Inverclyde entrepreneur hails one year of Women in Business

Cafe owner Janine Brennan, who launched Clyde Eats, a local rival to the national food ordering apps, along with her sister Yvonne Purdie, was the main speaker at the Inverclyde Women in Business initiative's first birthday celebration.

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and run by the council, Inverclyde Women in Business was set up to create a local community network.

In the last 12 months they have attracted 200 women who already run their own business, as well as those hoping to start up their own ventures.

Inverclyde Women in Business (Image: George Munro)

Clyde Eats and Cottage Cafe owner Janine, 48, who also owns the Cottage Cafe in Greenock's Pottery Street, said: "Inverclyde Women In Business is a great initiative. We are working together to support one another.

"We have met so many people and shared so many ideas. Everyone is so supportive.

"We need to be able to connect. We have created a real community."

Since launching three years ago Clyde Eats has helped save local businesses hundreds of thousands of pounds in commission that the bigger apps would take.

They also employ 12 members of staff and are always looking to expand.

Janine added: "I am honoured to be able to speak. We have won many accolades and awards for our business including from the Greenock Telegraph.

READ MORE: Inverclyde Women In Business group launches with successful first meeting at the Beacon (from October 2023)

"But one of the things I am most proud of is our kindness award from Compassionate Inverclyde. That means the world to me. 

"We want to do what we can to give back to the community. One of the most important ways of doing that is to support young people.

"I wasn't academic at school. I left when I was 16. But I have worked hard to be successful.

"My passion is supporting young people in what ever way we can. We sponsor a number of young people in sport and local teams as well.

"I used to play football and I think back to the difference support would have made to me.

"We are always thinking about how we make a positive impact."

Janine Brennan runs Clyde Eats and the Cottage Cafe. (Image: George Munro) Set up by Inverclyde Council's business development team leader Anne MacIntosh, Inverclyde Women in Business has gone from strength to strength.

The first meeting took place in October last year, with more than 40 attendees, and the group has grown steadily since then.

Janine added: "To survive, we have to do all we can to support one another and to promote local businesses.

"We all need to support one another."

Each meeting begins with an introduction on the services available to local businesses from Inverclyde Council and Business Gateway Inverclyde, followed by a spotlight talk from a local business.

Then there is the opportunity for people to tell their news, and the session ends with some structured networking sessions.

To celebrate the one-year milestone, the group held its October meeting at The Albany in Greenock.

Shelagh McKay Jones, founder of the Singing Spaces Community Interest Company, said the meetings had helped boost her confidence to set up her own business.

Shelagh McKay Jones says the new group has helped boost her confidence. (Image: Alex Craig) She said: “This is not about collaboration per se, but the meetings are very good for my self-confidence and dealing with the things that tend to knock us down.

“I have imposter syndrome, so without the meetings I would struggle with things like funding rejections or people taking ages to get back to me, when it's okay to follow things up.

"That connection with people, and knowing I'm not alone in any difficulties I might be experiencing, is so important. 

“And also we just learn so much from each other especially with the spotlight talks.”

The next meeting takes place at the Tontine Hotel on Wednesday, November 27 from 9.30-11.30am, with breakfast rolls available from 9am.

Find out more at tinyurl.com/inverclydewomeninbusiness.