Startup consultant invited to House of Lords reception

A Solihull startup consultant has been invited to the House of Lords for a national woman in business reception.

Becky Benbow, founder of A Burden Shared and organiser of StartUp Social West Midlands, attended the Enterprise Vision Awards where she joined leading entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.

Becky was among a select group of founders and business leaders invited to the EVAS Westminster reception.

The event, held in the Cholmondeley Room & Terrace overlooking the Thames, was hosted with the support of Baroness Jo Valentine, Crossbench Peer and former Chief Executive of London First.

It brought together female founders, senior allies, buyers, investors and policy influencers for an afternoon of keynote talks, panel discussions and high-value networking.

Theo Paphitis, the entrepreneur behind Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue, and founder of #SBS Small Business Sunday, delivered the keynote.

Harriet Hastings, co-founder of Biscuiteers and founding member of Buy Women Built, spoke about pivoting and staying open to possibilities in business growth.

A panel featuring Christine Nichols, Ruby Raut and Kathryn Morement covered the growing pains of scaling a business.

Benbow, who works as a strategic operations partner for startups and small businesses across the West Midlands, attended as an EVAS 2026 award nominee.

Her consultancy, A Burden Shared, helps founders build the operational foundations they need before scaling, covering everything from internal processes to systems and team structure.

Beyond her consultancy work, Benbow is the founder of StartUp Social West Midlands, a free community event for early-stage founders, freelancers and creatives in the region.

The most recent event on 13 May at The JointWorks saw its highest attendance to date, with a format built around practical insights, lived experience and real connection rather than sales-led networking.

It has become a core part of how Benbow supports the region's startup ecosystem.

Becky Benbow said: "I work with startups every day, helping them build the boring bit, the ops, the processes, the foundations that make growth actually stick.

"Being in that room at the House of Lords, hearing from founders like Harriet Hastings who built Biscuiteers from her kitchen table, and from Theo Paphitis who's spent decades backing small businesses, I came away with things I can take straight back to the founders I work with and the StartUp Social community. That's what made it properly valuable."

She added: "A year ago I wouldn't have pictured myself at the House of Lords. But that's what happens when you show up, do the work, and surround yourself with good people.

The startup ecosystem in the West Midlands is growing. Between StartUp Social, the chamber, and communities like the EVAS, our founders are being seen on a national stage. That matters."