News
Chancellor announces national Women's Enterprise Task Force Gordon Brown has announced the establishment of a national Women's Enterprise Task Force. This welcome development will ensure that women's enterprise remains a priority across Government. Prowess, alongside the Women's Enterprise Panel has campaigned long and hard for the Task Force which will work with Government Departments and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) over three years to boost the levels of female enterprise. It will ensure that all regional economic strategies include a plan to increase women's enterprise rates and that all RDAs have a strategy for incorporating women-friendly business support into mainstream provision. Additionally it will improve awareness and access to finance for women entrepreneurs. The DTI will manage the recruitment of the Chair and Task Force members ready for its launch in Spring 2006. The announcement was made in the Chancellors Pre-Budget report which can be read at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ (section 3.71) Tax credit change offers more support to female entrepreneurs From April 2006 the Tax Credit earnings disregard will rise from £2,500 to £25,000 ensuring all families with income increases will not have their tax credit reduced within the first year of the increase. The changes, which were called for by Prowess are particularly welcome for the self-employed and business owners who's earnings can fluctuate significantly. For details see: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ (section 5.19 of the Pre-Budget Report) East Midlands aim for equal numbers of women and men in enterprise The East Midlands have pledged that the number of women starting businesses in the region will equal that of men by 2020. "Women are the enterprise gap in our region and their businesses will help create more jobs and wealth for our economy" said Dr Bryan Jackson, emda Chair. The long term target was outlined in 'Women's Enterprise 2020' - the East Midlands strategic action plan to boost the number of female entrepreneurs. To achieve the target ,emda proposes a range of initiatives including the development of a Women's Enterprise Hub to extend and improve the quality of the business support offered to women business owners. Emda is currently the RDA lead on women's enterprise and is working closely with other regions to ensure a strategic and consistent approach. Download 'Women's Enterprise 2020' at: http://www.emda.org.uk/main/ Public Gender Duty - Have your say The Government is proposing a 'Public Gender Duty' which will require all public authorities to actively promote equality rather than just taking steps to prevent discrimination. Under the proposals public sector organisations would be required to set 'gender equality targets, publish and update gender equality action plans every 3 years and conduct gender impact assessment on all new policy'. The proposal is open for consultation until 12 January . To download the consultation document visit: http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/legislation/index.htm Prowess will invite members to contribute towards its draft consultation response, which will be sent to members this week. Enterprise myths deterring women says SBS Exaggerated feelings of risk and 'myths' surrounding small business deter many people - particularly women - from starting businesses says new SBS research. Eight key myths were identified including the notion that 'it takes over a year to start a business from scratch' - when most businesses are started within six months and that 'it is very difficult to get a bank loan to start a business' - when overall only 10 - 20% of business loan requests are rejected. The research suggests that women are more likely to believe these myths. The report recommends that 'support may need to be more intensively targeted and lengthy to encourage women into enterprise activity'. Download 'Myths surrounding starting and running a business' at: http://www.sbs.gov.uk/SBS_Gov_files/researchandstats/MythsReport.pdf Nationwide debate on what women want from Government Minister for Women Tessa Jowell has a launched a nationwide debate to hear what women want from Government policy. Over the next five months at a series of events called Today's Woman - Your Say in the Future, the minister will hear the views of women from around the country. Debates will be held in Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, Sheffield, Newcastle and London. An open website forum has been set up for women to feed in their views: https://secure.symphonyem.co.uk/todayswoman/survey/. Last chance to claim early bird discount for Prowess conference The early bird discounted rate for the 3rd Prowess Annual Conference ends on Thursday 22 December. Bookings for 'Aiming Higher', Cardiff 8 - 9 February are already up on this stage last year. Last year's conference sold out so if you haven’t already done so we would recommend you complete a booking form to take advantage of the early bird rate. Prowess has established a strong reputation for high profile, interactive events, with the Annual Conference being an event for everybody involved in business support policy and practice. The new Women's Enterprise Task Force will be a key focus of the regional roundtable discussion groups and throughout the conference. For further information and to download a booking form visit: http://www.prowess.org.uk/conference2006.htm or call our conference booking hotline on 01603 76233 or email conference@prowess.org.uk Prowess publishes business plan for 2006/09 Prowess will publish its draft business plan this week setting out the vision and agenda for 2006/09, as the women's enterprise campaign moves into a critical phase. The draft will be distributed shortly to members and other key stakeholders for their comments before being finalised. Please email admin@prowess.org.uk to request a copy of the draft business plan. ...and finally Seasons Greetings to all our readers! Prowess would like to wish all our readers a Happy Holiday Season. In place of sending Christmas cards we will be making a donation to Weston Park Chemotherapy Unit in Sheffield. Prowess members Yasmin and Georgia of Beta Technology are raising money for the unit and for local Gambian charities, by taking part in the Plymouth to Banjul Rally 2006. A lot of hard work and time has gone into the preparations and we wish Yasmin and Georgia all the best. For more details about their adventure or to make a donation visit: www.betabells-dingdong.co.uk |
