Women club together their trade secrets
Reporter: Martyn Torr
Date published: 22 October 2008
PLANS are progressing for the launch of a Women in Business club in Oldham.
For several weeks a steering group, headed by Barbara Jackson, proprietor of Miller’s Florists in Huddersfield Road, and Royal Bank of Scotland business development manager Paula Jones, from Shaw, have been meeting to organise a launch event at the Clough Manor in Denshaw.
This will be on Thursday, November 20 starting with a champagne reception at 7pm.
Thanks to support from the private sector, supported by Oldham Council, which is using the event to promote its wider business engagement strategy, tickets for the launch are priced at only £10.
The evening will comprise a three-course dinner in the hotel’s Friarmere Suite and after a short talk by Lisa Tse, an Oldham entrepreneur who has established a restaurant in Manchester City centre, there will be a lingerie fashion show.
This will feature ESU Lingerie from Shaw and First Impressions, Stalybridge. Proceeds from a charity raffle will be presented to breast cancer research.
Barbara said: “There are many women in Oldham in business, either as sole traders or just starting out.
“We want to create a group and help encourage business growth within the local area that is just for women.
“Certainly from my experience there is an enthusiasm for a gathering devoted exclusively to women who can offer support to each other.
“From our informal marketing so far there will be big demand for the tickets for the launch dinner so hopefully this will translate into an active group to take forward into the future.”
Paula added: “From talking to customers in and and around Oldham there is definitely a demand for a Women in Business organisation in some form. The bank is happy to support such an initiative and I am convinced it will be a success.”
Women in Business has already attracted support from Greater Manchester Chamber, Oldham Council Regeneration and The Enterprise Factory plus sponsorship from Clough Manor and New Image (PR) Ltd as well as the RBoS Group.
