A former teacher and retail manager have taken the entrepreneurial plunge and launched their own events management company after a chance meeting at a NatWest event.

Diane Boothe and Sophia Leach met five months ago at a NatWest Women in Business seminar in Harrow. After realising they both shared a passion for events and a desire to set up their own business, they launched London-based company Events Inspired By.

The limited company was set up in April this year with the advice and guidance of NatWest Business Growth Enabler Stewart Smith, who has also helped the duo gain access to business finance support.

Events Inspired By organises and coordinates tradeshows and corporate and networking events which create memorable and unique experiences, both nationally and internationally. The company already has several high-profile contracts in place and hope to generate £200,000 worth of sales in their first year of operation.

Diane said: “Sophia and I instantly hit it off when we met at the event run by NatWest and as we got to know each other it was clear we had a connection that would allow us to make a joint venture a success. We both successfully run our own individual businesses but setting up a business with someone who shares the same passion as you is an exciting prospect and it’s been great to share this journey with Sophia. With the continued support from NatWest, we’ve turned our entrepreneurial dream into a reality and are already witnessing early success.”

NatWest’s Women in Business events have been running since September 2017, in conjunction with Harrow Council, West Herts College, Watford Library and local enterprise agencies. The next events will take place on 22 May and 15 June at The Heights, 59-65 Lowlands Road, Harrow.

Stewart Smith, Business Growth Enabler at NatWest said “Our Women in Business events are designed to offer support for women at all levels of business, whether it’s advice for starting up, financial support or an opportunity to meet like-minded people. They’ve proven to be a great success here in Harrow and Diane and Sophia are among the many success stories we’ve had. They have a great business proposition and we wish them every success as they establish and grow.”

Adam Parry
Author: Adam Parry

Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.