Rise Up Networking was created to give female founders and entrepreneurial women a warm, welcoming and high-quality space to connect, learn and grow.
Based in North Leeds, Rise Up was founded by three local businesswomen, Lucy Guest from Lucy Guest Marketing and Emma Bennett and Paz Gill from Rise Digital Marketing. All three run successful marketing companies alongside Rise Up Networking, and two of the founders are also mums who balance family life with business.
Rise Up began because they couldn’t find a networking experience that truly ticked every box. They wanted something inspiring but also practical, a space that felt warm, real and free from pressure, and a community where women could show up exactly as they are.
Emma Bennett says,
“As busy women running businesses, we wanted something inspiring but also practical. Somewhere you gain clarity, confidence and real skills, not just a room full of business cards. We needed a space where women could build connections that matter and leave feeling better equipped to grow both personally and professionally.”
Rise Up hosts monthly networking events at The Flying Pizza in North Leeds on the first Wednesday of every month at 12pm. These events are open to female founders and entrepreneurial women from across Yorkshire and are designed to feel uplifting, energising and genuinely useful. Each event features an inspirational Yorkshire speaker who shares their story, lessons learned, challenges and practical insights. Topics have included confidence, leadership, problem solving, strategy and mindset, giving attendees ideas they can apply straight away.
In its first year, the numbers speak for themselves.
10 events.
More than 150 women attending.
8 fantastic guest speakers.
1 Christmas Party.
Over £1500 raised for Yorkshire Children’s Charity.
Alongside the main events, Rise Up also hosts mid-month members meet-ups. These smaller sessions support the group’s core pillars of collaboration, celebrating success and community. They provide space for members to go deeper, share challenges, explore opportunities, make referrals and genuinely lift each other up. These meet-ups are where some of the strongest working relationships and friendships have formed.
Lucy Guest says,
“We’re so proud that Rise Up Networking has seen impressive growth in its first year, with consistently sold-out events, a rapidly expanding membership base and partnerships with well-known North Leeds sponsors who believe in what we are creating. This collective support has helped Rise Up become a key part of the Yorkshire business ecosystem, championing women-led businesses and celebrating local talent.”
Rise Up’s support for Yorkshire Children’s Charity has also been at the heart of their mission.
Paz Gill says,
“We believe strongly in giving back. Alongside empowering women in business, Rise Up proudly raises money for Yorkshire Children’s Charity. Every event contributes to supporting families across the region. As soon as we saw the amazing work they were doing, we knew we wanted to help.”
The founders have created something special in North Leeds. And 2026 promises even more, with new speakers, new formats, new collaborations and new opportunities to help Yorkshire women learn, connect and rise together.
The next event takes place on Wednesday 7 January, where coach and trainer Laura Bouttell returns to help business owners set meaningful goals for 2026. All upcoming events can be found at www.riseupnetworking.co.uk.
