Home working day out: impressions of the everywoman conference

everywomen conference Nov 2011

It was a 5 am start for me one morning last week when I got the train up to London for the annual everywoman conference, and quite a change to travel amongst newspaper-reading commuters when my normal journey to work is across the hall.

I’ve previously been to the Grand Connaught Rooms, the conference venue, but I’d forgotten how imposing the staircase is, and the grandeur of the huge mirrors and glittering chandeliers in the main room.

During the morning’s panel discussion Emma Elston, of UK Container Maintenance Ltd, gave a very honest and engaging account the growth of the business she started with her husband after he went out to earn extra money on a rubbish collection. Their turnover from refurbishing skips is now £6.5 million a year and Emma was frank about how they had achieved this. For example they lived in a caravan with an outside loo in order to put as much money as possible into the business. Also interesting to hear how anxious she was about making the decision to borrow £100,000 for a big new site when a major opportunity came their way. We are all afraid of failure, but success can present its own challenges too!

Over lunch I met some lovely women from different parts of the UK, including one running a website selling kit for referees, a cake maker and a musician, which is a fair indication of the diversity of the everywoman community. Unfortunately I managed to miss the profiteroles by popping out to make a phone call and grab some fresh air before the afternoon Masterclasses!

Amanda Phillips of An Abundance gave a fascinating presentation about human psychology and how understanding the way we think can help us to grab and keep the attention of visitors to our websites. My site is unrecognisable from when it started over two years ago, and is due for an update, so this was a very timely session for me and I’ll definitely be putting Amanda’s tips into practice.

I had to rush back to Paddington instead of ending the day with a glass of wine and more networking, but my overall impression as I left was of a happy bunch of women, full to the brim with new information and contacts, ready to return to their businesses with renewed vigour.

I’m looking forward to connecting with lots of female business owners in my new role of Ambassador on the recently relaunched everywoman Network. More about that soon!

This post was first published on everywoman.com, the online network for women in business open to challenge and change.