Case Studies

Tracy Sheldon

Forward Ladies Licensee
Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield

What’s Forward Ladies all about?
Inspiring women in all forms of business and giving you the platform to gain the best business support – It’s about sharing experience across a wide range of sectors and building fabulous relationships that go beyond any other network I’ve been involved with...we don’t sell Forward Ladies ...we are Forward Ladies..it connects hearts and minds.

What do you do?
Tell people about the benefits and values of FL, Encourage new members and organise events that will add value to business and lives.

How much time do you spend on being a Forward Ladies representative?
It varies – sometimes it’s a bit frantic running a business and a family BUT I can always make time for FL because I passionately believe in what it’s trying to do - It is a functional business that keeps to its core foundation values and I see that in the members and women I meet.

How flexible is it?
It’s very flexible – you have to make a real effort at the beginning as you would with anything new BUT over a period of time you can really see something grow from nothing and that’s really satisfying – it becomes what you put in.

What sort of people are you meeting?
A huge variety of women from corporate to sole trader – we welcome all...from green newbie’s in business to hardened long term experienced business women – Forward Ladies is made up of a hugely diverse group of women....plus as women we are always changing and moving forward so that’s interesting too.

How have you benefitted from being a FL representative?

110% and more – I have been through challenges and learning curves beyond belief BUT it has added hugely to my life and I love the team and the support and the ethos – I have met some fantastic women and some new firm friends and it really does keep you going – it’s much more than just a networking group for women

Best bits about being a FL representative?

• Flexibility
• Support
• Meeting interesting and different people
• Feeling like you can make a difference

What’s the biggest challenge you have faced?
Getting started – I didn’t really know Yorkshire or even my area from a business point of view so starting as the first licensee, with no real contacts in my area and trying to get people to host an event when they didn’t even know me was a scary challenge and also been the first with no real plan to fall back on was a real leap of faith – we had no former knowledge or data to rely on ...we just set off with a positive attitude and a good heart and decided we would see where we got

Who would benefit from being a FL representative?
I think you need to be positive, realistic, ready for a challenge and a good commercial outlook – you also need to be resilient and never give up.
If you love people and want to make a difference then it's for you - also I would say it takes effort and work at the beginning...like any business you don’t always see the benefits from day one financially BUT with hard work and the right attitude it can be profitable and fulfilling...not many jobs can offer it all but this does have potential.

Sue France

Forward Ladies Licensee
Merseyside and Cheshire

What’s Forward Ladies all about?
Bringing women together to encourage business in congenial surroundings by networking. We also offer the tools to grow their businesses with training, contacts, opportunities and mentoring.

What do you do?
I am retired; I was head of Marketing and PR for a hotel group.

How much time do you spend on being a Forward ladies licensee?
I actually work on it every day but this is my choice, Probably about 5 hours a day.

How flexible is it?
It’s very flexible; you can arrange the events and meetings around your other commitments.

What sort of people are you meeting?
Women from all walks of life and businesses but the women who attend Forward Ladies regularly all have one thing in common, a determination to grow their businesses.

How have you benefitted from being a FL representative?
It has given me a new challenge in retirement.

Best bit about being a FL representative?
I love finding new venues and planning events so to me it is an extension of my previous career. I also get tremendous satisfaction when I hear the success stories of ladies who have done business through meeting at a FL event.

What’s the biggest challenge you have faced?
Getting numbers to grow is the only hard part because in a new area you can’t just put an event on the web site and sit back, you have to be constantly networking.

Who would benefit from being a FL licensee?
Someone with a marketing or PR business or background in hospitality so it can fit in with what they do. Someone who has just moved to an area and wants a way of meeting people.