MP meets ‘mumpreneurs’

Robert Walter, MP for North Dorset, met Dorset Business Mum of the Year and founder of Networking Mummies, Joanne Dewberry, at the Old Barn Inn, Three Legged Cross, to talk about the growing role of ‘kitchen tycoons’ in the local economy.

Networking Mummies was set up in 2008 by Joanne Dewberry and Laura Morris to bring like-minded businesswomen together who needed to fit work around family life.

Joanne was recently voted Dorset Business Mum of the Year for 2010 for her work with Networking Mums and her own party-bag business, Charlie Moo’s. She told Bob all about the benefits of Networking Mummies and the growing importance to our local economies of parents creating new businesses in their own back yards.

Bob also had the opportunity to speak at length to Networking Mummies members Darren Toms (of Darren Toms Coaching), Lara Williams (of Lara Williams Coaching), Nicola McClure (of McClure Photography) and Rachel Jeffries (of Tots and Tiddlers Toys) - all business success stories in their own right. They shared their views on the challenges of setting up a new business and what they think could be done to help small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Since its inception in Dorset, Networking Mummies’ has grown – largely by word of mouth - to over 250 members and has branches in Dorset, Hampshire and Warwickshire. Although originally aimed at so-called ‘mumpreneurs,’ the organisation is open to all and now provides community support for mums, dads, grandparents, and any business people wishing to take advantage of the networking opportunities it provides. Advice is shared freely through seminars and speed networking events, as well as on social networking sites like Facebook.

After his visit Bob said, “I was delighted to accept Joanne’s invitation to find out more about Networking Mummies and what the organisation has to offer to people hoping to start their own businesses. So my thanks go to those that attended for taking the time out to share their views with me. The enthusiasm of the Networking Mummies members was evident and their praise for the group couldn’t have been higher.”