Around 1600 visitors from very diverse backgrounds flocked to Workingmums LIVE London this March, many with children in tow.
They came not only to visit exhibitors, including John Lewis and Santander as well as franchises like Creation Station, which sponsored the franchise section and direct selling organisations like Avon, but to access relevant advice from everyone from Daycare Trust to legal advisors.
Visitors also arrived to find out about setting up their own businesses or going self employed. Workingmums.co.uk launched its Business Zone at the event, which aims to give parents all the tools they need to set up their own business.
The event was opened by BBC news presenter Joanna Gosling, author of Simply Wonderwoman, who gave some tips on how to get things done around the house “the smart way”, that is, with minimum effort and time.
Her talk was followed by a whole day of lively interaction between employers, franchises, support and direct selling organisations and working mums. Team London, who are recruiting security staff, including team leaders, for the Olympics, said they had had a lot of interest. “It was really positive,” said recruitment officer Ella Popowicz.
Enterprise Rent a Car spoke about the diversity of women who came to their stand. “We saw the full spectrum of women, from those with senior management experience to others in more junior roles,” said Sarah Varo.
Daniel Alway of localpeople, an online local news franchise, said: “We have had probably one of the best responses from this type of show. There is a great range of people at Workingmums LIVE and some are very, very qualified.”
In addition to the exhibitors there were a large number of seminars on everything from getting back to work after a career break to starting your own business. In a session on business planning, Wilma Garvin, a lecturer from the University of East London who specialises in women in business, advised working mums to ensure they had a business plan which she said was a “road map” for where they wanted to go with their business idea.
The Workingmums team are already busy planning their Manchester 2012 exhibition for November, and are taking bookings at early bird rates for London 2013. For more information about exhibiting at the event contact us.
Photograph by Giuseppe Lambertino.
Workingmums.co.uk LIVE returned to the Business Design Centre, Islington for Workingmums.co.uk LIVE London 2012. Click here for more.
Workingmums.co.uk LIVE went North for a one day event in the Centre of Manchester. Click here to find out more