First Young Women’s Conference hosted by Turtle Dove, saying ‘anything is possible’

Cambridge’s first Young Women’s Conference took place at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

The event - ‘Anything Is Possible: Getting Young Women into the Workplace and Business’ - was organised by Turtle Dove, founded in 2013 by Kate Nation. The community interest company aims to improve the future of young women aged 14-24 who are unemployed or are at risk of becoming unemployed through not having the confidence or experience to seek employment.

The evening featured influential speakers sharing their inspiring stories, offering a chance to talk to female business owners and see all the things that Turtle Dove Cambridge does to support Young Women.

“The objective was to bring together young women with female business leaders and professionals from various industries across Cambridge,” said Kate. “With 26 local Cambridge businesses presenting or exhibiting, we had a fantastic response from local professionals who wanted to be part of the movement to create more equitable work environments.”

Guest speakers included Julia Latif of social enterprise and consultancy agency Effect UK, which works with black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and Michelle Lamprecht, head of corporate affairs at Cambridge Innovation Capital.

More than 100 guests – of which half were young women – from 26 organisations attended.

“These young women represent an untapped workforce, full of resilience and potential,” said Kate.