When I first pitched the “Bedford women who mean business” series, I was eager to put into practice the skills I had learned in terms of journalism, but little did I know, a lot more was on the curriculum.
I knew I wanted to spotlight the women who work behind the scenes of business and what they have built.
But each interview became more than a profile or an addition to the series; speaking with each woman individually gave me a glimpse of their drive, determination, and resilience to carve a space for themselves in Bedford’s community.
I am proud to expose the diversity in journeys across Bedford, from starting a business alongside a full-time job at 20, to juggling a business and motherhood, to starting from rock bottom and working up.
For many, personal struggles, ranging from self-doubt to life-altering setbacks, became the fuel that pushed them forward.
But what has stuck with me most is the overwhelming support and community I felt from both the women I spoke to, and also the feedback from other women supporting both myself and the women in the profiles.
The recurring theme was balance: navigating the demands of family, work and self-care while still keeping the vision alive. These stories weren’t polished; they were real, sometimes messy, but deeply human.
My reflection
From speaking to these amazing women to taking the time to write and reflect on their stories, I have been thinking of my own journey. As a journalist still in the early stages of her career, I am learning to share my own voice as well as others’.
What I’ve realised is that telling women’s stories isn’t just about representation; it’s about making sure lived experiences, which are too often sidelined, are given space.
That’s why I wanted to end this series by widening the lens. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions across various industries, and journalism is no exception.
According to the FTSE Women Leaders Review report for 2025 only 35.3% of senior leadership roles in FTSE 350 companies were held by women.
Furthermore, a report published by the Reuters Institute, in partnership with Oxford University, earlier this year found that while the UK has the highest number of women in leading newsroom positions (46%), only 27% of top editorial roles globally are occupied by women.
However, here in Bedford, two of the three co-founders of Progress Publishing, which publishes the Bedford Independent and Bedford Clanger, are women, a rarity in local media.
Speaking with them, Erica Roffe said: “Being a woman hasn’t really made a difference to my work at Progress Publishing. I’ve been on police raids and major assignments purely because of my role on the news desk, not because of my gender.
“But I am sometimes cautious about putting my name to certain stories, knowing that women in journalism can face disproportionate backlash or threats.”
Talking about representation within journalism, Erica added, “I think it’s vital to platform a variety of voices to ensure plurality of experience and opinion. It’s the best way to create empathy and understanding within communities.
“We have worked with different Bedford groups as ‘guest editors’, giving them the opportunity to share the stories that are important to them and writing in their own ‘voice’.”
And her advice to future female journalists is, “With the rise in homogenised AI content, I would recommend finding your own style and voice that makes your writing unique.”
“Get as much experience as possible – writing blogs, writing for school/university magazines (start one if you need to – that’s what I did), writing social media content – anything that gets your voice out there.
“Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and add links to everything you write too.”
Resilience and ambition
Progress Publishing’s other female founder is Julia Course, who plays a key role in the company’s commercial operations.
“Running a local news desk is about more than essential journalism; it’s also about keeping the business sustainable in challenging times,” she said.
“Since we launched in 2018, despite COVID, Brexit, and the cost-of-living crisis, we’ve managed to stay financially viable, and we are still here and growing.
“As a two-thirds female-led business, it’s hard work, so we’re incredibly grateful to the local businesses who support us through advertising, especially with 130,000 monthly readers relying on our regulated news.
“And we keep it free because, honestly, why would anyone pay for news that’s freely available elsewhere, even if some of it isn’t verified?”
For me, this series has been a reminder of why I chose journalism. It’s about listening, asking questions and learning, but also about creating space for voices that don’t always get the opportunity.
The women I’ve spoken to have shown me that resilience and ambition come in many forms and that community is built not only through business but through storytelling.
As I look forward, I carry their lessons with me.
Bedford is full of women leading with determination and heart, and I feel privileged to have told even a small part of their stories.
The Bedford women who mean business series in full
- Bedford women who mean business: A new series spotlighting local female entrepreneurs
- Bedford women who mean business: From dream to reality, a young entrepreneur’s first steps
- Bedford women who mean business: Freelance and family, Lauren’s entrepreneurial balancing act
- Bedford women who mean business: “Now or never” how Sherida took a leap into her own business later in life
- Bedford women who mean business: Jennifer’s journey from burnout to balance
- Bedford women who mean business: from redundancy to recognition, a mother-daughter business journey
