Kenilworth entrepreneur Helen Wilkes took a lesson from her male colleagues when she needed a more fun approach to doing business.
The golf course has long been a place for men to make contacts while practising their swing and lowering their handicap.
So the former mortgage adviser set up the Stiletto Golf Society in Warwickshire to give businesswomen the chance to do the sam
e.
The movement has proved so successful that Helen has given up her day job to concentrate on the venture and turned to Business Link for help in growing her business.
Since the launch event last May when 48 women attended, enthusiasts are turning up for regular monthly meetings.
Now Helen plans to expand the society into the East Midlands, with a group in Nottingham. The eventual aim is to expand into each county across the UK.
Helen said: “I know from my own experience how hard it can be to build a business and what a fun way of making and exploring new contacts the game of golf can be.
“It’s been said that 18 holes of golf can teach you more about your opponent than 18 years of dealing with them across a desk.
“My aim was to bring executive women together to learn to play and practise in a fun, friendly supportive environment.”
“Business Link specialist adviser, Danielle Cook, has helped me to reach more executive women to open up new opportunities within the wider business community through the development of the Stiletto Golf website – and, as a result, I’ve had inquiries from all over the UK.”
Stiletto Golf gives women access to tuition with a qualified PGA golf professional to take their first swing, as well as an assessment of their game for those wanting to improve.
In addition to monthly meetings, there is a chance for newly acquainted members to play golf abroad, with regular trips to golfing resorts in Spain and Portugal.
Danielle Cook of Business Link said: “We have been delighted to support Helen in building up Stiletto Golf as it’s such a natural approach to making new contacts.”
www.stiletto-golf.co.uk
In the picture, Helen Wilkes and Danielle Cook get ready to tee off with Stiletto Golf society members.
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The full article contains 393 words and appears in Leamington Courier newspaper.
