NewsWomen top new Government Enterprise Strategy The Government has unveiled a package of measures to support women to start and grow businesses as part of the new enterprise strategy 'Enterprise: unlocking the UK's talent'. Highlights include; commitment to a £12.5m fund focused primarily on investing in women-led businesses, the piloting of Women's Business Centres in four UK regions and support for the Women's Enterprise Centre of Expertise, based in Birmingham, to become a national centre. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_08/documents/bud_bud08_enterprise.cfm Tough test-trading rule hits women the hardest Community Links is calling for an extension of the test-trading period which stipulates how long a business can trade before formally registering activity. The charity reports that women are significantly more likely to be running their business part-time in addition to caring responsibilities and this impacts on the length of time many women need to trade to make their enterprises profitable. In their new report 'Self-employed and micro entrepreneurs - informal trading and the journey towards formalisation' Community Links finds that many women fear formalising their business because they risk losing benefits at a time when they are still not making a profit. Community Links calls for more support to help people make the transition from welfare benefits to self-employment and for the process to focus on business 'landmarks' rather than 'time'. Download the new report at: http://www.community-links.org/news/article/two_new_reports_from_linksuk/ Women-owned businesses encouraged to bid for 2012 contracts CompeteFor, the official site for London Olympics related contract opportunities is encouraging women-owned businesses to take advantage of the numerous contracts available. The online bidding system which matches businesses to contracts records whether a business is over 50% owned or led by women. This information will be withheld in the actual awarding of contracts but the data will be supplied to RDAs to monitor the diversity of contracted suppliers. https://www.competefor.com/london2012business/login.jsp Sexism in the City - spotlight on the square mile The gender equality organisation Fawcett has launched a new campaign which will 'shine a spotlight on one square mile of the UK'. The City of London is one of the most economically prosperous areas in the world yet according to Fawcett behind the conspicuous wealth lies disadvantage and discrimination affecting women at all levels of business. Just 11% of FTSE 100 company directors are women and still 30,000 women lose their jobs in the UK each year becasue they are pregnant. Fawcett will lead a movement of individuals and businesses to bring about changes in legislation, policy, practice and cultures. For further information visit: http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=519 Prowess elects New Chair and Vice-chair Sylvia Philips, Operations Executive of Bolton Business Ventures has been elected as the new Chair of Prowess' Board of Directors. Sally Arkley, Managing Director of the Womens' Business Development Agency (WBDA) stood down as Chair on completion of her three year term. Sally performed an outstanding role, establishing Prowess as the UK's expert voice for women's enterprise. Tracy Hegarty, of Women in Enterprise (Northern Ireland) has been elected as the new Vice-Chair of Prowess, taking over from Sylvia. For a complete list of board members visit: http://www.prowess.org.uk/about/people.htm Support for self-employed women in male dominated industries Self-employed or employed women working in one of eight male dominated industries may be eligible for grants for leadership and management training programmes. The grants are distributed by Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries. Women must own a business or be employed in one of eight sectors: agriculture, horticulture, land-based engineering, environmental conservation, landscape, fencing, game and wildlife management and trees and timber. For further information contact: Connect@lantra.co.uk subject 'Women and Work' Launch of South East Womens’ Investor Forum The South East Women's Investor Forum has been launched by Finance South East for new and existing female business angels. It is intended as a member led forum to exchange experiences of business angel investing and to consider investment proposals brought forward by members. The first members meeting is being hosted by Coutts & Co on 7 May. For all details contact: Sally Goodsell, Chief Executive of Finance South East at sally.goodsell@financesoutheast.com ESRC Social Science Workplace Experience Programme The ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) is keen to involve social enterprises, local authorities and third sector organisations who have potential projects that could be completed by social science students as part of their 2008 Social Science Workplace Experience Programme (SSWEP). All applications to be submitted by 12 May. For further details contact: laura.ringham@esrc.ac.uk Prowess Study Tour to South Africa Participants