Women’s business networks are thriving. There has never been more business networking for women and there’s a very good reason: most women in business find that other women in the same position are their most valuable form of support, inspiration, and business connections. If you’re not already a member of a network, maybe now is the time to give it a go.
Networks vary in their approach and atmosphere and you might need to try a few before you find the one that’s right for you. Most charge fairly modest fees, but some referral networks can be very pricey; be sure that this approach to networking is right for your business and go along as a guest a couple of times before you sign-up.
For tips on how to enjoy networking and get the most out of it, read this great article: How to network.
Below we’ve listed a wide range of business women’s networking across the UK and also a few networks in other countries. All of those groups have regular local meetings. For up-to-date information about locations, events and fees click through to the website of the network you’re interested in.
During the pandemic, many of the local and regional networks listed below moved online. Check out their websites for details. We have also updated the list with a few online first networks, listed below.
Online Women’s Business Networks
sistr at www.sistrapp.com The app is focused on professional women who want to mentor and support each other. There are also lots of online events and resources. Free to sign up.
Female Entrepreneurs Network Resources, information, and a peer network.
Bossbabe A host of online resources and connections aimed at millennial women – or womxn as bossbabe like to put it.
Single Mums Business Network This site brings single mums in business together for support and to share promotion costs. There are occasional online and offline events and local coordinators in some areas.
Brand Visibility Network for Empathetic Women in Business Facebook community focused on collaboration not competition. Promote your business and gain support.
UK Networks for Women in Business
Association of Scottish Businesswomen The umbrella organisation for business and professional women’s clubs throughout Scotland.
Business Women’s Link is a friendly network of women who both working for themselves or as part of a larger organisation. Regular social and corporate events across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.
Business Babble passionately supports and empowers women in business in the Royston and Hitchin areas (Hertfordshire). Fun, friendly and affordable. Look on www.businessbabble.net for details and keep an eye for more Babble groups coming soon.
Business Women In… Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire or Berkshire. Expanding across the South West. Monthly meetings in person or online, plus Facebook groups.
East London Creative Women Business Network Peer-to-peer network set up to grow and sustain women business leaders in the arts & creative sectors in East London, meets monthly. Free/ minimal cost.
Female Founders The Female Founders Forum seeks to connect some of the UK’s most inspirational female entrepreneurs with those on the cusp of rapid growth.
Female Founders Rise London-based community of over 1000 female founders coming together for support, help with funding and to grow sustainable businesses.
Flying Start offers women in Birmingham specialist social enterprise business support through masterclasses, mentoring, peer support and 1-1 advice. Network meetings are held in Digbeth, Birmingham.
Forward Ladies Networking events for women in business across the North of England. Over 350 events a year.
Ladies who latte Free meetings at over 100 events held all across (mostly the south of) England each month. No speakers, no agenda, and no meeting fee, just get-togethers with other women like you.
Norwich Business Women’s Network Friendly monthly business networking for businesswomen and women in corporate roles in Norwich and Norfolk.
Sapphire Business Club A supportive and learning environment to enable business women in Hertfordshire to make new connections, develop and grow.
The Athena Network A national referrals-focused network which is managed by local franchisees.
Women’s Business Club A national network that provides support, resources, and networking opportunities for women in business.
The Women in Business Network A referrals-based network, which has around 70 groups managed by local franchisees.
1230 The Women’s Company London and Kent. Franchise-based networking meetings and events.
WiRE Women in Rural Enterprise – the national business club for rural women in business.
Women in Business NI Network for women in business across Northern Ireland.
Women in Golf & Business regular networking groups, events and retreats, aimed at supporting women in embracing the professional, personal and well-being benefits of golf whilst meeting like-minded women.
Women in Management network (WiM) offers a varied programme of events across the UK. WiM London regularly hosts events in the City encouraging the discussion of issues affecting the women managers of today and the future.
Women Mean Biz For professional women in Bristol, Bath and North Somerset.
International Business Women’s Networking
Canada and Ireland – The Women’s Executive Network (WXN) hosts professional development and networking events in 8 cities including Toronto, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, as well as in Dublin, Ireland.
Driven women. Groups for professional and entrepreneurial women in the UK, France, Switzerland, Australia, USA and India.
WEConnect International is a global network that connects women-owned businesses to qualified buyers around the world.
Add your network
We’re keen to make the Listings even more comprehensive: if you run a network and would like to be added to the Prowess Women’s Business Networks Listing, please get in touch.
This is a great post; it’s good to see that women have access to a number of sources of support for their business and for their personal development as well. At Forward Ladies we find that our members gain real value from the support they get from other like-minded women who are running businesses or developing their careers (we welcome both). We also find that women’s needs are often different from men’s and that they seek a range of types of support including skills development, peer support/mentoring, online resources and access to listen and speak to inspiring women, as well as ‘pure networking’.
I have been running http://www.cambridgewomen.co.uk since 2005. No membership fee. Just the cost of lunch. Informal and friendly but a great a way to ‘do business’ and meet other like minded women.
I have just discovered your post and thank you for including East London Creative Business Women Network in as we are newbie in a list of strong and long set up networks.
Thanks for including us – we grow more each month and are in the position now to set bigger more academic and higher profile partners to sustain us! Yeah!
ELCBWN
This is a very useful site for women in business!
I have been running MidKent LadiesWhoLatte for 3 years now in Chatham, Kent.
It’s a great group of business women who meet for 2 hours on the 2nd Thursday each month at 9.30am for £3.
We have helped so many ladies move on with their businesses. No booking necessary, just turn up!
Two of our ladies do their business presentations each month, which helps them practice and hone their presenting skills. We then go round the room talking about everyone’s events, then it’s open networking. We get between 20 and 30 ladies every month.