It seems like a simple concept - organise a night out for women of all ages, who can enjoy a social gathering, a nice meal and an inspirational speaker.

But Michelle Bartlett felt there was a real gap in the market for those wanting to socialise with friends and family, without sitting in a bar.

Coming to something of a crossroads in life when her children left home and with her business role also coming to a natural end, Michelle admits she "hit a brick wall" in 2014.

"I've been in business for 25 years," she explains.

"I'm a mum predominantly, but I've got a very business-minded head. I felt bored. It was nice to have time to myself, but there was a point that I had no purpose. I hit 50, everything was at a crossroads."

Michelle felt there must be other women in the same boat, and that there must be something she could do to fill the gap, drawing on her skillset.

"I wasn't thinking about having to do something for money, it was 'what can I offer?'," she says.

"In my kitchen there's a sign which says 'live, laugh, love'. I just thought 'Live Laugh Love Ladies Club'. I thought 'I'm going to go to Compton Acres and see if they will host a group of ladies twice a month.

"'I'm going to create something which is a gift so every lady over the age of 18 can listen to the business speakers that I've been listening to at events for years'."

Michelle launched the club in October 2014 after rounding up a group of friends and acquaintances for the first event, and found she had hit on a successful concept.

What began as two get-togethers a month quickly became a weekly event and Michelle has now found two additional venues.

Despite never planning a 'bigger vision' for the club, Michelle's business brain had already thought ahead, so when she was asked to take the idea up to Manchester, she ran with it.

"From September last year I started on the road to creating a bigger and better website for an online shop, to go worldwide, to have membership, to have membership benefits, to have more clubs across the UK," she says.

"We've now got four other clubs up and running, I've got three other ladies interested and I've got 30 other applications."

Michelle has trademarked the clubs, and has everything in place for women to set up their own branches all over the country.

She is now looking for ambassadors to join the business to set up and host a club in their area and spread the Live Laugh Love message.

"I am passionate about bringing ladies together to support, motivate and influence each other," she says.

"I've got 600 members - I know that there are tonnes of women out there that really need this. The people that come are primarily middle-aged, between 40 and 60, but we get 70-80 and in their 20s.

"The story when they phone is they're retired, they lost their job, their children have left home or they've moved to the area or there's a group of them that are looking for a night out."

For a cost of £10, women can enjoy food, drink, a raffle and a speaker over the course of two hours. Guests are £12, but each member can bring two guests at a cost of £10. Michelle is also creating a loyalty scheme.

"I want to create this brand that women smile when they see the brand, or they say 'that looks like a fun club'," she says.

"It's all come from the heart. The women say we've given them back somewhere to go or inspired them to change, or the speaker has been inspirational.

"It just makes me so happy. There's my give-back."

:: livelaughloveladies.club