press article

Starting a Network
Everywoman - April 2007

Already having a web design business and running an online products & services directory, Jane felt that launching the network would be the way forward for her and her business ventures. Not knowing anyone in the area and mainly working from home.

‘I just needed to meet local business people. I had just started my own business and needed to network to drum up business from in area’ states Jane. One day at a networking lunch in Peterborough and after a chance meeting with 2 women who were IT trainers she joined forces and launched the Cambridge Women’s Network.

‘The very first lunch we had pulled in 35 women’ says Jane, ‘I was so surprised. But now we have about 450 members, though I will use this term loosely. My husband is an actor so he’s away a lot, so I do feel like a single parent and between raising my son and running my business and the network - life can be tough. But for me it is better than going into the office everyday. I chose this. For me it was a conscious decision to change my life. I wanted to change my life for the better. I didn’t want the stress of constantly hunting for good child care; I didn’t want to leave my son with anyone anyway. And starting my own business felt like the right decision. But I am now a victim of my own success. Yes, there are still stresses but I much prefer to work for myself than for someone else. This works better for my temperament. But it is still 24/7.’

‘Our strength as a network is from our fun, informal and friendly approach, our members come from all aspects of business and all ages; there are some women in their 20s and others in their 60s, we have a real mixed bag. And that’s what I love about it and hopefully our members too. I have been to some networks which have felt extremely formal and restrictive, where there are only certain business sectors, like just solicitors and accountants.’

‘I feel that, at ours, we offer real diversity and you never know who you’ll meet who could impart something great that you can take to your business. At the last lunch there was this wonderful young woman, she was 22 years old and a racing driver! She had come along to network and also to gain sponsorship. I thought that was brilliant. We have fun. To me this is fun and the minute it ceases to be, I will no longer be part of it.’

‘My advice to anyone wanting to start a network – don’t push for membership fees; just let them pay for their lunch! This makes thing so much simpler. We have had a few hiccups like the time when our lunch was gate crashed by random hotel guests who talked loudly thorough our speeches but it didn’t ruin our event and our members are a good humoured bunch.’

‘As a Virgo I am anally retentive, so my advice to anyone either starting a business is persistence. It is going to be hard work but if you want to be there, stay there. So many just fold up when the going gets tough. But if you are honest about what you are doing, you can’t go wrong. It’s not about shortcuts.‘

Everywoman
April 2007

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