The Athena Network - West Berks

The Athena Network - West Berks The Athena Network West Berks is the networking group for business women in Berkshire. Find support,
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Part of a nationwide franchise, West Berkshire region has three groups running in Hungerford, Newbury West and Newbury Central . For networking in a friendly, supportive environment, and at a time that fits family commitments, this women only network suits busy business women who want to develop their business and themselves

Coming up at Athena West Berkshire this week ....At our online Newbury East meeting on Thursday September 10th we have o...
06/09/2026

Coming up at Athena West Berkshire this week ....

At our online Newbury East meeting on Thursday September 10th we have over 20 ladies registered to attend, 3 of which are visitors brought by the lovely

Members will benefit from 2 pieces of training.

The Business Development Training will be delivered by Naomi from , members in our Thatcham & Theale group.

Naomi's training is titled:
It’s Not Me, It’s You: Why Clarity Starts With Your Audience

Through the story of an artist and her handmade pots, discover how shifting focus from what you sell to who you serve changes everything – clarity, confidence, and growth.

Members will learn how audience clarity transforms everything — from pricing to storytelling. Discover how to talk about what you do in a way that connects, converts, and feels unmistakably you. They will also benefit form some of her short/easy strategies/tips and approaches, which can be applied quickly and easily by any business.

This is going to be such a valuable training as we enter Q4 of the year!

LAS T CHANLAST CHANCE TO BOOK! 🎟️This Tuesday, 8th September, 10am–12pm, Cappuccino Connections is taking over for ou...
04/09/2026

LAS T CHANLAST CHANCE TO BOOK! 🎟️

This Tuesday, 8th September, 10am–12pm, Cappuccino Connections is taking over for our Mini Business Expo!

This isn’t just a networking morning. We have 12 fabulous Athena businesses showcasing what they do, giving you the chance to meet them, ask questions, make new connections and discover businesses you might never otherwise have come across.

Meet Members

@.bysuze .travel
Pat glover, Carbon Literacy Trainer and

This isn’t just a networking morning. We have 12 fabulous Athena businesses showcasing what they do, giving you the chance to meet them, ask questions, make new connections and discover businesses you might never otherwise have come across.

And there’s an extra reason to book…

TWO EVENTS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! 💗

Your £30 visitor ticket for Tuesday also includes a place at the launch of our NEW fifth Athena West Berkshire group — Newbury West!

📅 Thursday 15th October
⏰ 12–2pm
💻 Online via Zoom

So you can experience the relaxed, face-to-face atmosphere of Cappuccino Connections and come along to a full Athena networking meeting.

Two tickets. Two very different Athena experiences. One £30 ticket.

📲 SCAN THE QR CODE TO BOOK

Come and meet us, meet our members and discover what Athena could bring to you and your business. 💗

Tuesday really is your last chance — we’d love to see you there!

What should good networking actually give you?For me, it has to be about so much more than walking into a room, handing ...
02/09/2026

What should good networking actually give you?

For me, it has to be about so much more than walking into a room, handing out business cards and hoping something comes of it.

The right network can give you:

🤝 Trusted relationships with people who genuinely get to know you and your business

📣 Recommendations from women who understand what you do and feel confident introducing you to others

👀 Visibility — because the more people who know what you do, the more opportunities there are for your name to come up in the right conversations

💡 Ideas, support and collaboration from other women who understand the realities of running a business

✨ Opportunities you simply wouldn't have found sitting behind your desk

That’s what we’re building at Athena West Berkshire.

If you’d like to experience it for yourself, come and join us at Cappuccino Connections on Tuesday 8th September, 10am–12pm at City Arts, Newbury.

There’s no profession lockout for this event, so it’s a great opportunity to come along, meet our members and see what Athena is really about.

🎟 Visitors: £30, including Cappuccino Connections PLUS a visit to one of our online Athena meetings in September or October.

Comment NETWORK below to express your interest in attending ⏬

So, what would make networking worthwhile for your business this autumn? Let The Athena Network West Berkshire help you!

Well, that wasn’t too much of a shock to the system! 😂💗After a very quiet August – and being pretty much Zoom-free – it ...
01/09/2026

Well, that wasn’t too much of a shock to the system! 😂💗

After a very quiet August – and being pretty much Zoom-free – it was actually really lovely to be back networking today with Athena Swansea.

When Sharon asked me back in May to deliver today’s Network Strategy Training, I wanted to make sure I brought something that would be genuinely useful.

So I asked my Athena West Berkshire members which of my previous trainings had made the biggest impact.

The winner? 🏆

My FAQ Training.

It’s such a simple idea, but SO useful.

We take each woman in the room and help her create a bank of the questions people genuinely ask about her business.

Those FAQs then become a ready-made resource for:

✨ Your networking 1-minute
✨ Social media content
✨ Blog posts
✨ Videos and Reels
✨ Conversations with potential clients
✨ Helping other networkers understand exactly what you do

If you were at the meeting today – or you’ve done this training with me before – I’d love to know what you’ve done with your FAQ bank and what impact it’s had.

