women network in their own way
Article in Kent and Sussex Courier Friday, October 7, 2005
Nikki Cole, a founder of the West Kent branch of the networking organisation Women in Business (WiB) three years ago, has recently taken over from Barbara Saul as the organisation's chair.
Nikki's day job is as senior manager for global IT services business Computer Sciences Corporation - a company that has clients including the NHS and the Royal Mail.
"It's good for women to meet together and support each other in a non-threatening and friendly atmosphere," says Nikki. When it's an all-femal environment, then women tend to be more open and more chatty."
The West Kent branch of WiB is one of four in kent, including the new Mid-Kent branch, covering the Maidstone area.
Around 60 per cent of the West Kent group, which covers Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks, are self-employed and across the group there are women working within a variety of sectors including finance, architecture, PR and coaching.
Nikki says that the group is helpful to women whether they are self-employed or part of a large corporation like she is. "I have a great deal of support from within the company I work for," says Nikki. "However, as with any large organisation there are many rigid processes through which decisions are made and things happen. Therefore, it's good sometimes to step outside that structure and get some different ideas."
According to a recent brochure on Promoting Female Entrepreneurship from the Department of Trade and Industry, women benefit from "business support services that are women-friendly and that reflect the needs and attitudes of businesswomen." It highlighted that women make decisions about whether to start a business at a local level. "Women have special characteristics and by their very nature are more collaborative and egalitarian than their male counterparts," says Nikki. "It's helpful for women to have a safe learning environment, where they can network using their natual style."
Among Nikki's goals in taking over as WiB's chair is to bring more diversity into the West Kent group. "The majority of our group is aged between 30 and 45 and it would be good to encourage more women from outside this age bracket to join us," says Nikki. "Also, we don't seem to attract many women from ethnic minorities either so we are working to put this right."
"We are working hard to provide a supportive environment to women in business and for this we need to know what they want such as the best time for meetings and what topics members would like covered by speakers," adds Nikki. She says that talks covering selling and marketing are always popular, while other subjects covered previously have included personal safety (from a representative of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust), sourcing of funding, how to do your own PR, public speaking and even chocolate tasting. Topics confirmed for future events range from employment law and market research through to Feng Shui.
"Each monthly meeting provides the opportunity to exchange ideas, share information and make friends and contacts," says Nikki. "We are always delighted to welcome new members." For more information, visit www.wib-west-kent.org.uk.
Article written by Angela Ward, Kent and Sussex Courier.