Meet A Mentor series for female entrepreneurs launches in style

Women gathered at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London yesterday to attend the first in a series of 12 Meet A Mentor events to help female led businesses meet mentors to access mentoring support.

The series of events, supported by the Government Equality Office and run by SFEDI and the IOEE, will bring together female led businesses with mentors to help them move their business ideas to the next stage. Mentoring support has been proved to increase the start up and survival rates of small businesses by increasing confidence, enabling skills sharing and providing a critical friend able to provide much needed support and encouragement during those early stages.

Yesterday's event was timed to coincide with Women's Entrepreneurship Day (#WomensEDay), a day which celebrates the achievements of female entrepreneurs across the world, and encourages more women to explore entrepreneurship through events, case studies, inspiration and knowledge sharing.

The Meet A Mentor event encapsulated all of these things by bringing together women to network, share business stories and meet mentors that they might gain support from for many years to come.

Ruth Lowbridge, Executive Chair of SFEDI and facilitator of the event, said:

"The atmosphere and energy in the room was amazing everyone that came on the day had come to share, listen and make long term connections, and it was certainly helped along by the fabulous setting. It was great to be able to launch the event series on Women's Entrepreneurship Day as it definitely created a sense of shared purpose amongst the women attending".

Delegates certainly seemed to have enjoyed the day, some of the tweets from the day included:

@CharleneLaidley: "'Invaluable' input from - Brilliant & Inspirational event - Thank you! "

@EnamGDesigns: "Had an inspiring morning meeting mentors and fellow mentees. TY for honouring with a great event "

@BALA_TV "Being an Inspiration and Being Inspired is so fulfilling "

@SoniaMeggie "A room filled with inspirational mentors and mentees "

We'd like to say a huge thanks to everyone that came along. Take a look at the photos from the day and register your interest for one of the future Meet A Mentor events.

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