Tomorrow, 30 July 2009, the steering committee of the Isle of Man Women in Business Network is meeting to discuss ‘next steps’ going forward from our successful launch last week.  We’d love to hear from you. Are there any ideas or issues you’d like us to discuss?  If so, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment with your questions and suggestions.

We’ll report back on this blog following our meeting.

Now, the Women in Business Network has been launched to support enterprise and professional development in the Isle of Man.  It’s being led by Kate Lord of the Isle of Man Business and Innovation Centre and members of the steering committee include leading local businesswomen such as Debs Gwinnell of Big Fish and AXA’s Kat Turner.

Click here to read the rest of this Isle of Man Examiner Business Update article.

Members of the Steering Committee at the Launch of Women in Business

I’m still really excited about the successful launch and first meeting of the Women In Business Network yesterday evening at the Courthouse.

Over 130 women attended and even some guys, which is great!   Thanks to those who came along, it was great to have you there and put faces to names.  Photos to follow soon!

I think we were all surprised at how well attended the first meeting was and we’ve had some great feedback. 

Most of all , it was wonderful to see such a broad range of women attending – from senior executives and business owners to aspiring entrepreneurs, new business start ups, people looking for new opportunities and people looking to invest in businesses. 

Already this morning I have been having meetings with people I met yesterday, talking about various business opportunities and support. Myself and the other members of the Steering Committee are still going through the messages received in our inboxes from people who attended and from people who couldn’t but are keen to make the next meeting which is on 18th August 6 – 8pm at the Courthouse. 

It’s already apparent that the Women in Business Network is an initiative that’s striking a chord with many and is relevant for a broad range of people on the Isle of Man.

I’m looking forward to meeting with the Steering Committe soon for some further planning for our network, apart form the regular informal get togethers.

Did you attend the event?  What did you think?  Post your comments below!

Kate,

Isle of Man Business & Innovation Centre

The Isle of Man Business & Innovation Centre is pleased to announce the launch and first meeting of the “Women in Business” network on the Isle of Man, which will take place from 6pm – 8pm on Tuesday 21st July 2009 at The Courthouse, Athol Street, Douglas.

The network’s mission is to inspire and foster entrepreneurial spirit, business capability and confidence in women of all ages on the Island and to be open and inclusive in terms of membership, involving women from a wide range of backgrounds.  It is intended that the network, which will interact at regular face-to-face meetings and online, will be relevant for female business owners and employed professionals as well as aspiring young business people.

“Women in Business” is an initiative by Isle of Man Business and Innovation Centre (IoM BIC), the Island’s dedicated business incubator that helps businesses “take off and land” on the Island through its programmes for local start-up and inward investor companies.   IoM BIC is also launching a Women’s Enterprise Start-Up programme.  Kate Lord, Project Officer, said “It’s exciting to see the thriving community of business women and female entrepreneurs across the globe and we’d love to hear from anyone on the Isle of Man who’s interested in the Women’s Enterprise Programme, whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or interested in being involved in a mentorship or joint-venture capacity”.

Aside from enterprise, professional development is also an area of focus for the network.  Jan Bujko, a member of the Steering Committee, has very recently launched the Springboard Women’s development programme on the Isle of Man which is used by a number of top organisations in the UK.

Cat Turner (AXA), Debs Gwinnell  (Big Fish), Dr Gloria Miller (International Business School), Heather Smallwood (Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing), Kate Lord (IoM BIC), Lisa Underwood (Department of Trade & Industry) and Sherrilynne Starkie (Strive PR) are also members of the Steering Committee.

Kate Lord (IoM BIC) would encourage anyone with an interest in this area to come to the launch and visit the website to find out more.  “Ultimately we hope that the Women in Business network will open up business and development opportunities for women and their businesses on the Isle of Man, whilst providing a forum for shared interest, support and knowledge.  Raising female attendance at IOM business events is something we are keen to do as well as working with other organisations on and off Island.  We already have some fantastic women involved”.

Those with enquiries about the Isle of Man Business & Innovation Centre, Women in Business network or Women’s Enterprise Programme should contact Kate Lord by e-mail to kate@iombic.im or on 820930.

-ends-

Notes:

The Isle of Man Business & Innovation Centre is a joint initiative between the Isle of Man Department of Trade & Industry and Coventry University Enterprises, part of the Soft Landing Zone network of offices and a member of the National Business Incubation Association.

www.iombic.im  | www.ukbasepoint.com | www.gov.im/investiniom

Contact: Kate Lord, Project Officer, Isle of Man Business & Innovation Centre, Isle of Man Datacentre, Ronaldsway Industrial Estate, Ballasalla, Isle of Man IM9 2RS, Telephone: 01624 820930 Mobile: 01624 450749 E-mail: kate@iombic.im

Our Mission Statement is:

To inspire and foster entrepreneurial spirit, business capability and confidence in women of all ages in the Island.

Welcome to the website for the Women In Business Network on the Isle of Man.

On 21st July 2009 we have our launch event and first meeting, to be held at The Courthouse Club, The Courthouse, Athol Street Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1LD , 6pm – 8pm.

You can register for the event here and you can bring others – a complimentary drink for those who arrive first!

We’d love you to be there and join women from a range of business backgrounds on the Isle of Man to meet the people involved and find out about the network.

The idea of business network for women on the Isle of Man was first discussed at an event organised by the Isle of Man Business & Innovation Centre in November 09 (click here to read more).

After research, gathering opinions and forming a steering committee to come up with ideas and objectives,  the Isle of Man’s first female focused business and enterprise network has been created.

Importantly the network is free and inclusive, open to anyone regardless of business background or professional level.

Posted July 13th, 2009 by Kate No Comments »