INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN TO GATHER IN NORWICH

Posted 11 September 2002

FOR RURAL WOMEN, trying to turn a bright idea into a successful business venture can be a testing experience. How do you convince the bank manager that your idea has financial merit? How do you persuade those all-important customers to buy and buy again? How do you take that first shaky step?

Rural businesswomen, the new inspirational entrepreneurs of the countryside, are being invited to attend the one-day Business Skills Conference 2002, at Easton College, Norwich, on Tuesday, October 22, 2002. The conference will provide practical help and advice, networking opportunities, expert speakers and informative workshops, for new and existing rural businesswomen.

The conference is being organised by Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE) - a nationwide initiative set up to help women in rural business succeed. The initiative developed at Harper Adams University College, Shropshire, from studies into the role of women in new rural businesses. These studies concluded that rural businesswomen are a diverse, multi-skilled and adept group, vital to the success of their local economy.

This conference will include a choice of two workshops from a varied list that includes topics such as Business Start-Up, Marketing, Diversification, Handling the Media and Talking to the Bank Manager. The Talking to the Bank Manager workshop will be led by HSBC Bank plc, a company that supports WiRE and offers members a preferential business loan.

In addition, there will be a range of inspirational speakers including Dee Upton, of Business in the Community, and Anne Moyle of HSBC Bank plc.

Erika Watson, of Prowess, and Robert Ashton, of Catalyst for Success Ltd, will also attend to take the platform and share their expertise with delegates.

The conference costs just £15, including a discounted one-year membership of WiRE. Existing WiRE members must register for the conference but may attend for free.

For further information, please either log on to the WiRE web-site at www.wireuk.org or contact conference organiser Hannah Robinson, by phone on 01 952 815 338 or by e-mail at hannah@wireuk.org, to request a leaflet and booking form.

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Notes for Editors:

WiRE is a national organisation helping rural women from all over the United Kingdom to start and maintain their own business enterprise. WiRE offers its members a wide variety of central business services including phone support, a grant finder, newsletters, preferential business loans, business planning, mentoring and web-site marketing. Local services such as training, networking and conferences are available in a growing number of areas and most importantly, WiRE provides a network in which members can share and learn from each other's experiences.