Bradford Women's Business Group meets every month either during lunchtime or for an evening session. We get together at various venues around Bradford District for networking, a buffet meal and a guest presentation, speaker or tour. BWBG boasts a diverse range of subjects which it highlights for its meetings - often suggested by members, covering business, training, management and innovation issues; topical matters associated with Bradford; and fun leisure sessions for more 'girly' dos.

Examples of past meetings include:

• Birthday lunch and Presentation by Judith Donovan CBE
• Presentation 'The X Factor - Developing your Charisma'
• Guest Speaker Thelma De Leaw president of The Friends Bradford Cathedral
• Golf Evening Taster Session
• Credit Crunch Lunch - 'Promote your company, organisation or charity'
• Tour of Bradford Cathedral and insight into its history
• Tour of Bradford Cancer Support's new premises
• Presentation 'Dealing with Difficult People'
• Lunch and tour of Bombay Stores including a Sari demonstration
• Clarins Beauty Evening
• Belly Dancing
• Presentation 'Bringing Out the Best in People'
• Wine Tasting

We also attend the annual Christmas lunch at City Hall with the Lord Mayor of Bradford.

THE ORIGINAL BWBGers

Bradford Women's Business Group was founded in June 1995 and was the brainchild of three women: Heather Summers, Sue Coffey, and Maggie Fleming. All three had experience of starting, or involvement with, other women's networking groups, but nothing like BWBG existed at the time. The aims of the group were to provide:

• A networking forum for women with an interest in, and commitment to, the development of Bradford;
• A relaxing, friendly atmosphere in which women could come together to discuss issues which affected them in their careers, and in their personal lives.

At that time, most members worked for large organisations - within various companies, the law, banks, museums, hotels, the textile industry, education, training and local government. Many were considering whether to make a change in their working lives by becoming self employed.

After just one year the group had grown to 70 members, and after eight years to 200. Early topics for meetings included: Civil Litigation for Business; Information services for Business; Provision of Training; Marketing a Hotel; and Business Use of the Internet.