Read our column from Uckfield Matters magazine here online…
This month’s Uckfield Matters theme has got me thinking, do we need a ‘Women only’ networking event? Naturally, it’s not something that I could be involved in personally and while there are no immediate plans to go down this route, I am open to suggestions!
While I have no doubt that women can compete equally with men within the business world, the same can’t be said for the beautiful game! Of course, I wish Phil Neville and his Lionesses well in the forthcoming World Cup but it doesn’t quite capture the same imagination as last summer with Gareth and the Three Lions in Russia. Some of course, may disagree!
Undoubtedly, we have some extremely talented and capable women within our Chamber, so allow me to name check a few… To underline the career equality point, I was delighted recently to publish a blog from Rix & Kay partner, Kathryn Paisley, who wrote in late March, ‘When a career break isn’t career ending’ – it’s well worth a read.
Last November, we hosted a fabulous celebratory evening of the Uckfield Business awards, which would not have been possible without the leadership and expertise of Jan Edwards and her team at the Marketing Eye. We will take a break from awards this year although plan to do it all again in 2020!
One Chamber event that is an annual fixture however, is Late Night Christmas Shopping. Impressed by a new arrival in Uckfield towards the end of 2017, Nisha Patel brought her Anytime Fitness business to Uckfield. Nisha immediately offered to sponsor one of our stages that year and joined the organising committee in 2018 despite being heavily pregnant last December! Now back at work after a short break, Nisha will help lead on your festive evening for 2019…
And it would be remiss of me not to mention the editor of Uckfield Matters magazine, Angela O’Neill, who is one of our Chamber Vice-Presidents. Angela is a great source of advice and wisdom on many Chamber matters.
Finally, the lady I probably speak with and rely on most is our diligent treasurer, Claire Packham who owns and manages her Team4Solutions bookkeeping business… Plenty of fabulous ‘Women in Business’ within our Chamber – now, who wants to take on the networking event?