News
Women's Enterprise Task Force unveils priorities The National Women's Enterprise Task Force has unveiled its five core priorities for action which are to; embed gender disaggregated data-collection as a principle across Government and the regions, work with the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to ensure access to high quality women-friendly business support in every region, focus on women's financial and technical education, promote supplier diversity and to raise and maintain the profile of women's enterprise in the media and with the public. The national Task Force was launched by the Government last year to drive forward the women's enterprise agenda across Government departments and the regions. http://www.womensenterprise.co.uk/ Scholarships launched for women entrepreneurs A scholarship scheme for women entrepreneurs has been launched to help women develop their businesses at the Cranfield School of Management. The scholarships which fund 50 - 70% of programme fees and enable women to participate in Cranfields' prestigious 'Business Growth and Development Programme'. The next programme will start in September. For more information visit http://www.som.cranfield.ac.uk/som/groups/enterprise/credo/index.asp or call Kristy Wilkinson or Michelle Kent on 01234 751122 Female CEOs promote culture change Female employees are more likely to thrive in organisations where more than 30% of senior executives are already women according to new research. The study by the London Business School finds companies with female Chief Executives were more likely to enlist women in crucial projects. Professor Lynda Gratton who led the research says "When the proportion of women in senior positions is less than the critical mass (30%) then the culture and the practices of the organisation are unlikely to create a strong pipeline for women". The study calls for organisations to open up the leadership pipeline though: measuring and reporting on gender diversity, enabling flexible working, provide networking and mentoring options and offer leadership training. http://www.london.edu/womeninbusiness.html LDA Gender Equality Scheme consultation Helping more women to start and grow their own business is highlighted as one of five key priorities in the London Development Agencies (LDA) draft gender equality scheme . The draft sets out the organisations priorities for the next three years and is now open for consultation. Enterprise related targets include 'ensuring women run businesses are able to bid for contracts in the 2012 Olympic games' and significantly increasing the number of women accessing business support in the Capital to 40% of all users by 2010. The consultation is open until 1 August for details visit: http://www.lda.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.1887 New online course for female entrepreneurs An innovative online training course has been launched by the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA). The E-Learning for Female Entrepreneurs ELFE programme guides women through a series of modules including taxation, marketing, growth and innovation. The NFEA has a strong record in targeting potential and existing women business owners. Forty - eight per cent of their mentors are women and 38% of their clients. In the six years that their New Entrepreneurship Scholarship programme has been running, female participation has risen steadily from 41% to 51%. Check out the new online programme at: http://www.iwi.hs-karlsruhe.de/entrepreneurs/uk/ Business success driving women's wealth Women are gaining affluence through success in business rather than inheritance or marriage, according to a report looking at female wealth. Barclays Wealth found that most affluent women made their money through their own enterprises, especially through earnings and business ownership or via personal investments. The number of female millionaires in Britain is predicted to outnumber male millionaires by 2020. Barclays Wealth Insights: A Question of Gender is based on a global survey of 600 wealthy individuals. http://www.newsroom.barclays.co.uk/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=1092&NewsAreaID=2 Welcome to the Angels Den An internet based company 'Angels Den' has been launched to link up the UK's business angels with entrepreneurs seeking investment. It is thought to be the first national service of its kind and aims to tackle the equity funding gap. Written in plain English the site guides people through the process of pitching a business idea online. Although not specifically targeted at women, Bill Morrow founder of the site says "the word has got round that women business owners look after the finances better than men and many Angels are steering towards investing in female-run businesses. Plus there are an increasing number of female Angels, keen to give something back to a new generation of entrepreneurs". http://www.angelsden.co.uk/ Paternity leave consultation announced The Government has launched a consultation on paternity leave, which it says is aimed at increasing flexibility. If the proposals get the go-ahead, a father would be entitled to take part of the mother's maternity leave if she chose to return to work before the child's first birthday. It would allow the parents to divide the period of paid leave to best suit themselves. The consultation ends on 3 August. Have your say at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page39405.html Limited number of Prowess Conference CDs now available Make sure you are up to date with all the latest thinking in the women's enterprise sector - a limited number of audio CDs of the 4th Annual Prowess Conference are now available to non-attendees. So if you missed it first time round here is your chance to hear leading social commentator Polly Toynbee's inspirational presentation, Dr Rebecca Harding of the London Business School outline all the latest women's enterprise research, the Chairs of the National Women's Enterprise Task Force set out their vision and more. For details of obtaining the 4 CD set contact Kati at admin@prowess.org.uk Queens Birthday Honours Congratulations to Prowess Executive Director Erika Watson who has been awarded an MBE for 'services to women's enterprise' in the Queens Birthday Honours list. Also many congratulations to Prowess members Parvin Ali who received an OBE for 'services to diversity' Parvin is Director of FATIMA Women's Network.. http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/download.asp?docId=1202719 |
