Women Only Business Networking Comes To Thame (Contributed)

THURSDAY, October 4, sees the Thame launch of the latest branch of the Athena women only business networking group. Based at Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club, Arncott Road, Boarstall, Bucks, HP18 9XX, tel: 01844 239700, www.magnoliapark.co.uk, from 12 ? 2pm, the Thame Athena launch is the 14th group to launch in the Chilterns and Thames Valley with successful groups already running in Aylesbury, Wendover, High Wycombe, Marlow, Oxford, Amersham, Chesham, Henley on Thames and Beaconsfield.

Regional Director of The Athena Network West Chilterns group Sylvia Baldock says, ?We are in the middle of a networking explosion in the Chilterns and the Thames Valley as more and more women realise that this is by far the most powerful, effective and exciting way to grow their businesses.?

Sylvia continues, ?I have been so impressed by the way that business women in this area have grasped the opportunity to develop their skills and form great business relationships and alliances, which often lead to firm friendships as well. I?m delighted to be able to start a group in Thame and we have a number of membership places already booked.?

A typical group will have members from large corporates, SMEs and sole traders. Ladies should be able to find all the skills they need within each group to help them establish and develop their businesses.

The Athena Network operates a ?one discipline only? policy so once a profession is represented at a local group, all competition is effectively locked out and all business from the group is referred to that one individual. A group normally has 25 members, from 25 ? 60 years on average, and members are able to visit other groups if their profession isn?t already represented.
?For the Thame launch in October we already have a number of business women signed up including an accountant, an interior designer and a business coach. Places are going quickly so Thame business women who want to secure their professional representation should book their places by emailing sylvia@theathenanetwork.com or calling 07909 914815? explains Sylvia.

The Thame Athena group will meet at the same venue once a month on the first Thursday of the month. Sylvia remarks, ?My theory is that women love to go out and meet people but are often put off by the venues. I deliberately chose the Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club for the Thame launch to show how confident we are about the success of this group. From my experience with my other groups, the venue really does make a big difference to the member?s confidence and enjoyment levels.?

Local Amersham business woman Diane Moughton who runs Clutterbugs says ?Since I started networking with Athena, I have been amazed by how much more confident I am and how many people I have met as suppliers and as friends.? Kate Saunders of Stoke Mandeville who runs By Kate communications design agency agrees, ?Joining Athena has really helped me not only to build my customer base but also to deal with the ups and downs of running a small business. There?s always someone who has gone through the same thing and who is willing to help you.?

Athena was founded to provide women who felt uncomfortable with the more traditional male oriented networking groups with the opportunity to meet women from a wide range of industry sectors. Athena regularly runs training courses and workshops to develop member?s business skills. In addition there is an informal network of Cappuccino Connections run throughout the area for ladies who want to see what all the excitement is all about: check out www.theathenanetwork.com for a full list of dates and locations. Five more groups are already planned for the area in Gerrards Cross, Abingdon, Ascot, Twyford and Stoke Poges.