Member Endorsements
Simply Devine Evening with Forward Ladies 9th July 2007 :“ Mum and I would like to thank Forward Ladies so much for co-ordinating our event on Monday. It was a wonderful night for us, both from an awareness point of view including sales !!!The response was fantastic and the phone was ‘hot’ the following day from Forward Ladies thanking us for a super event and complimenting us on the buffet.However, without Forward Ladies it would not have been possible, so once again thank you very much ! “Liz Devine-Wright, Simply Devine.
"Being a Forward Lady for many years, it was a great pleasure to make contact with two excellent female photographers Olivia Brabbs and Claire Perry. I was looking for some excellent quality photography for my wedding at Hazlewood Castle on 17 February 2007 which was cost effective, relaxed and flexible – Olivia and Claire certainly produced this and much more. Their light and breezy attitude on the day was just what we needed and the results were truly amazing. I have already recommended their services to several clients and colleagues and would not hesitate to use them again for commercial PR, wedding, portrait or landscape photography – well done! Diane Kay (nee Benn).
"Thank you so much for last night (Temple spa event at Brighouse) – my skin has never felt so good. In fact I booked a party at home with Temple Spa! I found the group to be very warm and friendly and I am delighted to be part of it." Melanie Nowicki, Fundraiser, West Yorkshire Forget-Me-Not Trust Ltd.
'Being the host hotel for the Forward Ladies Cafe is a great networking opportunity for us at The Queens but has also ended up benefiting me on a personal level. Having met Marilyn from Mamalingua a few weeks back I at last have committed to fulfilling an ambition I have had for some time, to learn Spanish. Through Mamalingua I have signed up to a course of home based Spanish lessons, I am only a few weeks in but am really enjoying learning the basics. The Forward Ladies Cafe is proving to be a very successful networking forum and a great place to meet other Forward Ladies.' Louise Wright, Director of Sales, Queens Hotel, Leeds.
"Thanks so much for the super evening at Sheffield. "Fiddler on the Roof" was beyond excellent - I can't find words to describe the acting of the cast and the wonderful atmosphere they created. The initial reception, and helpfulness of the two Crucible staff were first class - and food too! What a bonus! Thank you for organising it Etta and well done you." Sue Hanson BSH People Ltd.
"Without Forward Ladies I wouldn't have laughed with an Italian translator, lunched with Parisian business women or have been inspired by Frances Edmonds' passion and I'm sure I wouldn't be collaborating on an HR guide with Christine Ware of High 10, making a video with Lillian Ayala of The Fusebox or launching a workshop for first time employers." Carolyn Mumby, MD, Essestial Law On-line
Ruth Brompton of Sheer Sumptuosity has told us how delighted she was with her wedding dress after her recent trip down the aisle. The dress was made by Dawn Wood of Ages of Elegance.
C’est la vie!
I was privileged to travel to Paris with Forward Ladies and UK Trade & Invest as part of a business delegation to meet Parisian businesswomen and attend the International Business Women’s Day hosted by the British Embassy in Paris. There were 15 businesswomen from Yorkshire and the Humber region, ranging from Beate Kubitz, the creator of a chic and ethical designer clothes business “Makepiece”, in Todmorden, to Sandra Corcoran, who has a bicycle business, “Pennine Cycles” in Bradford, to Lesley O’Brien of “Giraud International” who is a high flyer in the wagon world!
What is wonderful about Forward Ladies is that there are so many members, in so many different businesses, whom I would not ordinarily meet, and FL provide so many occasions to meet each other.
I am still in touch with a good number of the British delegates who went to Paris. In the last 18 months we have had occasion to call each other for both social and work related reasons. (Diana Osborne of “Princess Bijoux Tiaras” needs occasional advice on copyright and design right infringement issues in relation to her tiara business. Dr Mah Hussain Gambles of “Saaf UK” needs advice on trade mark protection and licensing her cosmetics business worldwide.) I bump into them and others again and again at Forward Ladies events.
Now I am working with Wendy Kipling of Harrision Paul Partnerships, franchise consultants. Wendy and I met on the Paris trip, and I bumped her again, (with Jackie Whiteley of “Strulch Limited”) at the FL event at Castle Howard this summer. (An event that I note was a great success for Jackie as she found another customer in Castle Howard’s garden centre.)
So although the Paris trip was not successful for me in relation to forging international work for my business, it has created great opportunities for me back here in Yorkshire. “C’est la vie” as they say in France! SARA LUDLAM, LUDLAMS SOLICITORS – THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SPECIALISTS (trade marks, copyright, design rights, patents and confidential information.)