Surrey Business News

22/03/10 Businesswomen - Look to the future

In the same week that a woman won the Oscar for Best Director for the first time in 82 years, businesswomen in Surrey were celebrating female achievements, at an event hosted by Clydesdale Bank.

An audience of 30 business professionals from the area, including Clydesdale members, as the Bank’s customers are known, enjoyed afternoon tea and a glass of pink fizz at the Guildford Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) in Walnut Tree Close.

Louise Punter, Chief Executive of Surrey Chambers of Commerce, spoke on empowering women in the workplace, as well as the history of International Women’s Day and influential and successful women from past to present.

Louise has been working in business for over 25 years and has worked across several sectors, including manufacturing and quality assessment. Her talk also focused on the responsibility that women in business have to the next generation, and how going into schools plays an important part in supporting them with their achievements and aspirations.

Nicola Shepherdson, who works in Business Development at Guildford FSC, said: “Clydesdale Bank recognises how important it is to support women in business and this is why we hold these type of events every year.

“Having someone as experienced in business as Louise speaking reminds us that while we can learn from local professionals like her, we also have a responsibility to guide the businesswomen of the future.”

At the same event, Nicola also presented a cheque to Chase Hospice, a local charity chosen by the Guildford FSC, with proceeds from an auction of rare and collectable bank notes held by Clydesdale.

More local news here.