On 25 April 2026, the elegant Anstey Hall estate, located in the Trumpington area of Cambridge, was transformed for a day into a space of women’s strength, ideas, and new connections. It was here that the official opening of the UBWIS Club Cambridge branch took place — a women’s business community that brings together Ukrainian women across the UK around entrepreneurship, growth, and mutual support.
Anstey Hall is a historic 17th-century estate, built around 1685 by Anthony Thompson on the site of a medieval house. Over the centuries, it served as a family residence for the Thompson, Anstey, and Foster families, preserving the stories of generations within its walls. During the Second World War, the estate housed government offices, and today it once again became a place of gathering — this time for women building their lives and businesses in a new country.
The event began with the gentle sounds of live violin music performed by Olena Holovchenko. Her playing filled the hall even before the official start, creating a sense of calm and quiet anticipation.
Guests gradually arrived, greeting one another, making introductions, and settling into the atmosphere of the evening. In their hands were glasses of champagne, cups of coffee, or buckwheat tea, while nearby stood carefully arranged desserts from the Ukrainian brand Tasty Tart. Among them, a pistachio dessert with white chocolate quickly became a favourite, widely praised by guests.
As the first conversations unfolded, artist Kateryna Kyslytska worked among the guests, sketching portraits with light, confident strokes. Each participant could later take her portrait home — a warm and personal keepsake from the day.
The official part of the event opened with a minute of silence in honour of those who lost their lives as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine — a moment that reminded everyone present of a shared grief.
Guests were then welcomed by Tetiana Olevska, head of the Cambridge branch, and Anna Andriievska, founder of UBWIS, who launched the initiative several years ago.
Today, the club has branches in Manchester, London, and Edinburgh, and the opening in Cambridge marked another important step in its development.
In her speech, Tetiana Olevska emphasised that the club is not only about business, but above all about a sense of community:
“We are creating a space where every woman can feel part of something larger, find support, and share a common purpose. This is only the beginning. We warmly invite each of you to become part of this journey. Thank you for being here, for your trust, and for sharing this moment with us.”
Among the distinguished guests were the Deputy Mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Richard Swift, and the owner of Anstey Hall, John de Bruyne. The event was also attended by the founders of the London UBWIS brunch, Tetiana Tarnai and Maryna Polishchuk.
The second part of the event moved into a panel discussion titled “Ambitions Without Limits: How to Build a Business and a Name in the UK” The discussion featured influencer and AI specialist Olha Reznikova, coach and NLP specialist Viktoriia Blahovisna, and Elizabeth Tatarina, founder of the vegan café Cream.Dream. The panel was moderated by Anna Andriievska.
The speakers shared personal stories — about their first steps in a new country, the challenges they faced, the search for identity, and the process of building a brand. They spoke openly about doubts, small victories, and moments when they had to start from scratch. At the same time, they highlighted the opportunities available, the openness of the UK market, and the strength found in supportive communities.
After the discussion, guests continued networking in a more informal setting, enjoying desserts and drinks from Cream.Dream and returning to the essence of the gathering — connection, conversation, and new ideas.
The opening of UBWIS Club Cambridge marked the beginning of a new chapter — both for each individual participant and for the wider community of Ukrainian women in business. In a space where history meets the present, new connections, partnerships, and perhaps future success stories are beginning to take shape.
A report by Rosa Martyniuk
Photo credit Alyona Tishyna, Jenny Tereshchenko
