Full house for the launch of new local women’s business network in Hertfordshire
The launch of ‘Sapphire’ – a new women’s business network run by local enterprise agency, Wenta, took place last Thursday 1st October at the prestigious, Champneys Tring.
38 local women in business attended the launch for the unveiling of the new networking group and to find out more about the membership benefits. Attendees heard from guest speakers, Helen King - Director of vehicle leasing company Autorama, and Aaron Phillips - Owner of the rapidly growing fitness company, FitStart UK.
The launch saw women in business from a wide-variety of industries and sectors, from photographers to property developers, with all having a great opportunity to network with each other and Wenta’s business support staff.
The Sapphire women’s business network offers much more than just your standard business networking group. As well as providing a supportive and learning environment for local women in business to make new connections, members are given 2.5 hours of individual business coaching from Wenta as well as access to Wenta’s award-winning training courses and online business advice.
Sapphire network host, Sharon Gaffney, said:
“It was great to see so many women at the Sapphire launch. We know there is a real demand for business support, networking and training for women in business. We’ve listened to what women want in a networking group and developed Sapphire as a result of this research. Ultimately, we hope to build women’s knowledge, help with growth and lead to business success.”
The first Sapphire women’s networking event will be held on Thursday 5th November (9.30am – 11.30am) at Champneys Tring, Chesham Road, Wigginton, Hertfordshire, HP23 6HX.
If you’re a woman that’s starting up a business or already in business –please book in advance, the cost is £20 to attend the networking group, or visit www.wenta.co.uk/sapphire-business-networking to find out more about signing up as a member. As a Sapphire member, you will receive all membership benefits and support as well as a discount on the networking group going forward.
Call 01923 691 364 or email to register your interest training@wenta.co.uk
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Notes for Editor
For more information contact:
Jennifer Dong - Marketing Coordinator
Wenta
The Wenta Business Centre
Colne Way
Watford
Herts
WD24 7ND
Tel: 01923 691 370
Email: jenniferdong@wenta.co.uk
Web: www.wenta.co.uk
• Wenta was founded in 1983 to encourage business start-ups and to support small businesses in South and West Hertfordshire. The agency is independently funded through the ownership and management of its three business centres in Enfield, Watford and Potters Bar and management of two further centres in Stevenage. These business centres comprise workshops and offices with a combined space of over 100,000 square feet, let on monthly licence terms to small businesses. Wenta also attract funding from a number of public sector organisations including Job Centre Plus, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Regional Growth Fund (RGF) as well as a number of local authorities in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Wenta is now the largest enterprise agency in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and is the second largest in the Eastern region.
• Wenta run a number of programmes aimed at inspiring young people and giving them the confidence to make their ideas happen. Wenta’s education team work with local schools, colleges and universities to promote enterprise and entrepreneurship.
• Wenta’s advisory team work in partnership with organisations such as The Prince’s Trust and Job Centre Plus to provide business advice and support to start-up, new and existing businesses across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Services include: one-to-one general business advice; training and skills development courses; specialist advice including Tax, Legal and IT; and online support via our business advice portal, My Incubator Ventures.
• Wenta also run a series of business incubation centres under the ‘My Incubator’ brand located at The Business & Technology Centre in Stevenage, Basepoint in Luton, The Wenta Business Centre in Watford, The Enterprise Centre in Potters Bar, Hertford Regional College in Ware and the Bedford i-lab. These centres are designed to help entrepreneurs at their starting point and create successful businesses. My Incubator offer start-ups a work station for 3 months free of charge on the proviso that they work with our onsite advisory team to ensure that they are ready to sell their product or service, raise money or become investor ready and importantly connect them with other individuals and businesses to network.