News

Here's the latest news on what's happening with our project..........

Women Mean Business sponsors the East Lancs Chamber of Commerce Presidents Award for Woman In Business 2008  Julie Green Jones who is Managing Director of Rossendales in Rossendale, which is a group of companies offering debt collection services, training and legal services, recently won the Woman in Business Award 2008.  She started work with Rossendales 20 years ago as a bailiff and has worked her way through every department, creating new departments along the way, and is now Managing Director of the group.  She was one of a handful of women bailiffs in the country when she started 20 years ago and the only female bailiff employed by Rossendales.  Now 20% of the Rossendale’s bailiffs are female.  Julie told a recent meeting of Women Mean Business that she never asks any of her staff to do anything she cannot do or hasn’t done herself!
The Womens Enterprise Exhibition.....   ... was held on Friday, 16th November and was a great success!
No Limits to Business Success for Women Business women from across Pennine Lancashire laughed their way to success at an event in Accrington. The Womens Enterprise Exhibition was held at The Globe Centre and was part of Enterprise Week, inspiring people to turn their ideas into reality. It was organised by Women Mean Business through the umbrella of No Limits, which aims to foster an enterprising culture in Pennine Lancashire.
Pat Wallis, of Women Mean Business, said: “The exhibition brought together women from a variety of backgrounds, some of them already in business and some who are preparing to start. “The aim of the project is to encourage women in Pennine Lancashire to recognise and develop their entrepreneurial skills, by working with them to help them develop their full potential.” A highlight of the event, which combined an opportunity to sell, network and learn, was a stress-busting ‘Laughter Workshop’ presented by Robin Graham. Cath Howley, who will be running personal development training courses for women, as part of this project, also did a taster session entitled: Explore Life’s Purpose.   No Limits is an initiative to help support new and existing businesses throughout Pennine Lancashire with advice, finance, accommodation and a whole range of other support. It is supported by the three professional football clubs of Pennine Lancashire and the local authorities, including Hyndburn Borough Council.
The Case for Womens Enterprise     It was attendedby Enterprise Agency coaches, partner organisations and other No Limits project leaders.
	The aims of the workshop were:      • to provide basic guidance and ideas on how to support women starting and growing businesses, more effectively; to hear from local women business owners     • to share best practice and develop a suitable “female friendly” model for business support across East Lancashire
Sisters Terri and Clare Shaw of Harm-ed in Nelson and Janet Barton of Janet Barton Associates, Darwen, were came along as role models and they gave extremely interesting, and somewhat amusing, presentations about what barriers they faced and still face, and how best to overcome them.    Feedback was excellent with all those participating agreeing that it was an interesting, enjoyable and useful seminar.