Chamber Conversations Special: International Women’s Day 2026 – Give To Gain

For International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, we’re celebrating Chamber members who are championing women in business, empowering communities, and inspiring change. Featuring Hornbeam Training, Pro-Logist, Laura’s Pizzas and Stride Treglown. 

These members demonstrate how giving time, expertise, and opportunities to women in business creates a ripple effect that benefits entire communities. At Business West, we’re proud to support such innovators through our Chamber network, which fosters collaboration, growth, and impact. 

Supporting women isn’t a standalone initiative; it’s part of everything we do. Many women in the workplace balance performance with invisible pressures like caregiving, imposter syndrome, and holding themselves to exceptionally high standards. Our programmes help women understand their leadership style, strengthen emotional intelligence, set boundaries without guilt, and lead with clarity under pressure. Psychological safety is key: when women feel safe to speak up, their impact multiplies. 

This year’s theme carries real weight: supporting women in the workplace is about creating environments where ambition and wellbeing can coexist. Where confidence is built through capability, not comparison, and where leadership is defined by authenticity, not conformity. When we give women the support, safety and opportunity they deserve, everyone gains. 

It reflects my experience starting a business six years ago. I faced imposter syndrome and practical challenges balancing parenting with work. I found networks that understood flexibility and valued contribution over attendance. Being embraced and supported in these communities allowed me to grow, connect, and build a thriving business. Through those relationships, I have built my business into the success it is today. I am a strong advocate for small businesses supporting one another. For me, Give to Gain is not a slogan; it’s the foundation of my business, my leadership, and my success. 

Business West offers flexibility and choice. The breadth and volume of events and forums allow me to engage in ways that suit my schedule, extend my network, and access industry-specific conversations that add real value. The diversity of the Chamber, small, medium, and larger organisations, creates a dynamic ecosystem that supports sustainable growth. Business West doesn’t just provide networking opportunities, it provides strategic access, informed dialogue and the freedom to engage in a way that supports sustainable growth. 

We are a female-founded and led company, not by design to be exclusive but because our teams naturally embody core strengths often associated with women—clear communication, organisation, and meticulous planning, all vital in logistics. Our women colleagues are highly specialised, and we invest in ongoing training across all areas. We also work with many women in our partner companies and clients, and there’s a noticeable shift toward a more level playing field. Initiatives such as International Women’s Day, Top Women in EV, and Women in Logistics—plus collaboration with male colleagues who recognise the value of diversity—are helping to drive this change. We actively champion women within our team, ensuring they have the platforms to lead high-profile international projects and auctions. 

Our strong presence at major global events, such as Monterey Car Week, Rétromobile, ICE St Moritz and Goodwood Festival of Speed demonstrates that women are not merely participants in automotive and logistics, but are actively steering the industry forward.

It’s about the ‘multiplier effect’. In business, especially for women, success shouldn't be a closed door. It means that when we share our knowledge, provide mentorship, or open up our networks, we aren’t losing anything—we are actually gaining a stronger, more collaborative industry. Within Pro-Logist, this translates to a culture of advocacy; we give our time to mentor staff and share insights with our partners and clients because we know that a more diverse and supported workforce ultimately leads to more innovative solutions and growth for everyone involved. 

Our Chamber membership has been invaluable: it provides a strong local anchor, access to a wide network, and guidance on issues like customs procedures and regulatory changes. This support allows us to focus on delivering world-class logistics while staying connected to new opportunities and insights that help our international business grow.

It’s important to me that women feel comfortable stepping into kitchen roles, and I’ve loved seeing young women on my team develop their skills and grow in confidence. 

We also give back locally by donating raffle prizes to schools, running pizza workshops with a local organisation that supports women in building new skills and opportunities, and providing free pizzas for our local church. Community has always been central to our journey. 

Give to Gain resonates with me because I’ve seen how much stronger a business becomes when you focus on people, not just profit. Creating a positive and encouraging workplace has always been important to me, and I’ve been especially proud to support the women in my team as they grow. Giving your time, support and opportunities to others doesn’t take away from you, it builds a stronger team and a stronger community. 

I joined the Chamber to connect with other local businesses and become more involved in Bristol’s business community. The online workshops were also a big draw.  

I’m looking forward to collaborating more with other businesses, exploring corporate catering opportunities and continuing to grow the brand in a sustainable, community-focused way. 

In the construction industry, representation doesn’t shift quickly, and we agreed years ago that we want to focus on inclusive leadership and inclusive culture to drive diversity. This matters in architecture because the industry carries long shadows. Registered architects in the UK are still roughly 70/30 male/female. Stride Treglown now sits closer to 60/40 and is shifting – but the split changes as you look through the pipeline. Graduate cohorts are closer to parity, often 50/50 or even majority female, while senior leadership still reflects the demographics of a previous era. There is a rising tide and by improving conditions in a way that removes structural barriers for one group, you often improve conditions for many. Flexible working practices support parents, but also people caring for parents with dementia, colleagues winding down toward retirement, those managing health needs, and those rebuilding their lives after change. 

Personally, my long connection to Women in Property linked me into an opportunity participating in the Orbis Women's Partnership Challenge, in Malawi. This is a brilliant example of putting commitment into action - bringing people together, sharing skills and creating connections that go beyond the comfort of your own industry or local network. The key element is by supporting women, through the many initiatives and ways of working, helps to support everyone.

I firmly believe that when you invest in others, everybody benefits. Whether that's mentoring the next generation of professionals through the Circle Partnership, chairing the Women in Property board, or leading women's empowerment trips to Malawi - which I've done multiple times over the past seven years - the principle is the same. When we share our knowledge, open doors for others and lift people up, we create a ripple effect of positive change. What I give in time and experience, I gain back tenfold in perspective, connection and purpose. My mantra is Stand Tall, and I want every woman I work with to feel empowered to do exactly that.