More often than not, women entrepreneurs find themselves juggling both their businesses and their personal commitments; it can be an isolating and lonely experience.
The Treasury commissioned Alison Rose to lead an independent review of female entrepreneurship. The review which was published in February this year, has shed renewed light on the barriers faced by women starting and growing businesses and identified ways of unlocking this untapped talent.
The review found that 46% of women business owners struggle with this balance. It also identified that one of the barriers that affect women at all stages in their entrepreneurial journey is that they are less likely than their male counterparts to know other entrepreneurs or to have access to mentors, sponsors and professional networks.
As a response to this, local businesswomen are invited to attend a one-day conference at the beautiful Elmslie House, in Malvern, next February.
The event is organised by Malvern Pearls, a professional networking group where businesses and charities can come together, connect, find out about each other, build relationships and learn new strategies for success.
2020 is a leap year and as we will have an extra day on Saturday 29 February, Malvern business owner Esther Partridge-Warner of Online Media Works, who launched Malvern Pearls earlier this year, realised that this extra day is a gift that we could use, to both invest in ourselves and our businesses.
The theme for the conference is ‘No Grit, No Pearl; developing resilience to turn your grains of sand into pearls.’ There will be a wide selection of inspirational speakers such as local authors Helen Rebello, who published The Magical Unfolding. Helen mentors soulful women to become empowered to create their best life and Alice Jennings, Amazon best-selling author of Sorted! Alice works with businesses to reclaim their weekends by using simple systems and great technology to get more done.
There will be plenty of opportunity for making new connections and the event will be raising money for West Mercia Women’s Aid who work with women to break free from domestic violence and abuse.
Organiser, Esther said: “Getting together with your peers is such an important thing to do when you work in your own business. I hope that everyone will leave the day feeling motivated and overflowing with new ideas to drive their businesses forward.”
This was reiterated by entrepreneur Emma May White of Real World Consultancy who commented: “I am looking forward to hearing from women who are following their dreams and to meet other like-minded business owners.”
To get involved in the conference contact Esther at esther@onlinemediaworks.co.uk