A new support network for professional women in the north-east of Scotland will be launched next week.

"engage!" will offer its members networking opportunities, a continuous professional development focus, access to a female-led mentoring framework and a chance to increase their industry awareness.

It has been set up as a not-for-profit organisation to build funds to offer financial aid to women who otherwise would not have access to professional qualifications to improve their lives.

The founding board is made up of a diverse group of women from Royal Bank of Scotland, BP, AGR Group, Heath Lambert Group, Simmons & Company, McGrigors, Cornerstone Community Care and Ledingham Chalmers.

Ingrid Stewart, of Simmons & Company, said: "We founded engage! because we felt there was a real gap in the local market for a forum which meets the needs of professional women.

"We want something which can engage our minds and increase our knowledge of the industries which keep Aberdeen alive, while at the same time allowing us to network with like-minded women.

"Our core principle is around giving professional women what they need to further their careers. More than 200 people will attend a dinner to mark the launch of engage! next week which will raise money for Booby Birds, a breast cancer charity."