This year’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) theme #ChooseWomen vibrated across the county, as over 55 women joined Pink Link’s conference at The Villa Levens, near Kendal. Established in 2014 at the United Nations, WED celebrates women in business across the globe. This year, Pink Link attracted female entrepreneurs from Cyprus, USA, Latvia and India to the Cumbrian event.
Businesses showcased their products and services and the event offered opportunities to make new connections and strengthen existing relationships. Businesswomen from a diverse range of industries attended including several Enterprise Vision Awards winners, bankers, caterers, gin-makers, life-coaches and interior designers. The charity of the event, Unique Kidz and Co, raised funds and awareness of the work they do to support children and young adults with learning and physical disabilities in North Lancs and Cumbria.
Over a delicious lunch, the audience was inspired and motivated by three leading businesswomen. Marcia Reid-Fotheringham, the High Sheriff of Cumbria opened the event and Susanna Lawson of One File and Kate Stewart of Vitality Homes shared their inspirational personal journeys; the highs, lows and top tips to achieve success.
From moving from New York to Cumbria over 24 years ago, Marcia Reid-Fotheringham has made an impact on the county. Her involvement with the community through her work as a psychologist, magistrate, business owner and fund raiser made her a popular choice for the prestigious appointment as High Sheriff of Cumbria. She has been a great supporter of female entrepreneurship in the county and her wit, charm and forthright attitude had the audience laughing and wanting more!
Susanna Lawson, winner of the 2019 Enterprise Vision Awards Outstanding Achievement Award spoke about starting her business, OneFile, from a spare bedroom. From a grain of an idea to make it easier and quicker for apprentices and colleges to share information, this has grown into an e-portfolio software which is used by hundreds of thousands of students all over the world. Discussing the challenges, she had experienced, from maternity leave to developing leadership skills to manage over 75 employees, her message resonated with the audience.
Fresh from her recent appearance on Channel 4’s The Secret Teacher and #EVAS2019’s Businesswoman of the Year award winner Kate Stewart of Vitality Homes has not let obstacles in life pull her down. After a difficult childhood on a council estate, she was a single mother at 17 with no qualifications and a grim future. However, Kate wanted more from life. Hard work, persistence and determination saw her make her first million at 26! Now, with a large business portfolio of hotels, beauty salons and fingers in many pies, Kate has developed Vitality Homes to help people with addictions to turn their lives around. Not one to sit still and passionate about giving back, she is also working with HM Prisons on a project to rehabilitate ex-offenders back into the community.
Organiser, Coral Horn of Pink Link said “Cumbria is thriving with women looking to start businesses and increase the growth of existing ones. Our events welcome women from all sectors, regardless of whether they are businessowners, employees or thinking about a change of direction. It was great to see women exchanging ideas, building relationships and forging collaborations, showing that community over competition really does work.”
Pink Link hold large business events across the North West to help connect and promote women in business. Helping them to expand their network, find resources and specialist information. Their next event in Cumbria is International Women’s Day on Wednesday 4 March. Please contact the team at www.pinklinkladies.co.uk or call 01253 425443 for more details.
