News
Government emphasises commitment to women friendly business support in every region A major new action plan launched by the Government to address barriers to women's achievement in the workplace includes the acknowledgment that current female-friendly business support is 'patchy across the regions'. The Action Plan stresses the Governments commitment to launching a national Women's Enterprise Task Force to accelerate women's enterprise development throughout the UK. The report also emphasises that the intention of the current RDA pilot regional women's enterprise units should be to trial different approaches to supporting the start-up and growth of female-owned businesses. The Action Plan has been launched in response to the Women and Work Commission's 'Shaping a Fairer Future' report published in February. It addresses forty recomendations for transforming the culture in Britain from 'the playground to the boardroom'. Download the action plan at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/ Study reveals gender bias implicit in bank lending decisions The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is calling for all loan officers to use the same processes when negotiating credit approval within banks. Findings show female loan officers have less strong internal communications with credit controllers than their male counterparts. Whilst no evidence of deliberate gender discrimination was found, the results show that a gender bias is implicit in the criteria on which men and women's businesses are judged because women tend to have less business experience, fewer network contacts and smaller businesses. The study says that there is no systematic way in which bank officers scrutinise business proposals and that decisions are often based on 'gut feeling'. This subjectivity allows for the possibility of gender bias decision making says the ESRC. For further information see: New women's enterprise leads in three regions Three Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have appointed women's enterprise leads to take forward the promotion of female entrepreneurship in their regions. In a new post Vicki Montague vicki.montague@southwestrda.org.uk joins the South West Regional Development Agency . Steven Thain steventhain@eeda.org.uk takes over the women's enterprise and social inclusion agenda at the East of England Development Agency. Laura-Jane Franklin laura-janefranklin@emd.org.uk is the new Women's Enterprise Co-ordinator at the East Midlands Development Agency. US announces Strategic Framework for women's Enterprise Inspired by the DTI/Prowess 'Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise' a consortium of organisations are launching an economic agenda for women's entrepreneurship in the U.S. for 2007 - 2020. The framework will be launched in spring 2007 and formally presented to the President and Congress. It focuses on seven key areas of policy including; data collection, enterprise education and an emphasis on technology. A 'report card' assessing implementation of the recommendations will be released at two year intervals. "The most important thing is that this is not a document that gets released and then sits in a drawer, but that it becomes almost a 'Constitution and Bill of Rights' for U.S. Women's entrepreneurship' says Robin Diamond, a representative of the consortium. For more information visit: the website of Quantum Leaps: http://www.quantumleapsinc.org/vol4num2.html South East achieves Government's women's enterprise targets Eighteen per cent of all SMEs in the South East are now owned and/or managed by women according to a new study*. This indicates the region has achieved the aims set out in the 'Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise' that by 2006 women-owned businesses should account for 18 - 20% of the UK total. However female-owned businesses in the region are found to be smaller, younger and more locally focused than their male counterparts. The report finds that just 17% of these businesses have used their local Business Link for advice in the past 12 months and it calls for more flexible business support services in terms of timing and location to assist women with caring commitments. *South East Business Monitor, a quarterly survey of business owners conducted by the regions Business Link Service Providers, August 2006. For further information contact Stuart Cole at: stuart.cole@businesslinkkent.com Women's Enterprise Day 2006 - latest news The Make Your Mark campaign aimed at inspiring a more enterprising culture amongst young people in the UK have announced that Women's Enterprise Day will this year be celebrated on the 15th November during national enterprise week. Business support organisations and entrepreneurs are encouraged to showcase their achievements at local, regional and national events. For more information visit: www.enterpriseweek.org or contact Alex Ritchie on 020 7497 4041 or alex@enterpriseisnight.co.uk Senior South African Government representative to speak at Prowess conference Mmabatho Matiwane, Chief Director of the Gender and Empowerment Unit at the Department of Trade and Industry in South Africa will address the 4th International Prowess Conference in February 2007. Matiwane will talk about the upcoming launch of the South African 'Gender and women's economic empowerment strategic framework' and will take questions from delegates on the South African model for promoting female enterprise. The conference will take place at Brighton Racecourse on 7 - 8 February 2007. For all conference enquiries contact Ann Nicholls at a.nicholls@prowess.org.uk Conference booking opens shortly - watch this space: http://www.prowess.org.uk/conference/Conference2007.htm Conservatives to review all business support schemes The Conservative Party has announced a complete review of the Government's current business support schemes and quangos, including the Small Business Service (SBS) and Business Links. The review will examine the performance of existing schemes, consider how and when the government can best support businesses in the future, and evaluate how a revised business support strategy could embrace opportunities to develop an entrepreneurial economy within the UK. |
