TWO Pendle businesswomen are urging their counterparts to stand up and be counted by taking part in International Women in Business Week.

They have invited women to attend a new networking group, which will meet next Wednesday, March 5, at 7.30 pm at The Ridge, near Queens Park, Burnley.

Women will get the chance to see behind the scenes of The Ridge Restaurant and Function Venue recently taken over by business women Pam Eglin and Wendy Lock.

This will be the second meeting of the group set up by successful Pendle business women Eileen Hirst and Wendy Bowers to support business and professional women.

Eileen said: "I urge women in Lancashire and Yorkshire to come along and be inspired. We have presentations from Julie Slater of Snowdrops Centre for Alternative Therapy and Spiritual Development and from Shirley Watson from Speakability -- a business designed to build confidence in communication.

"Women can call me on 078111 37090 for more details and are welcome to come on the night and bring a female friend or woman associate." Business adviser Wendy Bowers said: "Business women are often in a minority -- and this new group provides some exciting opportunities to create a strong business women network which we have never had before."

The group is now registered with the national Women's Business Network and offers the chance to attend an International Conference for forward thinking women in Liverpool on March 26 and 27.

Eileen and Wendy launched their own training company, Business Team Training in Colne, in January last year.