New appointee to run Women's Business Group on Isle of Man

Douglas, ISLE OF MAN, 13 January 2011 - Forward Ladies has appointed Stephanie Frankham to run the business support organisation on the Isle of Man.

Stephanie works at Moore Stephens Trust Company Limited and is also training to become a Chartered Secretary, but had enjoyed being a member of Forward Ladies so much that she decided to run the organisation on a part-time basis.

Fresh from the Women in Business Awards in November, two Isle of Man businesswomen took major awards back to the island – Sheila Dean was International Business Woman of the Year, and Torie Kissack was the Young Business Woman of the Year – and Stephanie plans to hold an event celebrating the achievements of these Isle of Man businesswomen in February, along with successful women from the Isle of Man Excellence Awards.

Stephanie said: “On a personal level, I have found Forward Ladies very useful to get to know other professional women on the island. The island is such a small place, and the perfect environment for spreading information by word of mouth.”

“I am planning a whole range of events from coffee to cocktails, breakfasts and lunches, and I am going to be asking the members on the island what they want to see - whether it’s training, mentoring or speakers.”

“There are also companies on the island which want to work with Forward Ladies, as they can see the benefits in working with us and would like to help raise the profile of the organisation on the Isle of Man.”

Although born in England, Stephanie went to Zimbabwe with her family when she was very young, later moving to Zambia where she subsequently studied Business Management at university there. She has been working in the Fiduciary Services Industry since moving to the Island in 2006.

Forward Ladies was founded by Etta Cohen with a handful of women who met to find mutually beneficial ways of working together.  It is now the north’s largest women’s business support organisation with a commitment to encouraging greater levels of female entrepreneurship. The network runs more than 300 events a year across the north, offers mentoring support to members, and provides opportunities to inspire and encourage women in their professional life.

Etta Cohen – who still runs the organisation said: “Forward Ladies is very inclusive; we welcome members from all walks of life, whether they are sole traders working from home, part-time workers, women working in businesses in law firms, accountancy practices and marketing agencies, MDs and corporate executives.  Women make a valuable contribution to the economy and we will welcome all women at whatever stage they are at in their career.”

The success of the organisation is because the appeal is universal.  “It’s not an elite organisation where you have to be invited to join, and no-one need feel that their own small business is not valid;” said Etta.

“We genuinely offer something for everyone.  We have run workshops to help small business owners build up their knowledge and expertise through training and development.  We have taken women to the European Parliament, highlighted with a dinner with the British Ambassador in Brussels, and taken a trade mission to Hong Kong.  We have a programme of inspirational speakers, and hold annual conferences for International Women’s Day. Equally we have held networking events in restaurants, spas and shops.  Forward Ladies reflects the dynamic and diverse interests of our members, which are many and varied.”

For more information or to reserve a place at a Forward Ladies Isle of Man event visit http://www.forwardladies.com/networking-in-isle+of+man or ring 0845 64 34 940.

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Notes: Founded by Etta Cohen in 2000, Forward Ladies began as a small group of professional women meeting and sharing experiences. Since then, Forward Ladies has grown with its more than 11,000 members driving it forward and it's now the North’s fastest growing, women’s networking and business support organisations. It's mission:  "Promoting and celebrating the engagement and participation of women in economic success by enabling women to be more confident in life and business through knowledge, contacts, support and friendship." Visit www.forwardladies.com for more information.

For further information relating to this news release: please contact Anne Crowther on 0845 6434 940. 

Isle of Man Finalists in North West Women in Business Awards

Two Business Women from Isle of Man gain recognition in Forward Ladies Women In Business Awards for North West and Isle of Man.  Shelia Dean, Managing Director at Equiom for International Business Woman of the Year and Torie Kissack, founder, Imagination Station for Young Business Woman of the Year.

The success of women business leaders is being showcased at the inaugural Isle of Man and North West Women in Business Awards held by Forward Ladies, with the quality of business women on the Island being represented in two categories.   There are nine separate award categories as well as an Outstanding Business Woman of the Year award chosen from the nine category winners.  The awards will be presented at a prestigious awards ceremony in Manchester on 10^th November 2011.

Kate Lord said: “In April we were encouraging professional women to participate in these awards, which are new for us on Isle of Man, to showcase and celebrate female talent.  We had a good number of applications from Isle of Man and the quality and talent of the businesswomen on the Island is represented by us having two women in the finals, even though we are a small community and share the awards with the North West.   I am particularly pleased that the Island’s women are being recognised in the categories for International Business and Young Business Woman.” 

Forward Ladies is a women’s business support community involving more than 12,000 professional women across the north of England and the Isle of Man.  

Sheila Dean of Isle of Man global trust & corporate services business, Equiom, is shortlisted in the International Business Woman category, sponsored by UK Trade and Investment, while Victoria Kissack who runs Imagination Station – an entertainment and events company which supplies face painters, clowns, jugglers and entertainment artistes for events is shortlisted in the Young Business Woman category.

Sheila is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and has overall responsibility for Equiom's strategic direction and operational control.

In addition to her role as Managing Director, she is a relationship manager on a portfolio of international clients and is also a key contact for intermediary relationships. She plays a proactive role in driving business development and growth of the company's international business. A leading member of the Isle of Man business community, she is also a respected figure in the global trust and corporate services sector.

Victoria (Torie) originally started with children’s entertainment, but with a plan to expand the business to incorporate many more elements.

After only two days in business, she landed a corporate contract with Isle of Man radio station 3FM and has since worked with the Isle of Man Government, the Tourism Board, schools, charities and many more corporate clients. Due to customer demand she now has a team of self-employed circus performers, two more face painters, dance troupes, DJs, discos, and bouncy castles with more artistes added all the time.

Other finalists from the North West of England include care home owners, telecoms and television production managers.