Female Networking in London II
Forming part of an occasional series about networking, this blog post was written by Nicolette Wykeman from Wykeman Ltd.–Connecting People with London a career coaching service for expatriate partners. Wykeman Ltd is specialised in career coaching, start-ups and business networking in London. For more information on their services you can visit their website.
In April 2012 I wrote a blog post about female networking in London. In this blog post I have added a few more interesting networks worth exploring.
European professional women’s network
This network gives the opportunity to connect with business women from London but also from across Europe and is open to women working at all levels. EPWN has a strong social media presence as well. Individual membership costs £100 or if working for a NGO, non-profit or charity £70. They organise different type of events from breakfasts, workshops and general networking events. For more information check their website here.
Lady Val’s professional women network
LVPWN organises lunches with an interesting speaker in Central London on a regular basis. No need to become a member; you just sign up for the lunch which costs £50, £10 of which is given to a charity. Executives and business women are welcome to attend these lunches (and occasional supper). For more information check their website here.
London Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business (WiB)
Their lunches provide a ‘club-like’ setting, in which members can brainstorm ideas, discuss issues and learn from the experiences of other businesswomen. Each lunch features a keynote speaker, who will address how they achieved success, detailing techniques used, support required and obstacles overcome; and provide networking opportunities. Membership of the Women in Business Group is open to both men and women and is free as part of London Chamber of Commerce Premier Plus membership. For more information check their website here.
There are different meetups all over London and the diversity is huge. From ‘Professional City women single mothers’ to ‘Climbing in heels’. It is best to regularly check on the Meetup website to see what is being organised and which group you are attracted to join. Most are free to attend so definitely worth checking out. For more information check their website here.
Their mission is to enable, inspire and support women to achieve their full potential. This network was founded in 2009 and is run entirely by volunteers. The network organises networking, training, discussion and events to support and empower women. For more information check their website here.
Women in the City network was set up in 2003 and was mainly focused on organising an annual lunch for minded like women. Since 2010 they organise the Future Leaders award as well as organising various activities where women can connect. These occasions are often a combination of shopping and networking. For more information check their website here.
We are the City is an informational portal and networking company aimed at professional women working in the City & the Wharf launched in September 2008 which you can join for free. On this website you can find lots of information ranging from career advice to training events and is based on sharing knowledge and feedback. For more information check their website here.
Established networks for careers in finance and retail
There are more specialised networks besides the WIBF and Women in retail mentioned below but are not currently updated or not located in London and therefore not included in this overview.
Women in banking and finance (WIBF)
This ‘not’ for profit network was founded in 1980. WIBF organises a variety of events and one of their main events is the WIBF Awards for Achievement Luncheon. This is an annual event that recognises talented women in the financial services industry. For more information check their website here.
This network for senior women and board members in the retail industry was founded in 2005. Events include Spring and Autumn breakfasts with speakers from the industry, a summer lunch and Christmas drinks. All events are open for non-members to attend. Annual inclusive membership is £150. For more information check their website here.
If you can’t find a network which inspires you, you can always check Eventsbrite. On their website you can find all sorts of other business network events for women, for instance a technology award event for women taking place in May 2013. For more information check their website here.
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