A Year of Women in Revenues and Enforcement: ‘A Founder’s Reflection’

I’m going to be honest with you, I’ve found this post really hard to write. In fact, I’m fairly sure I now hold the WIRE Board title for “most carried‑forward action”. Every month it stayed on the list, untouched.

This morning, though, laptop out on the train, finally “eating the frog” as instructed by the rest of the board, it clicked why I’d been avoiding it. It’s because I am genuinely astounded by what we’ve achieved… and by the fact that I started it.

Many moons ago, when Lois and I were setting the world to rights over a G&T, I never once imagined our conversation would lead to the founding of Women in Revenues and Enforcement. I certainly didn’t imagine the level of encouragement, trust, and backing WIRE would go on to receive across the industry.

What started as frustration (and hope) turned into action. And action turned into a community.

Working alongside the Board and our industry champions this first year has completely opened my eyes to the art of the possible. Every one of us is doing this alongside our day jobs, and yet somehow, together, we’ve built something real.

What We’ve Achieved in Our First Year

In just our first year, WIRE has:

• Grown to over 200 members, spanning local authorities, enforcement, and partner organisations

• Created speaking opportunities for women, helping new voices step onto industry stages

• Represented WIRE at multiple conferences, raising visibility and starting conversations that matter

• Delivered a virtual webinar and our first in‑person event, creating space for CPD and networking.

None of this happened by accident. It happened because people gave time, energy, and belief (often late at night or between meetings!).

And while WIRE is rooted in our professional world, support for women matters just as much outside of work as it does within it, which brings me to the charity WIRE is proud to stand behind. This year we’re proud to support The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation, a charity creating comfort, connection and community for anyone affected by miscarriage, baby loss and infertility and reminds them (in the moments they need it most) that they are not alone.

And I’m genuinely proud to say that, through WIRE, we raised over £1,000 in 2025 for this cause. This isn’t just a number but a statement of what we stand for when we come together. Thank you to everyone who donated, shared, and helped us support something that means so much to so many.

Our 2025 Speakers – the people who said yes, showed up, and raised their voice.

One of the things that still makes me smile is that when we asked people to speak at WIRE events, they actually said yes! Yes to sharing, yes to being honest, yes to being out of their comfort zone and yes to standing up and taking space (sometimes for the first time).

The main speaker at our very first webinar in Spring 2025 was Marvee-Lisa Booker, who set the tone for how we do things at WIRE: inclusive, thought‑provoking and genuinely supportive.

Our first in‑person Members’ Day in July 'Overcoming Self‑Limiting Thoughts and Beliefs' continued in the same vein. Huge thanks to Emma Cowan for opening the day so warmly, Helen Addis for grounding us in the importance of mentoring, and to everyone who brought their insight, honesty and experience to the room: Russell Hamblin‑Boone, Carole Kenney, Nick Rowe, Victoria Jackson, Mel Owers, Emma Bevington, Francesca Phillips and Lois Anderson.

A special thanks to the board for facilitating some of the most open, real conversations I’ve seen at an industry event.

To those who spoke, chaired, shared a story, answered a difficult question, or simply showed others what’s possible, or that they are not alone, thank you. You helped turn WIRE from an idea into something people could feel.

 

The Board Behind the Scenes

The WIRE Board are not observers, they are doers. Every milestone we’ve hit has been driven by people making things happen between diaries, deadlines, and personal commitments.

We won’t always move as fast as we’d like (because this is real life) but we are absolutely committed to delivering on what we promise, and doing it properly.

Your 2025 board members: Charlotte Crane, Lois Anderson, Sarah Naylor, Emma Cowan, Lee Taylor, Helen Addis, Lisa Ashworth, Caroline Grey, Francesca Phillips, Emma Bevington, Laura Naylor, Camilla Gailani

With Thanks to Our First Year Sponsors and Industry Supporters

We wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without the trust and backing of our 2025 Headline Sponsors:

• Bristow & Sutor

• Dukes Bailiffs Limited

• Excel Enforcement

• Hambury Tilmond

• Marston Holdings

  
  

With particular thanks to Marston Holdings for facilitating our first in‑person event.

We’re also incredibly grateful to our industry supporters, who have given WIRE visibility, credibility, and opportunity:

• Ascendant Solutions

• CIVEA

• IRRV

• LACEF

• London Revenues Group (LRG)

• MALG

• TelSolutions

Your support has helped us move faster and aim higher.

So What’s Next - 2026 and Beyond

This year marks another important shift for WIRE.

• We’re putting strong foundations in place through the WIRE Constitution, giving clarity and transparency on how decisions are made, and how members help shape what comes next as we grow.

• We’re opening up more ways for members to step in and shape WIRE through our Champions roles, starting with Marketing/Comms/PR and Events co-ordination, helping us deliver more while creating a clear route to get involved.

• We’ve launched the long‑awaited Members’ Area, a space created for members to connect, ask questions, share experiences and find support whenever they need it.

• We’ll continue to increase visibility at established industry events, making sure women are seen, heard and represented.

• We will be delivering at least 4 WIRE events in 12 months (2 Virtual and 2 in person)

• We’re laying the foundations for structured mentorship and development, so support doesn’t stop at an event.

• Bristow & Sutor, Dukes Bailiffs Limited, Hambury Tilmond and Marston Holdings continue as headline sponsors for 2026 and are joined by Corporate Sponsors Ascendant Solutions, Business Smart Solutions Ltd and Rundles.

With all this taking shape…

A Final Thought

I didn’t realise when we set WIRE in motion that one day I’d struggle to write about it, not because there wasn’t enough to say, but because there was so much (as the length of this probably proves).

I am overwhelmed by feelings of gratitude, disbelief, being humbled and pride.

WIRE exists because people believed it mattered.

It thrives because you showed up.

Thank you to all of our stakeholders for being part of our first year, and for helping shape what comes next.

Here’s to year two.

Charlotte