22nd Sep 2008 - Join the cream of Lanarkshire's female entrepreneurs

Lanarkshire's burgeoning community of female entrepreneurs is being invited to attend the launch night of this year's influential Women into Business (WIB) programme.

This season's calendar of free monthly networking evenings for women who are starting a business, or are in the early stages of running one, begins on Wednesday, October 1^st with a high-profile opening event at the Atrium Business Centre, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge.

Two award-winning female entrepreneurs will be speaking about their success, as well as providing help and advice to Lanarkshire's businesswomen at the event which runs from 6pm until 9pm.

Headlining the night will be Louise McDonald of Curves Ltd who opened her first women only health and fitness club in Motherwell in 2004 and now runs three further franchises in Airdrie, Kirkintilloch and Glasgow City Centre.

The young entrepreneur has since won a raft of business awards, including The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007, and her four gyms have 1500 members and an annual turnover of £350,000.

Following Louise's inspirational talk will be Ann-Maree Morrison of Labels4kids Limited. Selling worldwide from her base in Stirling, Ann-Maree offers every kind of label a household could need.

Ann-Maree has grown her business into a successful venture whilst raising three young sons and has been a finalist in four prestigious business awards this year, including ‘Product of the Year' for the Natwest Stat-up Awards.

Sharon Harvey, WIB Organiser, Business Gateway Lanarkshire said: "WIB monthly events provide Lanarkshire's female entrepreneurs with a supportive, business focussed environment where they can share experiences and learn from each other, gaining encouragement and support along the way. Attracting excellent speakers, the events are high profile, offer quality networking and really make a difference to the success rate of female business start-ups in the area."

Since its launch six years ago, thousands of women have benefited from the Women into Business networking events, which were originally designed to address particular challenges that once faced women thinking about starting up a business.

Now the WIB Lanarkshire events provide attendees with the opportunity to network with like minded women and glean essential business advice from a range of support agencies such as high street banks plus hear from inspirational businesswomen.

As well as Louise and Ann-Maree's inspiring speeches, the opening event will comprise a drinks reception, orientation, light buffet and networking time.

To find out more information about WIB Lanarkshire and to book a space at this year's inaugural meeting log onto www.bgateway.com, email wib@sbglanarkshire.co.uk or call 01236 702020.