An Inspirational Journey

The Pearls

The Pearls is a programme of events and online support that is targeted at women working just below the senior corporate level who have been identified as having the potential to be future leaders.

The Pearls focuses on four areas:

building Confidence
recognising Capabilities
developing Contacts
providing Control and Choice

The Pearls is the first step on the wider Journey and if you would like to find out more visit www.the-pearls.com or contact Erica Frazier.

The Two Percent Club

Targeted at women already operating at the senior corporate level, The Two Percent Club looks to help senior women raise their profile, advocate the issue of women on boards and network with a view to finding opportunities cross sector including non-exec directorships.

Founded in Yorkshire in 2009 when it was realised through a BDO Stoy Hayward report that Yorkshire had 16 % fewer women on boards than any other English region. At present the Club only operates in Yorkshire but will be rolled out nationally in late 2011.

The Two Percent Club is the second stage of the wider Journey and for more information please contact Erica Frazier

The 150 Programme

The 150 Programme is our take on mentoring.

Instead of a 'normal' mentoring programme, The 150 Programme will bring together senior male or female business leaders with an aspiring woman from either The Two Percent Club or The Pearls.

The business leaders will become 'personal non-executive directors' to their women and will commit to only four one hour sessions a year with the goal of developing more 'board ready' women. Women will be paired with a figure from outside of their sector giving them a different critique of their skills and experiences.

The 150 Programme will be launched in early 2013 and if you would like to learn more please contact Erica Frazier

The Women's
Business Forum

28th and 29th September 2011, Rudding Park Hotel, Harrogate, Yorkshire. view details

In its second year, The Women's Business Forum brings together the current and next generation of leading business men and women from all sectors and corners of the UK to hear relevant and beneficial presentations from global speakers that will lead to more effective business management and performance.

With Lord Davies' White Paper on 'Women on Boards' and the potential for EU legislation enforcing quotas, this year's forum carries greater significance.

This year's Forum will explore and discuss:

The positive effect gender balanced boards and workforces can have on business management and performance.
Why women need to aim for the top.
Why organisations should be actively encouraging them to do so.
How together both organisations and their women can best achieve an increase in a balanced gender pipeline of future leaders.

This years Forum is a must if you are;

a professional, business or entrepreneurial woman who works at senior corporate level or has ambitions to do so,
a male business leader or have aspirations to be one,
An organisation who has the desire to want to retain, grow and develop your female talent pool, ensuring a better balanced pipeline of potential leaders for the future.

If you would like to learn more about The Women's Business Forum in terms of delegate or sponsorship packages please contact Erica Frazier on 0845 604 8183 or erica@thewomensbusinessforum.co.uk

Welcome to the home of An Inspirational Journey.

An Inspirational Journey is a group of initiatives, fuelled by the Royal Bank of Scotland, that aim to increase the number of women working at the senior corporate level by breaking down real and perceived barriers and helping UK companies identify, develop and grow a large talent pool of women who have the potential to be leaders in the future.

This site is the gateway to the four vehicles of the Journey: The Two Percent Club, The Pearls, The 150 Programme and the Women's Business Forum.

Launched in May 2011, the Journey works across all sectors of the UK using a proactive and collaborative model to tackle the challenges highlighted in the Women on Boards report. By focusing on building confidence and self-belief, recognising capabilities and skills and developing contacts, the Journey aims to provide women with greater choice and control in their career.

The Journey is the brainchild of Women's Business Forum Founder, Heather Jackson and is her answer to one of the UK's most pressing business issues. It delivers what companies need and what women want to ensure they can fulfil their potential and help drive the businesses and economy of the UK.

If you would like to know more about the Journey click on one of the icons or alternatively contact Erica Frazier.