Looking for a fantastic women’s networking group in Sussex? You are in the right place!
New visitors offer – would you like to come along and try out an Athena meeting? New visitors are able to come free to a meeting, all you have to pay for is your lunch (£28). Please contact Michala to book.
Athena is the UK’s premier and fastest-growing network for business women. Don’t miss out on a spot at one of your local groups.
Hello – my name is Michala Rutherford.
I am the Regional Director for Athena groups in Lewes, Eastbourne, Crowborough and Hassocks/Ditchling. I’d love to welcome you to one of my groups. Read on to find out when and where we meet, professions we are looking to join us and the top 10 benefits of Athena networking… please contact me on 07800 838269 or email michala.rutherford@theathenanetwork.com.
The aims of the local Athena groups are to:
- provide inspiration and useful business tips and advice
- help you make strategic connections
- accelerate your business growth
- give you friendly support
- and let’s not forget, to have some fun too!
The Athena Network was set up for women executives and entrepreneurs in 2005. Your local networking group in Sussex meets once per month for 2 hours from 12 noon to 2 pm.
Format of the meeting
Each meeting follows a simple and effective format. It includes open networking time, an exchange of business cards and marketing materials, a 1 minute elevator pitch to the group (with a call to action!), a relaxed lunch atmosphere and either a group activity or an informative talk from one of the members.
Top 10 benefits of joining an Athena networking group:
- Networking is widely recognised as the most powerful, fastest way to grow your business. The Athena networking format works!
- Athena is the UK’s premier and fastest-growing network for business women
- Many great relationships begin within Athena- including very successful strategic alliances and firm friendships – that is proven! See testimonials from members below…
- Members are always happy to offer support and advice and share their knowledge and experience
- You’ll develop your business and personal skills through our monthly speakers and a wide range of training courses and workshops
- Ladies go away from meetings feeling inspired and motivated to take themselves and their business to the next level
- Many of our members are experiencing fantastic business growth through contacts made through Athena
- Once you join you can visit any other Athena group where your profession is not represented by a member – so you have access to a vast network of business ladies
- Athena operates a ‘one discipline only’ policy, so by joining, you ‘lock out’ the competition and all business for your particular field is referred to you
- At Athena we are passionate about wanting to help our members get the most out of networking and their membership with us. We encourage all new members to attend a New Member Training session. Plus, all members benefit from arranging one-to-one meetings within individual members to get to know each other.
Groups are filling fast, so don’t delay. Book in now to come along as a visitor.
Don’t find yourself ‘locked out’ because your competitor has got in first. You could be on a waiting list and missing all those referrals for a long time!
But don’t just take my word for it… here’s what some of our lovely Athena ladies say:
“I feel comfortable within the group and Michala guides each meeting so that everyone has the opportunity to pitch their business and make a call to action. I have already received invaluable advice from other members and look forward to the opportunity of arranging several one to one sessions with others in the group”
- Philomena Geary, Hassocks/Ditchling, 1st Swim School
“Attending Athena meetings is always a pleasure – I look forward to them. I am among friends as well as meeting customers, referral sources, suppliers and business owners that I could collaborate with. The structure of the meeting is great and we always manage to have fun, market our businesses and learn.”
- Emma Pearce, Eastbourne, Pearce Marketing
“Athena was the best thing I ever did when I started in my new business. This was the first time I was working outside the corporate world. I was very scared to work on my own. Thanks to Athena I felt I was not only surrounded by amazing business ladies, but also help in many ways – including guidance, new potential customers and personal benefits. I no longer felt alone and I was looking forward to my monthly meetings. Six years down the line, I have made very good business contacts, lots of friends and I think that Athena has been, and still is, the best investment I have made.”
- Cathy Strudwick, Eastbourne, WPA Private Health Insurance
Is there a space for my profession at any Athena meetings?
Here are just some of the professions we’re looking for. Please contact me if you’d like to join any group and I will confirm if there is a place available for your specialism.
Eastbourne
| Insurance (Business) | IT Support | Beauty Therapist |
| PR | Florist | Copy Writer |
| Promotional Products | Solicitor | Care Homes |
| Telemarketing | Travel Agent | Bank |
| Photographer | Graphic Designer | VA/PA |
| Recruitment | Business Coach |
Hassocks/Ditchling
| IFA | Hairdresser | Printer |
| Florist | Photographer | Travel Agent |
| Storage | PR | Recruitment |
| Cleaners | Mechanics | Acupuncturist |
| VA/PA | Estate Agents | Banks |
| Insurance | Promotional Products | Business Coach |
| Telemarketing |
Crowborough
| PR | Copy Writer | Solicitor |
| Florist | PA | Photographer |
| Printer | Beauty Therapist | Graphic Designer |
| Recruitment | Insurance | Cleaners |
| Telemarketing | Promotional Products | Business Coach |
| Graphic Designer |
Lewes
| Photographer | PR | Marketing |
| Printing | Copy Writer | Bookkeeper |
| Chiropractor / Osteopath | Travel Agent | Chauffeur Travel |
| Cleaners | Catering | Solicitor (not family) |
| IT | Websites | SEO |
| PA/VA | Beauty Therapist | Utilities |
| Banks | Insurance | Telemarketing |
Are you in any of these professions? Please contact us for to come along as a guest!
Upcoming Meeting Dates, Venues and Memberships Fees
Crowborough
Buxted Park Hotel, Station Road, Buxted, East Sussex, TN22 4AY – Free parking
- 1st March
- 5th April
- 3rd May
- 7th June
Hassocks/Ditchling
Mid Sussex Golf Club, Spatham Lane, Ditchling, East Sussex, BN6 8XJ – Free parking
- 9th March
- 12th April
- 10th May
- 14th June
Eastbourne
The View Hotel, Grand Parade, Eastbourne, (Horizon Suite)
- 9th February
- 9th March
- 13th April
- 11th May
- 15th June
Lewes
The Shelleys Hotel, 135-136 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XS – Free Parking
- 22nd March
- 26th April
- 24th May
- 28th June
To visit as a guest the fee is £28. To join Athena and be the only member in your sector in your local area, the membership investment is £295 per year (this works out at £24.58 per month). For lunch at each meeting at our beautiful locations there is a £24 monthly fee as a member.
Additional Events – You are invited!
Athena is sponsoring 4 informative learning/training events. These events are FREE for all Athena members and £15 for all non-members.
These are:
- 19 April 2017 10am-2pm at Buxted Park Hotel
Laura Ellis will be giving us an overview and some training on the WordPress web design platform and content management system (CMS)
- 19 July 10am-2pm at Buxted Park Hotel
Carol Nyahasha will be giving us some more information on intellectual property, what is it and what do we need to do to protect ourselves
- September (date to be confirmed) at Buxted Park Hotel
Women’s Wellbeing Event with Colleen from Vitality Health & Wellbeing
- 18 October 2017 10am-2pm at Buxted Park Hotel
Emma Pearce will be training us on the main aspects of marketing
If you want to learn, grow and connect with like-minded business women in your area, please get in touch for a chat.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Michala Rutherford
Regional Director, The Athena NetworkCrowborough, Hassocks / Ditchling Eastbourne & Lewes
Creating Connections | Inspiring Success
M: 07800 838269 E: michala.rutherford@theathenanetwork.com
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