What do women working in the Westcountry really want?

Do glass ceilings really exist? Can a woman juggle a good career and a happy family life? Is sexism an issue? Is there such a thing as a work life balance? Do women aim high enough? Should there be more women in the boardroom? Is there untapped potential among women which the economy is missing out on? What is career success?

Just type "women in business” into a well known internet search engine and you will find hundreds of articles about women in the work place with varying opinion, theories and solutions. 

However do these really represent what women in the South West of England really think? With the London economic boom leaving the rest of the UK behind do we really know what is happening in our own region?

On the day all-female networking group Leading Women UK is launched in Plymouth, a cutting edge survey aims to answer these questions.

Compiled by leading SW accountants Bishop Fleming and backed by Bowater Communications and Leading Women UK, the survey asks west country women what working life is really like for them – and what can be done to help them.

Fleur Lewis, Director at Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants says that “I am continually amazed by the women I meet in business in the South West, what they do and how they do it. 

But is enough being done to support them?  By putting together a survey aimed at women in business I feel that we can truly understand the issues faced by the women working in our region and work to make a real difference to both their lives and economic growth in the South West.”

Leading Women is an all-female networking group for all women who work, bringing together resources for entrepreneurs and career women who want to get answers, make new contacts, sharpen their ambition and discover the power of networking.

Leading Women UK’S founder Rachel Jones, says: “As a serial entrepreneur with four businesses in the South West, supporting working women is something I am passionate about. I founded Leading Women UK after mentoring on the Empowering Smart Women project and realising what a need there was for a female network that supports, nurtures and provides opportunities for women to succeed.

After a successful year in Cornwall, hosting over 40 workshops, 3 conferences and over 60 networking meetings, we are delighted to bring Leading Women UK to Devon, and to welcome Alexis as our first Devon Champion.”

Leading Women UK’s Devon branch will have its inaugural meeting in Plymouth on November 4th at Rockfish on the Barbican. It is a free event and starts at 7pm.