Women of Influence has taken two years to put together and aims to take a different approach to promote people and business in the region.

It says its main speciality is education for men as well as women, and it will use a mentoring approach to spread business skills.

One of its first initiatives is to launch a calendar celebrating Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Spokeswoman Jo Schumacher said:

"The first rule of networking, get your face known. What better way to do it than to be on a calendar?

"For 30 days of the month people will be looking at your face and know what company you are from. Definitely more effective than just giving a card out, it is just like a big business card."