on this comprehensive and hard-working five day programme to Johannesburg and Durban will hear first hand about new business developments, markets and trends which are fuelling South Africa’s remarkable economic growth. The programme will include; visits to business support providers such as Tambeisa Women's Co-operative (in Durban) and sessions with local entrepreneurs to hear about their experinces of starting and growing businesses in South Africa. This, the first Prowess Study Tour to South Africa is being run in partnership with Yvonne Field Consultancy. Places are strictly limited to ensure maximum value for money, early booking is advisable. For full details and to make your booking today visit: http://www.prowess.org.uk/about/training.htm or contact Ann for more details at: a.nicholls@prowess.org.uk or on 01603 762355. |
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Prowess Member's NewsPathways to female entrepreneurship programme draws to a close A celebratory event will be held in Belfast to mark the end of the Invest Northern Ireland 'Pathways to Female Entrepreneurship Programme'. The event will showcase best practice from the past two years and report on how the programme has achieved its objectives of encouraging more women to consider enterprise and fostering improved linkages amongst the support network for female entrepreneurs. For further details contact Karen Hoey on 02890 393837 or email k.hoey@morrowcommunications.com or register at www.investni.com/registration Make your Mark campaign to target women Enterprise Insight, the organisation which co-ordinates the 'Make your Mark' campaign to encourage young people into enterprise is broadening its focus to include women. The new Government Enterprise Strategy unveiled plans for a high level media campaign 'Spark an Idea' to be co-ordinated by Enterprise Insight. This will help to unleash the potential of women who are under-represented in enterprise – the young, the economically inactive, specific ethnic minority communities and those returning to work. http://www.makeyourmark.org.uk/ Ambassadors providing knowledge, inspiration and advice Prowess Flagship member The Centre for Women's Enterprise (University of Bedfordshire) has run a series of awareness events with Women's Enterprise Ambassadors from the East of England. The events enabled over 50 women from the region to gain inspiration and advice from leading female entrepreneurs. The events were organised with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and run through the Investing in Communities Programme. http://www.beds.ac.uk/cwe/womenambassadors Mission Possible launch new business growth service Mission Possible has launched a new service to meet the needs of women running growing businesses. Mission Growth™ are groups of up to 15 women from non-competing businesses who meet for half a day every month to address business issues. The programme is designed for women who may feel they have outgrown networking groups and want support to take their business to the next level. www.missiongrowth.co.uk WIN launch North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Women into the Network (WIN) will launch their popular and highly rated business awards competition on 29 May 2008. For all details visit: http://www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk/page/awards2007.cfm Continued support for CDFA The government's new enterprise strategy indicates continued support for the Community Development Finance Association (CDFA) as it works to bring in sector standards and strengthen CDFIs. The CDFA's performance framework 'Change Matters' and its Code of Practice, which was mentored by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), are two key tools which will drive the sector forward and support it in reaching its full potential. http://www.cdfa.org.uk/ Northwest Women in Business Awards winners announced The inaugural NorthWest Women in Business Awards, organised by the Northwest Women's Enterprise Forum have taken place in Merseyside. Winners included Candice Fonseca, owner of Delifonseca - a traditional delicatessen based in Liverpool and Sharon O'Kane, of Renovo, a biopharmaceutical company based in Manchester. http://www.nwda.co.uk/news--events/press-releases/200801/women-in-business-awards-1.aspx NFEA Credit Crunch Week The Enterprise Agencies network NFEA is running a dedicated week of activity to develop and prepare current and future small business owners for any consequences this economic climate is likely to have on their business. The week will run from Monday 28th April to Friday 2nd May. For details contact: hayley.williams@nfea.com |
