A NEW forum for working women in the county was launched in Devizes recently with the first meeting of the Wiltshire Business Women's Network at the Corn Exchange.

More than 80 business women from all over the county met to discuss matters common to them all and found that talking over their problems made them less of an obstacle.

It was not just the free buffet lunch that attracted the delegates. The prospect of meeting people on a similar level of business was a great draw as well.

Louise Rennie, one of the organisers of the get-together, said: "We feel it is an exciting time for women's entrepreneurship in the UK. The Government is currently launching a variety of regional initiatives for business women and women now make up a third of all business start-ups and 27 per cent of the self-employed.

"Wiltshire Business Women's Network will be encouraging local women to seize this opportunity, providing an ideal forum for business women to get together, share knowledge and concerns, and access support.

"Our monthly events will cover topics concerning business expertise, regional networking, business confidence and presentation, health and wellbeing and so on."

The contact for the network is Debbie Yarrow who can be contacted at the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce on (01225) 355553.