We also had a brilliant Business Development Training from with lots of practical website tips.

The one I’m taking away?

👉 Look at the buttons on your website. If the words on that button were taken completely out of context, would someone still understand what they were clicking?

Such a good little website check!

A fabulous way to kick off my autumn networking. 🍂

💗 Fancy doing some in-person networking with me next week?

On Tuesday 8th September, 10am–12pm, we’re bringing Athena together at City Arts Newbury for a very special Cappuccino Connections and Mini Business Expo.

Come and meet some fabulous women in business, make new connections, discover potential collaborations and experience Athena for yourself.

Your £30 visitor ticket also includes a visit to one of our Athena West Berkshire online meetings in September or October – so you get two opportunities to experience the Network.

👉 Comment SEPTEMBER below or DM me and I’ll send you the booking link.

🍂 Hello September — we’re back!September always feels like a fresh start in business. New energy, new conversations and ...
01/09/2026

🍂 Hello September — we’re back!

September always feels like a fresh start in business. New energy, new conversations and a chance to refocus on what you want to achieve before the end of the year.

And we’re kicking things off with Cappuccino Connections on Tuesday 8th September, 10am–12pm at City Arts, Newbury.

☕ Networking — Athena style
✨ Our mini Business Showcase
🤝 Meet women from across our 65+ strong West Berkshire community
💡 Discover businesses you may not know
💬 Find out what Athena is really like from the women already part of it

What would make networking really worthwhile for you this autumn?

✨ Finding your next client?
🤝 Building a trusted circle of businesswomen around you?
💡 Getting fresh ideas for your business?
📣 Having other people confidently recommend you?
🎯 Creating opportunities you simply wouldn't find sitting behind your desk?

Whatever your answer, it starts with making the right connections.

If you’ve been watching Athena from the sidelines, wondering whether networking is for you, this is a really easy way to come and experience it for yourself.

There’s no profession lockout for Cappuccino Connections, so everyone is welcome.

🎟 Visitors: £30 — which includes Cappuccino Connections PLUS a visit to one of our online Athena meetings in September or October.

Ready to join us?

📱 Visitors — simply scan the QR code in the post to book your place.

📍 City Arts, Newbury
📅 Tuesday 8th September
⏰ 10am–12pm

September is here. Let’s make those next few months count.

31/08/2026

💗 What a month!

Throughout August, we’ve been shining the spotlight on the brilliant women who make up Athena West Berkshire.

Different businesses. Different expertise. Different stories.

Yet what connects them is what makes Athena so special — women who genuinely want to support one another, make introductions, share knowledge and see each other succeed.

A huge thank you to every member who took part in Meet the Member and let us get to know a little more about the woman behind the business.

I hope you’ve discovered someone new, learned something you didn’t know or spotted a connection you need to make.

Meet the Member may be over… but the connections continue.

Next stop ➡️ Tuesday 8th September

We’re getting together at City Arts, Newbury, 10am–12pm for Cappuccino Connections and our Athena Business Expo.

After a summer without our usual meetings, I think we’re going to have a LOT to catch up on!

Here’s to September. 💗

Meet The Member - our Osteopath in Newbury East Group.When Isabel gets the chance to escape on holiday, Snowdonia is o...
31/08/2026

Meet The Member - our Osteopath in Newbury East Group.

When Isabel gets the chance to escape on holiday, Snowdonia is one of the places she loves to visit — although she admits the fish and chips by a waterfall might be as much of an attraction as the walking! 😂

👐 A little about Isabel

This summer marks five years since Isabel qualified as an osteopath. Add in all the training and this has been her career path for nearly 10 years — something she says has absolutely flown by.

☀️ Isabel’s summer top tip

Enjoy the break if you can, use the space to take advantage of our wonderful countryside… and wear suncream!

🍽️ Where to eat

Isabel recommends The Palm Brasserie near Overton — fantastic food, a lovely atmosphere and a real hidden gem, originally recommended to her by one of her patients.

🎶 Song of the summer

Summertime sung by Ella Fitzgerald. A classic!

💬 I’m often asked…

“What’s the difference between an osteopath and a chiropractor?”

Whilst both are manual therapists and can click and clunk various parts of you, Isabel explains that osteopathy takes a holistic look at your health and wellbeing.

For Isabel in particular, that means looking beyond where something hurts and delving deeper into why it might be painful.

👀 What’s next?

Isabel is looking forward to seeing everyone again in September. She will be exhibiting at our Mini Business Expo at City Arts on Tuesday September 8th 10 -12 noon and will be on hand to give visitors a FREE 3 Min Shoulder Reset!
Get there early to take advantage of this!

Isabel is now taking bookings for September at her clinic in Newbury. Do you need an Autumn Reset with Isabel?

🌿 MEET THE MEMBER | SARA KUIJTEN Meet Nourished by Sara , Registered Nutritional Therapist and founder of Nourished by ...
30/08/2026

🌿 MEET THE MEMBER | SARA KUIJTEN

Meet Nourished by Sara , Registered Nutritional Therapist and founder of Nourished by Sara.

