A Teddington-based mum and small business owner is hosting a brand-new event this month designed to support and inspire local women who are running businesses, building side projects, or thinking about taking the first step.

Kate Rainford-Foakes, a careers and leadership coach who lives in Teddington and has been selected as one of this year's SmallBiz100 by Small Business Saturday UK, is bringing together four remarkable local female founders for a morning of honest conversation, inspiration and connection.

The event, called "Starting Small, Thinking Big: Women Founding Differently," will take place on Friday, 28 November from 10am–12pm at Patch Twickenham.

Starting Small, Thinking Big: Women Founding Differently Panel (Image supplied)

The panel features four local women who have each built purpose-led businesses from the ground up - often while juggling family life, part-time work, or major life transitions.

The panel includes:

• Steph Douglas, Founder of Don't Buy Her Flowers, known for thoughtful gifting and her candid conversations about motherhood and modern life.
• Nadia Simonds, Co-Founder of Lune + Wild, who left a career in beauty to create award-winning baby and children's meals during maternity leave.
• Amanda Bell, Co-Founder of SeparateSpace, an accessible online platform providing legal, emotional and financial support for people navigating separation.
• Dani C. Coombe, Founder & CEO of Fowler's Syndrome UK, the world's first charity dedicated to the little-known women's health condition.

The event is part of the national Small Business Saturday UK campaign and aims to shine a light on the unique ways women build businesses: often from their kitchen tables, in the margins of the day, and on their own terms.

Following the panel discussion, attendees will be invited into small group conversations led by the panellists, offering local women a chance to share their own ideas, challenges and aspirations in a supportive setting.

Children are welcome too - Patch Twickenham will have toys and colouring available.

Kate Rainford-Foakes, Career & Leadership Coach, Founder of Kate Rainford Coaching (Image supplied)

Speaking about the event, Rainford-Foakes said: "There are so many brilliant women in Teddington and Twickenham who are quietly building (or dreaming of building) businesses that don't fit the traditional mould.

"This event is about celebrating that, sharing the real stories behind entrepreneurship, and helping women feel supported and inspired."

Anyone interested in attending can find ticket information on the Eventbrite link here.

You can find out more about Rainford-Foakes' business on her website here.