We at BIPC Devon know how tough it is to find like-minded people to network with, especially in under-represented groups. Our own Women in Business courses and award grants have helped to bridge that gap, however, we’d like to shine a light on two individuals who have been instrumental in championing female entrepreneurs across the county.
Louise Jenner and Maureen Townsend started up Devon Women in Business together in the middle of the pandemic. With their combined experiences in job coaching and supporting independent businesses, they have been able to expand their network to multiple platforms and 100+ person awards shows.
Louise shares her story of how she found her way into the group, how she’s been able to support female-founded businesses, and where she hopes to take it in the future.
What led you to start up Devon Women in Business with Maureen?
I’m a Devon girl, born and bred. I grew up in Ipplepen and went to school in Newton Abbot, but moved away to work for DFS Furniture. I was the first female salesperson to get signed off of their sales training programme back in 1998, then I became their first female manager, so I’ve always been blazing a trail for women breaking those barriers down. When I left in 2013, I had some time to myself, reflected, and decided that I’d really like to work from home and become a career coach.
In 2019, I decided to come home to be with my family. Of course, that was just before the pandemic, so I really needed to be creative about how I would network. I’d go to a Devon Women in Business ladies’ lunch, run by Nikki Bidgood at the time, but when things changed in her life, in 2021, she asked if I’d like to take it over, which I did!
Maureen started talking to me about how she recently stepped down as the CEO of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce. She’d been judging at business awards for most of her career, so she suggested running an awards event. In my head, I thought we’d just hand out virtual awards in this little Facebook group we had, but Maureen had much bigger ambition with a dinner in person and a real celebration with live music. I got right on board with that!
The group has grown, and we’ve now got members all over the county. We’ve got a huge Facebook and LinkedIn group, we’ve got a website, and we’ve got some amazing sponsors and partners who keep it going. It’s way beyond what I imagined it might be when I started running it!
How have you been able to help Devon’s Women in Business through the group?
The way we’ve been able to impact female business owners in the area is through offering that support and celebration. There’s a danger as a support organisation to only focus on problems and challenges; while it’s important to resolve them, it’s also super motivating and inspirational to recognise the successes people have as well. If you’re having a tough time and can see someone else has got it going on, that propels you forward.
There’s also something very special about the energy of a women only networking group. For some of those women, it’s not about going there to spout about their business; when our members go out, they see it as self-care instead of work. When we go out together as a group of women, we have lunch or brunch and having a good old chat about all kinds of things. I’m very proud that it’s not stuffy or formal and we don’t take ourselves too seriously, even though we’re very serious about our businesses.
There’s a danger as a support organisation to only focus on problems and challenges; while it’s important to resolve them, it’s also super motivating and inspirational to recognise the successes people have as well. If you’re having a tough time and can see someone else has got it going on, that propels you forward.
What have been the biggest success stories to come out of the group?
Without doubt, it’ll be the collaborations and the business that gets done as a result of women actually getting to know each other and having those conversations. I see small business owners growing in confidence with every online networking session, then they meet everyone in real life and that increases confidence for new people who have been hiding away for whatever reason.
What is it like running the DWIB awards every year?
We never quite know how many people are going to enter or bring people along with them, so it’s important to have a venue that grows with us. Our first ever awards dinner should’ve been in November 2021, but because of the second lockdown, it didn’t actually happen until 2022. We had 40 socially distanced women in the Passage House Hotel, and that same year, we had to run the 2022 awards. By November, we had over 100 women in the Conference Centre at Buckfast Abbey, so it really took off in that first year.
We have award categories like the Female Apprentice of the Year and Employee of the Year awards, and one award that’s open to all genders is the Best Supporting Act. We recognise that behind every fantastic businesswoman, there are probably other people like partners and team members helping her to shine. We encourage people to enter themselves as well as nominate other people because it sets an intention in their own mind. You have to feel confident to enter your own business, but you also know your own business better than anybody else.
You have to feel confident to enter your own business, but you also know your own business better than anybody else.
What difficulties have you faced maintaining Devon Women in Business?
The challenge we have this year is expanding the group. We want to reach out to members across the county, from North Devon, East Devon, West Devon, and be able to have more events out there. It’s a chicken and egg situation where we have to put an event on and hope that people come and become members. From what we’ve experienced, when we do uncover those businesses in places like North Devon, they’re really grateful that we exist, and will travel to wherever we’re meeting.
What exciting things have you got lined up in the future?
We’re really excited to be going to Sandy Park this year. We know that some of the glitches that we’ve had before, we’ve learnt from, and we already know that those glitches won’t occur. We’ll launch the awards on the 18th of June, and that’s also when the awards will be open for people to enter.
Do you have any advice for people wanting to set up a business network?
Do it! If you’ve got a niche and can see there’s a need in your location or industry, then start your group! Think about what it is they need and get it going on because people love community. Some people want to be in a nationwide or international community, other want to be in a small niche community where you do the same stuff.
It’s also really nice to network with people who live near you who you otherwise wouldn’t meet and just be able to get out there and have that experience. Whether you’re setting up a network of dairy farmers, nursery men, or barbers, whatever your niche is, I’m sure you’ll be successful.
For setting up awards, having a venue that is professional, knows what it’s doing, has organised these kinds of awards before and has a standard you know they can keep is really important. Sponsors also benefit because you get really high visibility in all the marketing leading up to the awards. If you’re a business considering sponsoring an award, do it as soon as you can because you’ll maximise the exposure you get from your marketing.
If you’ve got a niche and can see there’s a need in your location or industry, then start your group!