Ten years ago, Karen Heap founded Socially Shared around a simple idea of meeting friends for a cuppa. This evolved into a relaxed and friendly space for women in business to connect, learn, and grow. What started as a small local meet-up in Warwickshire has blossomed into a thriving multi-region network, spanning twelve locations across the West Midlands, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

A Network Built on Community and Learning

At the heart of Socially Shared is a commitment to more than just networking. It’s about providing encouragement and connecting through learning. Karen recognised the need for a space where women could form valuable business connections, share learnings from their experience and also gain knowledge and skills to support their personal and professional development. 

That structure holds today as each session includes a mini workshop hosted by a guest expert from the membership directory. From the beginning, providing attendees with practical insights they could apply immediately while supporting the group members was at the core of Socially Shared. 

A decade later, that foundation remains stronger than ever. Socially Shared continues to provide businesswomen of all levels with an inclusive, welcoming community where they can feel supported, inspired, and encouraged to thrive.

The Power of Connection: What Our Members Say

The impact of Socially Shared is seen in the collaborations and community feel across the region, but don’t take our word for it! Here’s what our members say:

“Socially Shared is the empowering community every person deserves! Each time I walk through the door, I am greeted with genuine kindness and have come away with valuable knowledge that helps me to further my personal and professional development.” Candice Gould

“Thoroughly enjoy attending the multiple professional and relaxed business knowledge sharing and networking events held through Rugby and wider areas. Meeting other reputable business owners and learning from peers over a cuppa is a pleasure!” Beckie Coombe

“The minute you enter the room at a Socially Shared event, you know you’re amongst friends. Whether you’re just starting out or an established business, the learning and support that Karen and her team provide is amazing. The networking is great and there are various events, which means there is always something new to learn from the fabulous speakers. I love being a member of Socially Shared and would highly recommend a visit.” Sandra Garlick MBE

Membership has continued to stay competitive starting at £99 for the year. 

What does the membership include?

• Online Business Directory Page
• Unlimited Event Directory Listings
• Members Only Facebook Group
• Members Only Free Events
• Two Free Guest Passes
• Discounted Meetings
• Discounted Tickets for Special Events
• Discounted Advertising Opportunities
• Quarterly Members Only Newsletter
• Quarterly Maximising Membership
• Priority For Speaking Opportunities
• Personalised Membership Badge

“Always a great opportunity for learning something new and networking with a great group of ladies from diverse backgrounds, experience and interests. Membership is excellent value at only £8.25 a month for lots of benefits and reductions, but open to all to any session at numerous locations. Highly recommend coming along to meet a very friendly set of ladies.” Joanna Theobald

A Decade of Events and Celebrations

Over the years, Socially Shared has created incredible opportunities for learning, networking, and celebrating women in business through a range of monthly meetings. However, these opportunities also include the annual calendar of special events that bring the entire community together:

• The Women in Business Conference. This is our summer flagship event that pulls together inspiring speakers, interactive sessions, and invaluable networking opportunities. The first conference was held in 2017 and has grown in both size and popularity. Save the date: Friday 13^th June is our 2025 Women in Business Conference. 

• PAUSE Event – As solopreneurs, your business’s success is linked to your mental, physical, and emotional health. Running a business while looking after your family can be overwhelming, with long hours, constant decision-making, and multitasking. This is why it’s so important to prioritise your well-being. The PAUSE event is held in January and encourages women to take time out for reflection, self-care, and personal growth. 

• Meet the Author/Author Insights – Over the years, we’ve seen a steady increase in the number of ladies who have written and published books attending the Socially Shared meetings. We wanted to showcase these talented women writers and support their journey by creating an online bookshop and two key events. The first is our Author Insights event, which is aimed at writers and aspiring authors. The second is our Meet the Author event, where authors have the opportunity to sell their books.

• Festive Afternoon Tea – Why should solopreneurs miss out on a work’s Christmas party! Karen was eager to provide an event for all women in business who miss the camaraderie of corporate life and needed a bit of December festive cheer. The Festive Afternoon Tea events are a lot of fun with great food, shopping stands hosted by local businesses within our network, games, and networking. 

• Great Women in Business Meet-Up – The brainchild of Karen Heap, the Great Women in Business Meet Up is a testament to her passion for supporting female entrepreneurs and celebrating their achievements. Through a unique collaboration, Karen brought four amazing networks together and made history! 

Looking to the Future

As Socially Shared celebrates this incredible milestone, the journey doesn’t stop here. Looking ahead, the network aims to continue adding value and support to women in business through engaging sessions, expert talks, and valuable resources. You’ll find all our upcoming events on the website.

We hope to expand the reach, bringing the power of connection and learning to more women across the region and continue collaborating with other networks to amplify and create even greater opportunities for businesswomen.

If you want to be part of the Socially Shared legacy, join us today! 

Join the Celebration!

Whether you’re a long-time member or considering your first event, now is the perfect time to experience the warmth and professionalism of Socially Shared. Over the past ten years, this network has been where friendships form, collaborations spark, and businesses flourish, and the next decade promises to be even more exciting!

Here’s to the next ten years of empowerment, growth, and community! 

We are celebrating this super achievement on Friday 28^th March, 10am – 12pm. Follow our Facebook page to stay in the loop or sign up for our newsletters. 

A note from our founder, Karen Heap: “Thank you to every single person who has been part of the Socially Shared story to date. Your contribution, however large or small, has enabled me to realise my ambition. An ambition to create a welcoming and positive community for women where they can come together to share their knowledge, find support and friendship and grow both themselves and their businesses.

It has been the most incredible ten years and I am truly grateful every day for the value and inspiration that Socially Shared brings to my life and that of others. The next chapter is to grow and support even more women through our network, so they too can benefit from all we have to offer!”

Find out more about upcoming Socially Shared events and how to get involved with the network as a member, speaker, guest blogger, or attendee.