You may have heard us talking a lot about The Exchange at our Women on Top Summit 2026, which rolls into Edinburgh on Thursday 24th September. If you joined us last year, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about. If you didn’t, let us introduce you…
The Exchange is the heart of the day
Taking over the beautiful Ballroom at The Assembly Rooms Edinburgh, it’s where you’ll find an amazing mix of exhibitors, discover new brands, grab a coffee (or G&T) and, most importantly, meet each other.
And we really do mean everyone. Women building businesses from scratch, women making their next big career move, women returning after a career break, women with an idea they haven’t quite dared to do anything with yet, and women who simply want to come along, have a brilliant day and make some new friends.
Between the big talks and workshops, The Exchange is where you can wander, browse and chat. You’ll find everything from health, beauty and wellbeing to fashion, design and business. It’s also home to the all-important coffee, pastries and lunch throughout the day.
It’s no surprise that last year it became the beating heart of one of our biggest events of the year. Chance meetings turned into proper conversations, new connections were made over coffee, and there was plenty of laughter, hugs, dancing, whooping and, yes, a few tears too.
Because that’s really what the Women on Top Summit is all about. Bringing women from all walks of life together, giving us the space to talk, listen, share ideas, support each other and realise we probably have far more in common than we think.
And this year, we’ve got another brilliant line-up joining us in The Exchange.
Who you’ll find…
Rock My World
Dreaming of a holiday that feels more ‘tailored escape’ than ‘package deal’? That’s exactly what husband-and-wife team Mark and Isobel McCardie had in mind when they founded Rock My World. Based in Edinburgh, the duo have built a boutique travel concierge business around insight, personal recommendations and a genuine love of helping people discover somewhere new. So, if your mind is already wandering to your next escape, you know where to head…
Purple House Clinic
Based in Rutland Square in Edinburgh, Purple House Clinic specialises in mental health and neurodiversity, offering therapy alongside autism, ADHD and sensory assessments, as well as educational psychology services.
Their focus is on helping people better understand themselves, adapt, grow and thrive. You’ll find founder Sarah and the team in The Exchange, where they’ll be on hand to chat about the different ways they can offer support.
Better Health with Dr Jane
A firm favourite at last year’s Summit, Dr Jane is back! A GP and health coach, Dr Jane works with women in midlife to help them feel healthier, stronger and more like themselves through realistic lifestyle and behaviour changes.
From weight management and burnout to better sleep and navigating hormonal shifts, her approach is about making changes that actually work for real life. Go and say hello to Dr Jane and her colleague Emma. We have a feeling the stand might be a busy one.
KidsOR
This one started right here in Edinburgh and is now changing children’s lives around the world. Founded by Nicola and Garreth Wood, Kids Operating Room is a charity working to ensure every child has access to safe surgery. Surgery saves kids’ lives. It also gets them back to school, back on the football pitch, back on track for a unique future. A future where anything is possible.
Kids Operating Room will be joining us in The Exchange, where Individual Giving Manager Lynne Brookes will be sharing more about their incredible work, the difference it makes and how you can get involved too. In many countries safe timely surgery is not an option, hospitals do not have the right equipment, surgeons operate by torchlight with adult sized tools, they cannot get the training for specialist children’s surgery. That’s why Kids Operating room exist.
Supermums
The world of work is changing fast, so how do we make sure women aren’t left behind? That’s a question CEO and founder Heather Black is tackling through Supermums, which helps women and others build some of the most in-demand tech skills across CRM, data and AI.
As AI changes traditional roles and creates entirely new ones, Supermums is all about helping people upskill, change direction and feel ready for what comes next. If a career pivot, return to work or simply learning something new has been on your mind, make sure you have a chat with the team.
