For many years, Bradford-based entrepreneurs have been networking to share skills, swap contacts and build relationships.

But a new group which aims to boost trade and investment has one difference - it is women only.

A small group from Forward Ladies (FL) has just returned from a trip to Paris to help maximise trade opportunities between France and Yorkshire.

The trip was organised by Etta Cohen, Forward Ladies manager, and Lorraine Ellison, of UK Trade & Investment.

FL is a not-for-profit women's business networking organisation and was the brain-child of Mrs Cohen. It is run by Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.

The women's trip included a visit to an exclusive trade conference at the British Ambassador's residence and meetings with top French businesswomen.

Sandra Corcoran, 54, co-director of Pennine Cycles on Thornton Road, has been a member of FL for a year and was one of 15 selected to cross the Channel.

She said: "At the very start we did not know each other but it was amazing how we gelled together. I have now made some good business contacts from the trip.

"One of the ladies got hold of me to ask about getting her husband a bike for his birthday. And that was before we had even left the airport.

"We hit Paris and it was non-stop. We met some of the French ladies and were guests of the Franco-British Chamber of Commerce. We are now looking to produce our own-brand cycle bottle and looking at using a French company for that.

"We also aim to launch our own steel bicycle in France and are looking for an outlet over there to take it. It was a fantastic trip and a very positive experience."

Mrs Corcoran believes FL is a fantastic idea. "For a woman in local industry things can be very male-dominated. We are not like men who can network on the golf course," she said.

"Meeting other businesswomen has been a breath of fresh air."

Burley-in-Wharfedale businesswoman Jackie Whiteley also travelled to Paris.

Jackie and scientist husband Dr Geoff Whiteley, of Leeds University, have developed Strulch, a revolutionary straw substitute which is already being used on the Duke of Westminster's estate in Cheshire and has been approved by The Eden Project in Cornwall.

Strulch is a type of mulch made from shredded straw and treated with iron minerals. It can be used for weed control and water retention in herbaceous borders, raised beds and fruit and vegetable plots.

Mrs Whiteley said: "Given the interest shown by the Eden Project and other professional gardeners, we can only be optimistic about the future for Strulch. The key now is to raise awareness of it."

Mrs Whiteley has been a member of Forward Ladies since last autumn and believes the group could be key to moving Strulch forward. She said: "Women network in a very different way to men. They are willing to share their experiences and help others.

"I have been at networking events with men who ask you what you do and then walk off uninterested. Women are much more interested in what you are doing.

"I am pretty confident that the contacts I have made through Forward Ladies will help improve our business. I would wholeheartedly recommend the group to any businesswomen in the Bradford area."

Lindsay Hill, 35, owner of Baildon-based graphic design company Apperley Design, said meeting other ladies through FL had been an "inspiration".

"I work on my own so it is good to get the chance to meet other businesswomen," she said. It is not as intimidating as walking into a room full of men. Men can be very driven, whereas women tend to be more easy-going."

Mrs Cohen said: "The whole idea behind the group is to bring like-minded businesswomen together to build relationships and do business. Members can take part in a range of events throughout Yorkshire to meet other women and also - on occasions - businessmen!

"We also offer a mentoring scheme to help younger businesswomen and have our own website with an events and message board and details of job vacancies."

Mrs Cohen said she hoped the group's trip to France would be the first of many international visits.

She said: "As far as our ladies are concerned the trip was a huge success. It offered them the opportunity to find out more about international trade and gave them the opportunity to expand into overseas

markets.

"I am looking forward to seeing what new business opportunities grow from seeds planted in Paris."