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Prowess member's news
Survey on barriers to women's progression in science careers The Athena Project will be running its third UK wide web survey of scientists, engineers and technologists from 5 Sep to 20 October. The purpose of the survey is to provide a firm basis from which to understand and address the barriers to women's progression in scientific careers. The survey is open to all men and women working in these and the medical sectors. The higher the response rate the better the data to inform policy. Complete the survey at: https://www.surveys.athenaproject.org.uk/asset2006 Have you got work/life balance? In the run up to the launch of a her new book 'Make it Your Business - the ultimate business start-up guide for women', Lucy Martin is conducting a short survey on women's lives from a work/life balance and self-employment perspective. Headline findings from the survey will be used to promote the book and women's enterprise generally. To take part in the survey visit: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=777812548080 Lack of funding deterring Yorkshire women from starting businesses Yorkshire female entrepreneurs name lack of funding as the main barrier to starting their own business. The survey was conducted at an Access to Finance road show organised by Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE), the Small Business Service and Yorkshire Forward. http://www.thefda.org.uk/news/femaleFunding3.asp ABDN launch business programe for minority ethnic women ABDN Minority Ethnic Enterprise Network have announced a second year of business courses tailored especially for minority ethnic women. Free childcare will be provided and the courses will be held at convenient times and locations. For further information contact Amrit Choda, Business Development Officer at amrit.choda@leeds.gov.uk or call 0113 22 43387. www.abdn.org.uk New online initiative for women in Essex The Women's Returners' Network (WRN) has launched a comprehensive online resource for women in Essex. The Jigsaw website will offer advice on preparing for interviews, writing CVs and identifying marketable skills. www.jigsawforwomen.co.uk New HQ for enterprise specialists A £2.5m business centre in Norwich has become the new headquarters for enterprise specialists NWES. Management and support staff at the organisation will now operate from the Henderson Business Centre, offering tenants in the premises access to a wide scope of business support services. www.nwes.org.uk Launch of Business Womens' Network NI Four women's enterprise networking organisations based in Northern Ireland have joined forces to provide members with increased networking and business skills opportunities. Kirstein Arbuckle, Business Women' Network NI project administrator, can be contacted at: admin@womeninenterprise.com |
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EventsBreaking the glass ceiling - achieving success on your terms Brunei Gallery, University of London, WC1H 17 October 2006 (free) The University of London invites you to a free evening of discussion and networking. A panel of speakers will welcome your questions, and following the session there will be an informal drinks reception. If you are a manager, a professional seeking a new direction or a graduate considering which career path to take, this forum is for you. Focusing on career change, work/life balance, and how education - particularly flexible education - can help you achieve success, this evening will provide you with an opportunity to question your perspectives and meet with like-minded professionals. To register go to www.londonexternal.ac.uk/forum
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For details of events aimed at women entrepreneurs taking place in your area click on the map below, members remember you can add your events to the Prowess online clickable map quickly and easily at no cost:
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Awards
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New Research
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VacanciesFreelance business advisors and trainers The Women's Business Development Agency (WBDA) is looking to recruit:
For further information contact WBDA at admin@wbda.co.uk CVs and covering letters should be sent to WBDA by the 5th of October. (These new vacancies are part of the Regional Women's Enterprise Unit (RWEU) - a partnership project by WBDA, Prowess, WiRE funded by AWM, ESF and SBS). For the further details about WBDA visit: www.wbda.co.uk |
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New MembersNew Members of Prowess include: Slough Businesswomen’s Network Group Islington Enterprise Agency Cheshire and Warrington Business Venture Ltd www.warringtonbusinessventure.co.uk Enspiral Ltdwww.enspiral.co.uk
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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 2006. 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 |