Sara helps women in mid-life rediscover their energy, confidence and spark through personalised, evidence-based nutrition, specialising in weight management, gut health and hormone balance. 💚

⭐ SARA’S TOP TIP

Never skip breakfast!

Sara recommends starting your day with a protein-rich breakfast to help balance blood sugar, keep those cravings at bay and set you up for the day. 🥣

🌴 HOLIDAY DISCOVERY

You don’t need an all-inclusive resort to have a luxury holiday!

Sara discovered that an Airbnb with a private pool PLUS a housekeeper who cooked dinner each evening was pretty fabulous — and much kinder on the budget. 🙌

✈️ 3 THINGS IN SARA’S SUITCASE

🍫 Cacao & Maca protein powder + a travel whisk
💧 Electrolytes for hot climates
🦠 Saccharomyces boulardii — Sara starts taking it before travelling and continues while away

📚 Currently reading: The Housekeeper — a gripping thriller.

🎵 Summer soundtrack: Sunshine & Whiskey by Frankie Ballard.

Although Sara would like it noted that sunshine + whiskey probably isn't the wisest combination… try coconut water instead! 😂🥥

💗 Another opportunity to meet the woman behind the business and discover the wonderful mix of expertise within Athena West Berkshire.



Meet NEW Athena member Ardita 👋 is the owner and operator of Mio Fiore — three hospitality sites across Newbury and Hun...
30/08/2026

Meet NEW Athena member Ardita 👋

is the owner and operator of Mio Fiore — three hospitality sites across Newbury and Hungerford — and is building out a business-coaching and speaking practice on the side, drawing on more than two decades in corporate and hospitality leadership. She also hosts a podcast, Independent, Not Alone, on running an independent business without losing your mind.

Proud moment

has just been named a Good Food Award Winner — the “Blue Ribbon for Delicious Dishes” — for the second year running.

Ardita’s top tip 💡

“Track five numbers a day, not fifty.” Revenue, food/drink cost, labour cost, gross margin, and cash-in-till versus cash-expected. Check them at the same time every day, compare against yesterday and the same day last week (never just a monthly budget), and write one sentence about what happened.

Ardita’s line: “Busy” feels amazing — it is also not the same as profitable, and this ten-minutes-a-day habit is what protects the margin.

Where to eat 🍝

Obviously Mio Fiore! But if you’re in London, she also recommends Caldesi in Marylebone for proper Italian done properly.

Ardita’s top 3 holiday must-haves 🧳
1. A book that has absolutely nothing to do with a spreadsheet
2. A portable charger, because a reel idea never waits politely for battery
3. Factor 50 and a hard rule of zero notifications from the group chat

Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara — a hospitality-leadership favourite doing the rounds this year (Today’s Hotelier).

Podcast: The Diary of a CEO — regular rotation for business and mindset (The Pitch).

Song of the summer 🎶
Rein Me In by Sam Fender & Olivia Dean

I’m often asked… 🎤
“How do you run three hospitality sites and build a coaching business at the same time?”

"you don’t run it on vibes. You build one small daily habit, protect it fiercely, and let it carry everything else"

Follow@arditakurtaj on Instagram — everything (coaching, speaking, the podcast, the Substack) is linked there and meet her at out Thatcham & Theale Group.

✨ Meet Tara Paonessa – Author and Intuition Guide ✨Tara Paonessa has recently published her book, Born Intuitive, and h...
29/08/2026

✨ Meet Tara Paonessa – Author and Intuition Guide ✨

Tara Paonessa has recently published her book, Born Intuitive, and her passion is to put intuition into the backbone of Britain.

Having observed the animal kingdom for many years, loves sharing how intuition is more science than spirituality. Through simple techniques, it can become a wonderfully fun roadmap for every aspect of our lives.

💡 Tara’s Top Tip

Intuition is always available to guide us.

One way to access it is to sit quietly, ask yourself a question and remain open to the answer.

If the answer arrives as a long, complicated story, that will be the egoic mind. Ignore it and go deeper. Intuition speaks in small words and simple sentences.

✨ Something You May Not Know…

Before specialising in intuition, Tara had a 20-year corporate career, which included working as an Operations Director in military warship building!

🏕️ Tara’s Favourite Kind of Holiday

Tara loves going off-grid to somewhere remote, unspoilt and spectacular.

She particularly enjoys expeditions involving tents, kayaks and the Arctic!

🧳 Tara’s Three Holiday Must-Haves

🥾 Decent socks for hiking
🔋 A battery power pack
😂 A sense of humour

💛 Tara’s Favourites

💬 Quote: “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

🎬 Movie: Any series from Awaken the World

📚 Book: “Mine, haha!” — Born Intuitive — and Original Love by Henry Shukman

🎶 Song: “Drops of Jupiter” by Train

We love discovering the fascinating stories, careers and passions behind our Athena members. Tara’s journey from military warship building to helping others understand and access their intuition is certainly an extraordinary one!

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