After 18 long months of lockdowns and restrictions, two Barnsley-based business women who founded a supportive network group for professional local women are looking forward to getting their group back together and are eager to welcome new members.
Connect+ is an informal, friendly and supportive networking group open to all professional women from Barnsley and the surrounding areas. Formed in 2016, it offers business women the opportunity to meet with like-minded professionals, building connections and friendships that encourage and support their goals and ambitions.
The co-founder Lisa Walker who runs her own professional coaching business, White Apple Thinking, commented “Connection is so important to us as humans and as business people. Being able to relaunch our Connect+ networking events after the last 18 months is exciting, much needed and a real boost for those of us that look forward to building relationships with other professional women across the region. The fact that our first event in September coincides with the groups 5th birthday makes it the perfect celebration”.
A fabulous celebratory Cocktail Evening will be the first event to relaunch the group which will be held on Thursday 16th September at one of Barnsley's new and upcoming cocktail venues, Upstairs @ Dodworth Tap. This event is to be a celebration of 5 years of the group, and after many months of Zoom calls, it will be a chance for the ladies to catch-up and ReConnect and welcome new members to their group.
Co-founder Nichola Hawden, who is a partner in a local firm of accountants Harris+Co, is eager to be reunited and noted “Lisa and I are delighted to be able to relaunch Connect+ following a hiatus during the pandemic and we look forward to welcoming both new and familiar faces to our events over the next 12 months. The pandemic has taught me that connection is so important for us both personally and professionally and we look forward to bringing back these events that encourage local professional and business women to build relationships with like-minded people that benefit from them both personally and professionally”.
Lisa & Nichola have already planned several more events over the coming year including a Christmas Lunch, New Year Coaching Event, a trip to the farm with afternoon tea and a Summer cocktail evening.
If you are interested in joining Lisa and Nichola, or have friends or colleagues that would benefit from being part of such a supportive group, details of their relaunch event can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/connect-networking-reconnect-cocktail-event-tickets-167496629929
For further details about Connect+, you can also visit the group's Facebook page or email Lisa on lisa.walker@whiteapplethinking.co.uk