A SERIES of free workshops focused on developing business skills has helped inspire more than 100 women in West Devon to drive their businesses forward, sparking the organisation of additional workshop dates. The workshops called ?Making the Most of Your Business? was rolled out across West Devon by Business Link Devon and Cornwall, with support from the European Regional Development Fund and Devon Renaissance. Nine one day events ran from February to April at the Bedford Hotel in Tavistock and at venues in Totnes and Bideford. All were designed to help female entrepreneurs and business women make the most of their marketing, finances, confidence and work/life balance. Joanna Moule, who runs Mount Tavy Cottage guest house in Tavistock attended two of the workshops. She said: ?The workshops on marketing and finance were extremely valuable to me and a perfect opportunity to network with other like-minded women trying to develop their businesses. ?Both speakers were excellent and have given me plenty of ideas that will help me to move my business in the right direction.? Joanna said she had a large Victorian greenhouse, unused at present, which she wanted to refurbish as a tea room. ?As a result of attending one the workshops, I found out about a grant that might be available to help regenerate the building and I?m now in the process of investigating a Redundant Buildings Grant with the help of a Business Link advisor.? Annette Morton, project manager at Business Link, said: ?We had a great turn out at all the events and the excellent feedback that we?ve been getting from the delegates has been a key factor in our decision to roll out a second series of the workshops.? The next series will include ?Making the Most of Your Profit? at the Ockment Centre in Okehampton on July 5 and ?Making the Most of Your E-commerce? at the Alexander Centre in Tavistock on July 12. There is a workshop entitled ?Making the Most of Yourself? at the Ockment Centre, on June 27. For further details and to book places, call 0845 600 9006.
