NEARLY 60 local businesswomen gathered for lunch at the Hotel du Vin in Tunbridge Wells to hear Felicity Emmett speak about her highly successful hat hire empire.

Mrs Emmett, sporting one of her chic designer hats, told her audience how, as a divorcee on income support, she had started her business on just £2,000.

Through self-belief and sheer hard work she had built up a national franchise business, hiring first rank designer hats and now on the point of expanding internationally to Paris and Los Angeles.

Alison Morton of PBSS Translations won the magnum of Champagne for her imaginative blue and gold star hat reflecting PBSS's European corporate colours.

Barclays Bank sponsored the lunch which brought together female members of West Kent Chamber of Commerce, local Women in Business members and Barclays staff.