MORE than 70 businesswomen from across Worcestershire and Herefordshire attended the annual Women's Business Conference at the Abbey Hotel, Malvern.

Organised by the area Chamber of Commerce, the event featured numerous speakers, ranging from the inspirational to the entrepreneurial.

With 2015 promising to be a year of sporting splendour, there was the chance to hear from University of Worcester student Sophie Carrigill, the captain of Great Britain's Wheelchair Basketball team, who only four years after the car accident that left her paralysed, has already competed in the European and World Championships, with Rio 2016 very much on her radar.

The last speaker to take the stage was Wendy Bowers, non-executive director of the British Chambers of Commerce, who documented a new, forward-thinking project entitled ROLE. The purpose of ROLE is to address the lack of women on boards and in senior management, inspire entrepreneurship, and give female managers the confidence they need to climb the career ladder.

Nora Seninor, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The most common reason for women not setting up in business or indeed taking risks to grow their business is lack of confidence, a fear of failure. Confidence can be nurtured through encouragement, collaborative support and most important of all, connections. That’s why I believe this type of event is important, because a business conference such as this creates a platform to share experiences, inspire, exchange advice and create role models. Good business is founded and grown on good connections."

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce holds regular Women's Business Forums that can be attended by members and non-members. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce Events team on 0845 641 1641 or email events@hwchamber.co.uk