Huge business event targets women in the city

• 21/08/2008

Hundreds of enterprising women are expected to descend on the Quayside Exchange building in Sunderland's East End for the city's biggest every women's business event.

Sunderland enterprise company SES is holding the huge regional event, Winning Ways Wearside (Tuesday, September 16th from 9.30am to 5.30pm), in the city to promote enterprise and celebrate business success. The event is open to any women looking to start a business or grow their existing business by taking advantage of an extended network.

Hendon-based SES is holding the event in partnership with regional organisation Women into the Network which has a 3,000 strong network across the North East and hopes to support its membership in Sunderland through the event.

Women Into the Network was launched in the North East back in 1999 to provide female entrepreneurs with a business network to help them start their own ventures.
As part of its on-going campaign to boost business in Hendon and the East End, SES has partnered with Women into the Network to highlight what women can achieve in business.

The business boosting campaign, including the Winning Ways Wearside event, is funded by Back on the Map, the New Deal for Communities regeneration programme for Hendon and the East End of Sunderland.

Speaking at the event will be high-profile local business women Margaret Elliott OBE and Anne Ganley. Margaret Elliott was recently awarded an OBE for her success in growing Sunderland Home Care - a social enterprise with more than 300 staff - while Anne Ganley recently took sole control of Thompsons building supplies company which continues to expand.

Women running small and micro businesses will also be there to show what anyone can achieve in business.

Linda Rutter of SES said: "This is a great opportunity for women business owners and people looking for inspiration to work for themselves to get a boost. The event will be informative, inspirational and above all - fun!"

The event will kick off with an interactive physical warm-up session courtesy of Sit n b Fit designed to break the ice. Sit n b Fit is run by Hendon woman Lynne Summerside who this year won £54,000 from the Government's Social Enterprise Investment Fund to grow her community exercise business.

The warm-up will be followed by workshops and question and answer sessions with the business role models. There will be trade stalls promoting existing businesses and workshops throughout the day. Crèche facilities will be available to book in advance plus refreshments and lunch will be served. Afternoon tea will also be available.

Women Into the Network project director Dinah Bennett, said: "There are some fantastic role models in the region and we are highlighting some from Sunderland's East End who will be demonstrating to their fellow residents that anything is possible.

"This will be the biggest women's business networking event ever to take place in the city and we aim to make subsequent events bigger and better. We are really excited about this opportunity to introduce a whole new raft of women in to the world of networking and business."

Anyone interested in attending the event should book a place by contacting SES on 0191 565 0476 or Alison Tilley from Women Into The Network on 0191 3345502.