Expert panel to lead free Wolverhampton Business Week Women Entrepreneurs Masterclass

Five inspirational businesswomen will lead an interactive masterclass for budding entrepreneurs during Wolverhampton Business Week later his month.

The Women Entrepreneurs Masterclass will take place at Wolverhampton Science Park Technology Centre, Glaisher Drive, (WV10 9RU) on Thursday, September 28, between 4pm and 6pm.

The free event is aimed at anyone looking to start or grow their business or considering the option of becoming self-employed.

The experienced panel of businesswomen and entrepreneurs will share their stories, offer tips, and participate in a Q&A session chaired by Josie Kelly, Access to Business CEO.

Panellist Olivia Simpson is a University of Wolverhampton alumni, who was the winner of the Version & Unloc Young Entrepreneur Challenge 2023 and the London Tech Week Elevating Founders competition, aged 21, and CEO and co-founder Symbiotex, a bio-technology start-up producing seaweed based home compostable rigid and semi-rigid biomaterials with a medical device focus.

She said: “The Women Entrepreneurs Masterclass will benefit anyone attending, whether you are a business looking to incorporate more inclusive principals and opportunities for collaboration, someone looking to start a business and interested in knowing support in the area as well as hearing some top tips, or for women entrepreneurs looking for insight and motivation - there’s so much to be inspired by at this masterclass. My journey as an entrepreneur began at Wolverhampton university and, as a business, we have received technical and financial support from Wolverhampton. Wherever my journey takes me I feel supported by Wolverhampton’s business/entrepreneurial community.”

Fellow panellist Clare Norton is an Aston University Business School alumni who previously set up and sold two companies and is now Operations Manager, UK & Europe at the School of Coding, which teaches computer science, coding and maths to children and adults through their education centres, online, and in schools, as well as providing courses in Europe, and IN2 work projects.

She said: “I am excited about being part of the panel at the Women Entrepreneurs Masterclass. I have found the same environment of events like this invaluable throughout my career and look forward to a face-to-face event where we collaborate with real world businesswomen.”

They will be joined on the panel by:

• Jane Sommerville, Warwick Business School alumni and MD at Bowers and Jones, a local engineering company which manufactures high Precision Roll Tooling and Equipment
• Harper Gill, University College Birmingham alumni and founder and Director of Vaal and Vaal, a private members club and events venue
• Carolyn Smith, West Midlands Creative Scale Up Programme alumni and founder and MD of TPSquared, design-led marketeers who build brands

City of Wolverhampton Council Head of Enterprise, Isobel Wood, added: “This is a great chance to hear some practical insights into setting up, running and growing a business, network with likeminded colleagues and make some invaluable long-term business contacts.”

To register for this free event please visit Women Entrepreneurs Masterclass Tickets, Thu 28 Sep 2023 at 16:00 | Eventbrite