The Spanish Chamber of Commerce has helped bringing together 60 entrepreneurial and businesswomen from several rural areas in Spain and the UK in what it has been an unprecedented event that took place in Edgmond last Wednesday 5th June, at The Regional Food Academy of Harper Adams University .
Participants of the first international conference of businesswomen in rural areas
The core of this event is the European Women in Rural Business Association that was developed amongst some Chambers of Commerce in Spain and leaded by the Soria Chamber of Commerce. The whole project is supported by the Consejo Superior de Cámaras.
European Women in Rural Business Association is an innovative project financed by the European Union and the Spanish Government, aimed to foster businesses run by women in rural areas. It was launched in July 2011 and it will be running activities until November 2013. The aim of this initiative is to create an interactive platform to support entrepreneurs, directives and businesswomen and address them throughout the use of technology and the tools to ease the internationalisation processes. As part of their scheduled activities they planned this conference in Great Britain so as to get to meet the situation of their British colleagues and discuss some best practices together.
The event was introduced by Mr. Rubén Fernández, Head of International Trade & Business Development, followed by a welcoming speech delivered by Mr. Igor Urra, Secretary General of the Chamber. Ms. Polly Gibb, Director at WiRE, the association for Women in Rural Entreprise in the UK, continued pointing out the importance of this sort of organisations for the development of their businesses potential.
Mr. Igor Urra during his speech. Next to him and standing up, Ms. Polly Gibb
Business women from different sectors shared their know-how by giving some practical tips and advice to start and run a business, and pointed out the need of creating more forums so as to encourage more women to develop their very own projects. After the coffee break, five round tables were set in order for attendees to learn deeper about their foreign homonymous. The 60 participants were split in groups with equal numbers of Spanish and UK delegates and also with an interpreter per table, so as to give the chance to all of them to introduce their businesses and to do some networking in order to explore synergies.
Attendees in the round table sharing their experiences as entrepreneurs.
All attendees found this experience very inspirational and productive, taking advantage of some great tips and wise testimonies to move their businesses forward. We would like to thank participants and organisers, especially to the Soria Chamber of Commerce for their initiative and make this event happen and to WiRE for their tremendous support in the organisation of the event . We wish a great success to all the businesswomen involved!