Women in Wholesale coaching expands by a third

The Women in Wholesale (WiW) Coaching Academy has expanded its reach by a third to support 16 individuals, up from 12 last year.

Launched as part of WiW’s mission to ‘inspire, support, and progress’ women in the UK convenience and foodservice wholesale sector, the initiative offers one-to-one coaching designed to unlock participants’ full potential at work.

Academy members receive six free coaching sessions from fully accredited trainers, focusing on skill enhancement and achieving professional goals.

The expansion of the academy reflects the increasing demand for personal development opportunities among women in the industry.

“The Coaching Academy is making a meaningful impact on women in our channel – we’ve received a record number of applicants, ranging from newcomers to wholesale, to senior and well-established directors looking to refresh their skills,” said Elit Rowland, WiW founder. “We want to help more women prioritise personal development.”

Lyndsey Cambridge, head of engagement and communication at FWD, added: “The expansion of the Coaching Academy is a testament to the rising ambition of women in wholesale. At FWD, we are committed to fostering talent and ensuring women in our sector have access to the resources and mentorship they need to thrive in their careers.”

The WiW Coaching Academy is supported by a team of qualified coaches, including:

• Sadie Visick – An AoEC accredited associate executive coach and certified Fierce Conversations facilitator, Sadie is committed to promoting gender equality and helping women progress to senior roles.

• Ayman Nasreldin – An executive coach with 22 years of corporate experience and an EMCC accredited coach, Ayman specialises in unlocking potential, identifying purpose and enhancing performance.

• Clare Bocking – With 30 years of commercial leadership experience, Clare is a qualified executive coach and passionate advocate for women’s professional development.

• Melanie Tucker – An Institute of Leadership and Management qualified coach and WiW committee member, Melanie is dedicated to leading successful teams within businesses that prioritise better food for people and the planet.

WiW is supporting the FWD’s Diversity in Wholesale (DiW) Conference 2024, which takes place on 10 October at 30 Euston Square, London.