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Prowess member's news
NWDA announce major funding for small businesses The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has announced over £1 million of funding to provide loans of £3000 to £30,000 to start-up, established small businesses, and not-for-profit social enterprises throughout the region. Another Prowess member Bolton Business Ventures, will provide new loans in Northern Greater Manchester, Lancashire and to women-led businesses in Merseyside. Visible women celebrating mid-life discoveries South East Enterprise are launching a new website for women over 50. The new site promotes experiences, challenges, networking and training for women over 50. It includes case studies of women over 50 who have started their own business and details of training courses for starting internet based companies. Take a look at: http://www.visiblewomen.co.uk/ Sheffield to Mongolia! Not satisfied with their last effort of 4000 miles to the Gambia in an old banger, Yasmin and Georgia from Beta Technology are now off on a 10,000 mile journey in a 1 litre banger to Mongolia. Their adventure will raise money for two charities: Mercy Corps Mongolia and Hope and Homes for Children For details of the journey and to make a donation visit: http://mongolrally.theadventurists.com/index.php?mode=team&sub=display&name=tddt SWRDA launch directory of business support for women The South West of England Regional Development Agency have launched a directory of business support for women. The guide includes details of business support providers in all South West counties and includes inspirational local case studies and top tips. The directory was produced in partnership with Prowess and can be downloaded at: www.southwestrda.org.uk/womensenterprise and http://www.prowess.org.uk/publications.htm Royal visit for Women into Enterprise (WiE) The Duke of Kent congratulated participants in the Women into Enterprise (WiE) training programme run by the University of Bath during his visit to the campus. The Duke met with Mamta Bhattacharyya, who has started her own Indian cookery school. She said "It is fantastic that we have shown him how multi-cultural and multi-dimensional the university is". http://www.bath.ac.uk/lifelong-learning/hubub/wie/ Breaking barriers to business ABDN Minority Ethnic Enterprise Network has celebrated the success of over 150 ethnic minority entrepreneurs in a glittering ceremony in Leeds. The participants in their course came from communities as diverse as Asian, Afro-Carribean, Chinese, Russian, Polish, Indian, African and Pakistani. The programmes particularly target ethnic minority women looking to start their own company . For details of the network contact Amrit Choda, Business Development Officer at Leeds City Council on amrit.choda@leeds.gov.uk
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Events
Fusion: National conference on women-owned businesses in Science, Engineering, Construction and Technology (SECT) 13 July 2007, Birmingham (£100 Standard, £50 not for profit or women owned business). This event aims to open doors to new market opportunities for women who own businesses in the SECT industries and inform Corporate and Government procures how their supply chain can benefit from the untapped talent and innovation that women-owned businesses present. Click http://www.prowess.org.uk/fusion.htm for full programme and to download a booking form.
The rest of this section is restricted to Prowess members. For information on how to join Prowess visit: http://www.prowess.org.uk/about/apply.htm
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
This section is restricted to Prowess members. For information on how to join Prowess visit: http://www.prowess.org.uk/about/apply.htm
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New Research
This section is restricted to Prowess members. For information on how to join Prowess visit: http://www.prowess.org.uk/about/apply.htm
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Vacancies
Prowess Flagship Manager The Prowess Flagship Award for Best Practice in Women’s Enterprise Development continues to grow and develop and we now need a talented person to lead on the management and development of the Flagship Award. We need someone who is passionate about quality women-friendly business support and who has well developed project management and marketing skills. Home based candidates may be considered contact Erika Watson at Prowess to discuss this option. e.watson@prowess.org.uk For an application pack and all other enquiries please contact: k.wakefield@prowess.org.uk Closing date for applications: Friday 29 June 2007 Interview date: Monday 9 July 2007 Women's Enterprise Advisor (maternity leave cover) South West of England Regional Development Agency If you are interested in applying please follow this link for further information and an application form http://www.southwestrda.org.uk/about/job-vacancies/current-vacancies.shtm. The closing date for applications is the 9 July. Regional Development Agency board members Prowess members are encouraged to put themselves forward as board members for the English Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). A number of business, voluntary sector and local authority vacancies are available at 8 of the RDAs. Board members will need to commit a minimum of two days per month for an initial period of three years. New board members are recruited on a yearly basis. Further information and an online application process are available at www.rdaappointments.co.uk. Applicants without access to the internet can contact 08700 435060, quoting reference RDA001. The deadline for applications for this campaign is Friday 29th June at 4 p.m. |
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New Members
New members of Prowess include: St Helens Chamber www.sthelenschamber.com National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship www.ncge.com South East Enterprise www.seenterprise.co.uk Cambridge Businesswomen’s Network www.cbn.org.uk DeMontfort University Innovation Centre www.dmu.ac.uk
Click here for details of Prowess membership |
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 2007. 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 |
