Launchpad Magazine Spring Issue 4

Lynn Haime ~ Fostering a Creative Community Hub e day's rst-panel discussion posed a big question: "How important do you think building a community and connection is for business?". On stage, Lynn Haime – CEO of Baltic Creative CIC – drew from her experience turning Liverpool's once-derelict warehouses into a thriving creative hub. Baltic Creative CIC now supports over 100 innovative and digital businesses in the Baltic Triangle, a testament to how investing in community spaces can spark innovation. Haime spoke passionately about regional development, noting that innovation naturally follows when entrepreneurs are given the Stephanie Barney & Martin Mach ~ Combating Loneliness with GOTG Next, the spotlight turned to Stephanie Barney and Martin Mach, co-founders behind Girls On e Go (GOTG) – a groundbreaking social enterprise tackling loneliness among women. Barney and Mach recounted how GOTG began in 2023 as a simple women's running club aimed at making jogging safer but quickly evolved aer participants voiced a more profound challenge: making friends as adults. In response, the duo expanded GOTG into a broader wellness and social community that hosts all-female events , from runs and yoga sessions to book clubs and even bingo nights. "Girls on the Go is free to join – a safe, accessible space for women and girls to combat loneliness, stay active, socialise and make new

right environment to connect and collaborate . She shared insights on the power of networking and aordable workspaces in regenerating the city's creative sector, positioning Baltic Creative as a blueprint for other cities looking to cultivate their entrepreneurial ecosystems. Her perspective set an optimistic tone - success isn't achieved in isolation – it's nurtured in community hubs where ideas and people intermingle.

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friends," explained, rearming the group's inclusive mission. During their session, they described the impact of creating such networks: hundreds of women across Liverpool, Manchester and Barney Birmingham have found genuine friendship and support through GOTG's activities. e audience was visibly moved as Barney and Mach shared stories of women who regained condence and community thanks to their initiative. eir message was clear – whether in tness or business, no one should have to walk the journey alone. By the end, attendees were buzzing about how fostering community can boost personal well-being and, by extension, the health of their businesses.

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SPRING 2025 | LAUNCHPAD | 45

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