What we’re about
WIT North was founded in 2016 by Arzu Kanval and Beckie Taylor as a way to bring women working in the Greater Manchester Technology sector together. In 2018 Kate Wood joined the team as a Co- Lead.
We have since created a strong and thoughtful community of over 3000 members, we are an inclusive community and we want to ensure full representation at our events. Through our annual calendar of events, we've connected our members, creating an authentic, vulnerable and courageous community.
2025 is set to be our biggest year yet with the support of Community sponsors Street and venue Sponsors Kraken have 11 fantastic events lined up. This means we can amplify our impact in Greater Manchester and expand our offerings, increase brand awareness and reach more people consistently. We welcome new members at every event and encourage you to reach out if you are nervous about attending or have any questions.
What We Do
Through our inclusive community, we champion equality and challenge bias. WIT North creates opportunities, through mentorship, leadership development, and collaborative events.
Together our collective action and shared purpose encourages future generations to pursue technology as a career alongside people career switching, returning and developing their careers in the industry.
Feedback from our members is that the confidence they gain and industry connections they make at our events have a positive impact on both their careers and life outside work.
As a volunteer lead community we have managed to run close to 50 events, these have covered a wide range of topics including Procrastination Busting, Goal Setting, Public Speaking workshops and Psychological Safety.
We have partnered with many businesses over the years and would not be where we are now without their support.
We know change is needed and we would love you to join us in making it happen.
Hope to see you at our next event soon and if you'd like to learn more and keep in touch with us please do join our LinkedIn group.
Beckie, Kate and Arzu
Upcoming events
2
Going It Alone: Starting Your Own Businesss
Krakenflex, 13th Floor, No.2 Circle Square, 1 Symphony Park, Manchester, M1 7FS, Manchester, GBNovember 2025 Event: Going It Alone: Starting Your Own Business
Our events are inclusive to all đź’ś
Leaving a steady job and stepping out on your own is equal parts exhilarating and daunting.
This WIT North event, in partnership with AcTech Recruitment, shines a light on the realities of self-employment, the highs and the hurdles.
The evening is a mix of honest stories and practical insights. We’ll explore what it really takes to build something from scratch: the freedom, the flexibility, the creativity, and the challenges you will face.
Whether you’re dreaming about making the leap, already navigating the self-employed journey or you just like hearing other people's stories, this event offers a real insight into the world of going it alone.We have 3 fantastic guests, plus there will be an opportunity for our community to share their Small Wins, should they choose - no pressure.
What to expect:
Doors open at 17:30 - Food and drinks/networking
18:00: Welcome - Kate Wood - Introduction to Women in Tech North
18:05: Anna Fynn and Dominic McGregor take part in a Fire Side Chat discussing honest stories and practical insights for going it alone.
Anna is Founder and Director of AcTech Recruitment, specialising in tech talent acquisition with a passion for placing underrepresented groups in tech and helping startups scale. Anna is a specialist technology recruiter with over a decade of experience in permanent, contract (inside & outside IR35) and retained search. Her BSc in Psychology & Sociology has allowed her to offer extra support to candidates after becoming a Career Coach.
Anna Flynn LinkedInDominic is the Founding Partner at Fearless Adventures. Founder and ex-COO at Social Chain.From dropping out of University to taking Social Chain to the public markets in 6 years, Dom has years of experience in navigating the challenges that come with building and scaling a successful business. Dom listed Social Chain @ ÂŁ300m valuation in August 2019 after founding the business with Steven Bartlett in 2013.Dom then founded Fearless Adventures. A mental health advocate, Dom is passionate about using not only his capital but his first-hand experiences to support founders on their journeys to the peaks of success.
Networking Break - 20 minutes to grab a drink, food and chat
After our networking break we have a Lightning Talk from Debbie Cowley, Rooted Soul Yoga
In this lightning talk, we’ll hear from Debbie Cowley, founder of Rooted Soul Yoga—an emerging business dedicated to making yoga accessible, inclusive, and practical for people in all walks of life. Debbie will share her journey from senior leadership roles in the arts and third sector to creating a yoga practice that supports mental health, resilience and performance in workplace and community settings.
Debbie is a qualified yoga teacher with extensive experience working with neurodivergent and learning-disabled people. She teaches at Red Sky Yoga, David Lloyd, and in a wide variety of community, workplace and home settings. After 20 years in senior marketing positions within the arts and third sector, Debbie founded Rooted Soul Yoga less than a year ago to bring the transformative benefits of yoga to those who might never have considered it for themselves. Her approach is warm, inclusive and practical, focusing on real-world benefits, whether you’re managing mental health challenges, navigating neurodivergence, seeking to improve wellbeing at work, or simply wanting to feel more balanced in body and mind.https://www.rootedsoulyoga.co.uk/about-rooted-soul-yoga/
Community session: A chance for anyone in our community to share their "small wins" what has gone well for you in the past few weeks, No achievement is too small if it mattered to you, we want to hear it.
Kate Wood - Wrap-Up and Thank you
20:00 - 20:30 Networking
Join us for an evening of learning, community and connection we'd love to see you there!
A huge thank you to Kraken our venue sponsors!
87 attendees
Past events
51
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