Prime Highlights :
- Four founders have launched SOLASA to create a supportive, collaboration-focused network for women entrepreneurs.
- The initiative emphasizes trust, meaningful connections, and community over traditional competitive networking.
Key Facts :
- SOLASA was founded by Julia Adams, Rachel Bedgood, Lorna Griffiths, and Lisa Hicks in South Wales.
- The launch event featured speakers Hannah Williams and Deborah Thomas, with over 40 attendees, and membership requires a selection process and annual fee.
Background :
Four women entrepreneurs have launched SOLASA, a social enterprise that helps women grow their businesses through support and collaboration. The initiative is based in South Wales and focuses on building a strong and trusted community.
Julia Adams, Rachel Bedgood, Lorna Griffiths, and Lisa Hicks are the founders. They come from different professional backgrounds but share the same goal: to create a space where women can connect, learn, and grow without pressure.
SOLASA encourages women to work together instead of competing. The founders said that many traditional networking groups only focus on making business gains. This platform focuses on building real relationships and trust instead.
Rachel Bedgood said networking is important not just for work but also for building meaningful connections. Lisa Hicks added that many women feel alone in business and SOLASA wants to change that by creating a supportive network.
Julia Adams said the idea came from recognising that women often look for genuine collaboration, which is missing in many existing platforms. She added that the group aims to create a safe environment where members can be themselves and support each other.
The launch event included talks by Hannah Williams and Deborah Thomas and saw more than 40 women attend.
Membership is open to business owners, professionals, and senior leaders, but applicants must go through a selection process. Members also need to pay a joining fee and an annual subscription.
Although SOLASA has started in South Wales, the founders plan to expand the network to other regions in the future.