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Prowess members news
Groundbreaking Women's Enterprise Centre for North West A new Women's Enterprise Centre offering everything from incubation space to female - targeted business support all under one roof plans to open its doors in Wigan in January. The centre is in based on successful initiatives from North America and has been driven by demand from the local female business community. John Burns of Prowess member Wigan Metropolitan Development Company, who is leading the project, said "We had really high attendance at our Women in Business open days over the summer and this convinced us of the need for such a facility". Contact John at: jburns@wmdc.org.uk Celebrating the AWE partnership The Accelerating Women's Enterprise (AWE) partnership came to a close this year. Over the past three years it has had immense success in transfering lessons of pilot projects for women's entrepreneurship to broader business support policy. Together the partners have delivered a programme of activity and interventions to ensure that mainstream business support is developed to meet the needs of all women. During the lifetime of the partnerhsip over 2,500 new businessees have been created, over 900 women have received training and 28 new accredited courses have been established. Download 'Accelerating Women's Enterprise - A Celebration' at: http://www.wbn.org.uk/publications/FinalAWEBrochure.pdf Welcome to baby Antonio! Congratulations to Milena Harbach of Sheffield Community Enterprise Development Unit, on the birth of her son Antonio, born on the 29th of November. Very warm wishes to you both. If you would like to express your best wishes please email Suzy Cornwell Ball, who will forward them to Milena whilst she is on maternity leave. suzy.sec@scedu.org.uk Chwarae Teg appoint new Chief Executive Prowess Flagship Award organisation Chwarae Teg have appointed a new Chief Executive. Marcella Maxwell joins the team after several years in senior management in Cardiff City Council. "I will build on the excellent contribution made by my predecessor Ruth Marks, in moving the organisation forward so that it can continue to play a crucial role in the equality and diversity agenda in Wales" said Maxwell. http://www.chwaraeteg.com/ Secrets of Successful Women Entrepreneurs Sue Stockdale of Mission Possible has recently had her book 'Secrets of Succesful Women Entrepreneurs' published. It profiles 10 exceptional women entrepreneurs, who are inspirational not becasue of where they are now - but becasue of how they got there and why. You can buy the book online at: www.bookshaker.com/product_info.php?products_id=111 WIN celebrate North East women entrepreneurs The winners of the North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards have been announced at the Hilton Hotel in Newcastle. The awards organised by Women Into the Network celebrate and recognise the economic contribution of women business owners in the region. Congratulations to Prowess member Business Link Tyne and Wear whose advisor Lynn Elves won the Supporter of Women's Business award. www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk |
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EventsAiming Higher - The 3rd Prowess Annual International Conference 8– 9 February 2006, Cardiff City Hall, Wales. Price: Members £330 (Early Bird £280), Non Members £380 (Early bird £330). Early Bird rate ends 22 December. This year the Prowess conference promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Join leading players in business support policy and practice for this highly interactive occasion where your views help to shape the enterprise policy agenda. The conference programme has been designed to capture the expertise of the delegates as together we focus on growth, sustainability and innovation. For more information contact the Conference Manager Ann Nicholls on conference@prowess.org.uk or visit www.prowess.org.uk/conference2006.htm
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AwardsProwess Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Women's Enterprise Development 2006 To recognise the contributions of both individuals and organisations to developing and innovating in the women's enterprise support sector, Prowess has created four awards to be presented on 8 February at the Gala Dinner of our 3rd International Conference. Award categories include: Innovator Award, Media Awareness Award - support by integra communications, Business Support Professional of the Year - supported by SEEDA and the Outstanding Contribution to Women's Enterprise Development Award.The deadline for nominations is 12 January 2005. For further details and a nomination form see: http://www.prowess.org.uk/AwardsinfoConference2006.htm
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New Research |
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FundingThis section is restricted to Prowess members. For details of membership click here |
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MembersNew members of Prowess include: Mission Possible, Faringdon, Oxfordshire: www.missionpossible.co.uk Newhaven Enterprise Gateway www.newhavengateway.com Women in Business NI Ltd www.womeninbusinessnetwork.org.uk |
Prowess – The UK association of organisations and individuals who support women to start and grow businesses.Please send comments and news or information sources to a.kent@prowess.org.uk by the 28th of the month. If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you would like to be kept informed about Prowess please e-mail your contact details to a.kent@prowess.org.uk . Let us know too if you want to be taken off the mailing list at any time. This newsletter is produced for information only. While we believe the content is accurate we can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Prowess is happy for recipients to forward and redistribute items in this Ezine, however we ask that Prowess is credited as the source and that where appropriate there is a link to our website. © Prowess Ltd 2005. Lion House, 20-28 Muspole Street, Norwich NR3 1DJ Tel 01603 762355 Fax 01603 227090 www.prowess.org.uk - the UK-wide gateway to local women friendly business support |