ONE of the county’s longest-established business networking groups is moving off Zoom and into Minchinhampton Golf Club from this month.

Beth Whittaker, chair of Stroud Businesswomen’s Network, said: “Like other networking groups, we moved to online meetings last year due to Covid, but now we are confident of getting ‘back to normal’ and we can’t wait to see everyone at our October members’ meeting at a new venue.”

The group opened up its informal monthly coffee catch up sessions at the Curio Lounge in Stroud a few months ago with social distancing in place, but the network’s volunteer committee recently decided that the full members’ meeting would also be face-to-face from this month.

Guest speaker at the meeting at Minchinhampton Golf Club on October 21 will be local potter Emma Hall from Silver Spot Ceramics who set up her business in March 2020 and already has almost 40,000 followers on Instagram.

She will share her tips and tricks around her success in using social media.

Stroud Businesswomen’s Network is a not-for-profit group, run by a small team of volunteers.

"It helps members to grow and develop their businesses in a supportive all-women environment – making great contacts and friends, learning from and supporting each other," said Beth.

“If you’re new to the area, or launching your first business, you will soon feel at home with a chance to meet up to 35 other local businesswomen.

“Inspirational guest speakers extend our knowledge, broaden our business understanding and often make us laugh.”

The move to the golf club is a temporary one, with the group hoping to return to The Old Lodge next year.

Anyone keen to find out more about Stroud Businesswomen’s Network can attend their first meeting free.

For more information see stroudbusinesswomen.org.uk/meetings or facebook.com/StroudBusinesswomensNetwork