You've attended the workshop. You've filled the notebook. You've come home feeling energised, maybe even a little inspired. And then Monday arrives, the inbox takes over, and three weeks later that notebook is sitting under a pile of invoices with nothing actioned. Sound familiar? This is one of the most common patterns we see among women in business, and it's not a reflection of commitment or capability. It's a sign that something in the learning process isn't quite working.

After your next networking event, try this simple check. Look back through the conversations you had and ask yourself: did you find out what the other person actually needed, or did you spend most of the time explaining what you do? If it was mostly the latter, that is a sales pitch, not a connection. Genuine networking builds slowly. It is about understanding someone else's situation well enough that, when the right moment comes, you can either help them directly or point th

Recent reports have highlighted concerns about rising unemployment in the UK, with some analysts predicting that hundreds of thousands more people could find themselves out of work over the coming years. Losing a job or facing uncertainty about your future can be daunting. It can affect confidence, financial security and your sense of identity. However, for many women, it can also become the catalyst for a new chapter. Some of the most successful businesses start not with a g

In the complex world of business finance, the right mentor turns confusion into clarity. Most business owners aren’t “bad with numbers.”They’ve simply never had them explained in a way that truly makes sense. Profit up but cash tight?Unsure whether you can afford to hire?Wondering if you’re charging enough? That uncertainty creates hesitation.And hesitation slows growth. A financial mentor doesn’t just produce reports.They translate the numbers, connect them to your strategy,

A few months ago, I was chatting with a director of a small manufacturing firm, let's call him Tom. He was feeling overwhelmed with finance decisions and often lost sleep worrying about cash flow and unexpected bills. As we explored his business, he revealed that he had never really understood his key performance indicators (KPIs). I realised at that moment how crucial understanding these metrics was for his peace of mind and business growth. Together, we identified the KPIs

As we now enjoying networking again, why not come along to a meeting and meet us Handbags & Briefcases has been a network group since 2007. In common with many groups the Covid era was a challenge. But we kept going and kept ticking along offering low cost events to women in business, particularly those in the early stages. We are open to all women in business, whatever stage your business is at - pre-start, early stages, established. We have a regular monthly meeting - thi