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Celebrating the South’s businesswomen

Published: 13 March 2023
Women at IWD lunch
Delegates at the International Women's Day lunch.

Female business leaders from across the South joined forces at an event co-led by the University of Southampton Business School, to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.

The event, which took place at Hoburne Bashley in New Milton, celebrated the contribution that women bring to national and international business, and to the local community.

 


The New Forest Business Partnership (NFBP), which supports businesses both large and small across the New Forest, partnered with the University to host the event.

 

Professor Laura Costanzo, Head of Southampton Business School, said: “It’s extremely important to have events like these to champion women to make an impact on business in society. I am really encouraged by seeing all the positivity that female leadership can inspire in others.


"The Business School at the University of Southampton has re-developed its strategy, so enterprise and business engagement are really important for us moving forward.


"This has been a tremendous opportunity for us to engage more with the small business members of the New Forest Business Partnership so that we can become a thriving force for the local economy and beyond.”


Kate Stewart, Business Manager at Southampton Business School, added: “I’ll leave today feeling really inspired by the talent in the room.


“It’s really important for the University of Southampton to have good relationships with the likes of the New Forest Business Partnership because it brings us into the heart of our local community and enables us to grow the area and its businesses, and make a positive contribution to our society.”


The headline speaker at the event, which took place on Thursday 9 March, was entrepreneur Louise Hill, CEO and co-founder of Lymington-based GoHenry, a prepaid debit card and financial education app designed to teach kids and teens how to be smart with money.


Louise was joined in the speaker’s line-up by Tyler Hole, Managing Director of Ringwood signage and branding company Multi-Signs, and Viv Carter, Community Engagement Manager of Honeypot Children’s Charity, based in Dibden Purlieu.


Event organiser Heidi Roper, Director of the NFBP, said: “The New Forest Business Partnership and the University of Southampton have a long history together now, as we have been doing events together for the last few years.


“For us, it’s about making sure that we are supporting our local educational institutions and looking at how that relates to skills development, local talent and supporting industry within our local community.”

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