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Social Enterprise NewsFirst national social investment conference This event is aimed at those who need finance to help their social enterprise develop and grow - and those looking to invest in innovative ideas for creating social change. ' Good Deals' is the first annual social investment conference co-ordinated by the Office of the Third Sector and NESTA. The event will take place on 6 May. For details of speakers, workshops and booking a place visit: http://www.good-dealsuk.com/ Female Social Entrepreneur of the year award The closing date for the prestigious Prowess Award for an outstanding female social entrepreneur is Friday 18 April. This award sponsored by the Office of the Third Sector is one of ten categories in the Prowess 2008 Awards. The Awards will be presented at a high profile Awards ceremony in Birmingham on 6 June 2008. For further details about the awards and the nomination process visit www.prowess.org.uk/awards/aboutawards.asp £10m Risk Capital Fund for social enterprises Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, has announced that a radical proposal to set up a £10million Risk Capital fund for social enterprises will go ahead. The fund will be the first of its kind and will particularly benefit those at the critical start up and early growth stages of developing their business. The fund will be run as a ‘pathfinder investment scheme’ where the Government’s £10million investment will be matched by private and independent investors. http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/080227_riskcapital.aspx Co-operatives UK launch new diversity programme Co-operatives UK is launching a series of networking and discussion events for people from ethnic minority groups working in co-operatives and other forms of social enterprise. The events aim to discuss solutions to the barriers people face in starting and growing a social enterprise. Events will be held across the UK over the coming year. For details contact Shaun Fisher at Ethos public relations on 0161 830 7640 or at shaun.fisher@ethos-pr.com |
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EventsWomen as Leaders Workshop, Cranfield School of Management 1 - 3 July 2008 The Women as Leaders Workshop has been running for eight years at Cranfield. This programme feeds back on your individual leadership profile, identifies your personal definition of career success and helps you to recognise how to advance your career in a male dominated organisation. Find out how our programme has helped other women professionals One past participant commented: "I have just accepted a new job I will report to the MD And have taken on a massive but very interesting role. And it's all thanks to your programme - which gave me the time to think about what I wanted to do - and the confidence to take this on". Prowess Awards Ceremony and Lunch 6 June, Hyatt Regency Birmingham, Members £45+vat Non Members £55 + vat. Announcement of winners for the Prowess Awards 2008. Finalists will be invited to attend. Tables of 10 £500 +vat (Limited number available). For more informtion or to reserve your place contact Julia at j.orourke@prowess.org.uk or call 01603 762355. 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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AwardsThe Prowess Awards 2008 - Nomination deadline extended due to unprecedented interest These unique awards honour individuals from right across the business community who are changing the face of UK enterprise by championing female entrepreneurship. Now in their 4th year, the Prowess Awards have gone from strength to strength, last year attracting over 300 high calibre nominations. HSBC and Yell.com are sponsoring the awards for a second time heading the much coveted ‘Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Enterprise Development’ and ‘Inspirational Business Mum’ awards respectively. New categories this year include the ‘Social Entrepreneur’ category supported by the Office of the Third Sector and the Ethnic Minority Business Woman Award supported by the Women’s Enterprise Centre of Expertise (WECOE) and Advantage West Midlands. Nominations are invited from across the UK. The closing date is Friday 18 April and the Awards will be presented at a high profile Awards ceremony in Birmingham on 6 June 2008. For further details about the awards and the nomination process visit www.prowess.org.uk/awards/aboutawards.asp 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 |
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New ResearchThis 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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VacanciesExecutive Director, UK Women's Fund - Championing and investing in women, salary £70,000 pro rata 4 days per week, London The first UK Women's Fund launches early summer 2008, following research demonstrating chronic under-funding of the UK women's sector. As first Executive Director, you will drive and manage all aspects of the Fund's development. Growing the fund will be a top priority, as will strategic and business planning, communications, managing grant-making and overseeing operations. The closing date for applications is 23/04/08. Click here for further details. | |
MembersNew members of Prowess include: Women's Enterprise Ambassador Debi Hanley trading as Rise www.risehub.co.uk Join Prowess and become part of the UK alliance helping women to start and grow businesses: 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 2008. 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 |