Made Scotland
Ever wished someone else would just sort your gifting for you? Meet Made Scotland. It's a curated online store showcasing beautiful gifts made by Scottish makers, alongside a bespoke gifting service for corporate clients, events, travel and anything else you can think of! Founder Alexandra will be showcasing her range of signature Made Scotland gift boxes on the day and will be on hand to chat about all things Scottish gifting, from a one-off present to a fully bespoke corporate order. Pop by, and if you're thinking ahead to Christmas, you could place a pre-order - or just go for a chat and enter the free raffle to win a beautiful Teatime Gift Box. Good luck!
Townhouse
Beautiful nails? Tick. Speedy service? Tick. Non-toxic products and a full vegan range? Tick, tick, tick. Townhouse has two lovely Edinburgh salons in St James Quarter and Morningside and they’re bringing a little bit of the salon experience to Women on Top too. Even better? They’ll be offering mini manicures at the Nail Bar in The Exchange. Because if there was ever a day to squeeze in a little pampering between talks, coffee and networking, this is it.
Nuffield Health Edinburgh Hospital
Sometimes the hardest part of looking after your health is simply knowing where to begin. Based on Colinton Road, Nuffield Health Edinburgh Hospital offers access to specialists, outpatient appointments, day surgery and diagnostic imaging. Following recent major investment, their diagnostic imaging suite is fully equipped with the latest in AI-assisted CT and MRI scanners and an upgraded DEXA scanner for bone density and body composition analysis.
Healthcare Account Manager Jenny Sully and Ward Manager Jenny Johnstone will be joining us in The Exchange, so it’s a great opportunity to stop by, ask questions and find out more about the different ways the hospital can support your health. They’ll also be sharing details of a series of free educational events, where you can hear directly from the experts, ask those questions you’ve perhaps been putting off and, at selected events, benefit from a free, no-obligation mini consultation.
You’ll be able to sign up on the day for:
- 10-minute mini consults with a vascular surgeon (thread veins and varicose veins)
- A menopause talk with a consultant gynaecologist
- 10-minute mini consults with an oculoplastic surgeon (blepharoplasty/eyelid surgery)
Feisty Gals
Say hello to Feisty Gals, an initiative founded by Women’s Fund for Scotland with one big aim: helping women and girls aged 12+ across Scotland feel louder, prouder and more confident.
Their work spans everything from health and wellbeing to leadership, financial resilience and recovery from abuse, helping women and girls build confidence, find their voice and move forward.
You may have heard that egg head Kylie is now an Ambassador for Women’s Fund for Scotland, and a big part of that will be championing this brilliant fundraising movement, Feisty Gals. So, watch this space… you’ll be seeing plenty more Feisty Gals initiatives over the coming months.
Caorunn Gin
After a BIG day of conversations, connections, ideas and inspiration, we think a little celebration is entirely justified. Handcrafted in small batches at Balmenach Distillery in the Scottish Highlands, Caorunn Gin combines locally foraged Celtic botanicals with a distinctly Scottish story.
They’ll be bringing a taste of the Highlands to The Exchange, ready for that point in the day when coffee makes way for something a little more celebratory!
Anderson Strathern
Starting a business? Navigating an employment issue? Sorting out a Will? There are some things in life where a quick Google just isn’t going to cut it. Scottish law firm Anderson Strathern works with individuals, families and businesses across a huge range of legal matters, combining more than 325 years of history with a refreshingly modern approach.
Suzanne and Sarah from the team will be in The Exchange throughout the day, so if there’s something you’ve been meaning to ask, this could be your chance to get some expert guidance and point yourself in the right direction.
And of course, a huge thank you goes to our headline sponsors: Royal Bank of Scotland, FreeAgent Accounting Software, Melville Independent, Miller Homes, St. Modwen Homes, Eastern Western Motor Group, YourScene, Caledonian Sleeper and To Be Continued for believing in what we’re building and helping us make our biggest day of the year possible.
Don’t miss your chance to explore The Exchange on Thursday 24th September.
Book your Women on Top Summit 2026 ticket here!
