LIVERPOOL’S upmarket Panoramic restaurant was the venue for the first regional launch of a London-based women-focused networking group.

The Pink Shoe Club has been described as a “dynamic network of high-level women” and its patrons include Home Secretary Theresa May and Olympic gold medal winner, Tessa Sanderson.

It was established as a social enterprise in 2007 by Helene Martin Gee and was launched at the House of Lords with 100 leading women, all wearing Pink Shoes.

Its aim is to bring “women of all cultures, backgrounds and professions together regularly meet in exclusive venues to network, exchange ideas and do business together”.

Speaking to Post Business at the Panoramic launch, Ms Martin Gee said: “We don’t exclude men as members of the Pink Shoe Club because we live in a mixed world.

“But we think it is important to give women the chance to support other women.

“I have been to general networking events where there are 100 men and just five women and we want to offer an opportunity for women to network in a more female environment.”

Instrumental in bringing the first Pink Shoe regional event to Liverpool was another one of its founders – Merseyside entrepreneur Una McBride.

Ms McBride will be chairman of the Pink Shoe Club North West. She is a qualified teacher, former city headhunter and chair of a national charity.

Since 2001 she has been running her own coaching and training company, AMP.

She said: “I’m delighted Pink Shoe Club has chosen my home city of Liverpool to launch in the North West.

“This significant first step outside London is to a city which radiates heart, passion and power.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming senior women and entrepreneurs of the region to join us in creating exciting possibilities for the future.”

Those attending the event at Panoramic listened to speakers including Jill Pay, the first female Serjeant at Arms of the House of Commons e in almost 600 years and entrepreneur Sylvia Tidy-Harris.

Ms Martin Gee, a parliamentary advisor on entrepreneurship, added: “We also want to help young people both in the UK and across the world to become successful in their chosen careers.

“We are not in competition with other groups. We want to hold out our hand and create partnerships.”