island; Sue McDonagh’s Studio in Cowbridge to Penarth Travel Ltd. The Swedish visitors met representatives from organisations providing support for businesses in the Vale at Barry Community Enterprise Centre. Finally, the end of their trip to Wales was marked by a visit to the Welsh Assembly and a buffet lunch hosted by Jane Hutt, AM in her role as Network Patron.
In September, Sandy Loxley-Ford of Aura organised a “Health and well being evening” on behalf of the VWBN in conjunction with a number of alternative therapists who gave presentations and demonstrations to a delighted audience!
November saw the VWBN Members Showcase Event which involved presentations and exhibition from Network Members as diverse as Magnet Therapy, Bonboniers (wedding favours), Sherbert Pip Design, PM Associates Ltd (HR consultants), FWOSS (software development), Artists and Life Coaches, 360 Web Solutions Ltd, Garden Design, Morrell Reflexology and Rebecca Exley Groundwater Ltd and Kumon Maths.
The culmination of a highly successful year for the VWBN was the Christmas Dinner held at The Bear Hotel, Cowbridge where Members were delighted to honour and share in the success of Margaret Hewlett, owner of Penarth Travel Ltd who had just won the Welsh Woman of the Year Award Small Business Owner Category, 2003.
Currently, the VWBN, still in its infancy, is supported financially by the European Community European Social Fund and the Pathway to Prosperity Fund of the Welsh Assembly as part of a wider management development initiative for women business owners in the Vale, run by Christine’s Company, Praxis Training and Consultancy Limited.
As a result of this support, in addition to a subsidised monthly programme of guest speaker events held at the Cottrell Park Golf Club, the VWBN will launch its own website to help members to promote their businesses and to exchange information more easily. Also, any woman who lives or conducts her business in the Vale of Glamorgan may also take part in free management development training courses for women business owners, marketed as “Confident in Business!”
Forward into 2004
So, what’s next? Well, the monthly meeting programme for 2004 includes social and business events on topics as varied as “Chocolat!” a chocolate-tasting experience which will be run by chocolate expert Mary Roberts of Cocoa & Co., Cowbridge, “When doing good is good business” – an evening focusing on social responsibility with Lis Burnett of CRiA, Penarth and Dave Edwards of VCVS, “Motivate yourself to maximise your sales!” with Marianne Pettifor of Frogmore Consulting and “Personal safety and risk assessment for women in business”.
However, having had a taste of the benefits of ‘cross-border’ connections, the VWBN is also looking to forging links with similar organisations in other European countries with a view to sharing good practice and possibly developing new markets – we and our businesses are going places! Do you want to join us?
Christine Atkinson, Director, Praxis Training and Consultancy Limited
January 2004