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Prowess in the pressLatest press releaseUK’s women entrepreneurs can lead us out of recession
Risk and Reward: the 6th Prowess Annual International Conference, 4-5 March, Blackpool, UK
As the UK’s leading women’s business support professionals prepare to gather in Blackpool, Prowess releases new research evidence of the recessionary impact on the UK’s 1 million female-led firms. Positive evidence points to women business owners driving a new, more robust feminine enterprise model based on diligent risk taking and collaboration which take account of wider social values alongside profits. Research into the impacts of the downturn carried out in February across 350 Prowess member organisations records a 40% rise in enquiries for business advice, and that most women’s businesses have no debt or well-managed debt. However, a significant reduction in the availability of bank finance is having a devastating effect on client firms say Prowess members, and reduced government funding for specialist support is putting pressure on their advisory and training services. Prowess, the UK voice for women’s enterprise, will use its International Conference on 4th – 5th March to rally the business support network for urgent action to ensure women business owners can lead the way out of the recession. Top of the list from Conference will be a call on the government to remove the blockage which is being caused by the banks preventing renewals of and extensions to overdrafts and loans. Prowess members report this as desperate. A second priority is for the government to design programmes of support, such as that given to the car industry, to better reflect the female dimensions of the recession, and thirdly, Prowess will be looking to forge closer ties with its partners in the States including keynote speaker Ann Marie Almeida, President and CEO of the Association of Women's Business Centers, USA, as together they launch a new international Quality Standard for Women’s Business Centres². The development of Women’s Business Centres is a key aspiration of the Government’s Enterprise Strategy. The quality standard is being piloted with the support of the Northwest Regional Development Agency. Erika Watson, Executive Director of Prowess comments: “Women are showing incredible fighting spirit and are at their most entrepreneurial in times of economic change. They have led the diversification of the rural economy over the last 20 years and they will do it again. But female dominated sectors like retail, hospitality and services are in the eye of the economic storm and so far government support has been focused on male led industries. Women are calling for strong local business support services in equal measure to access to finance and a clear acknowledgment from the government of the economic role they can play. In an uncertain, highly fragile business world women are innovative and adaptive, empathetic and responsive, great communicators and jugglers. They are risk aware and with the right support they are set to lead the way with their particular business approach.”
This year’s conference speakers include writer and academic Professor Germaine Greer; entrepreneurs Deirdre Bounds and Lucy Martin; former British Chambers of Commerce President and business owner Isabella Moore and Sonia Brown, Director of the National Black Women’s Network.
Host sponsor is the Northwest Regional Development Agency. Chief Executive Steven Broomhead says: “Increasing the number of women in enterprise is a crucial economic imperative for our regional and national economies and we are committed to encouraging more women to start and grow successful businesses. Business women create strong role models for younger generations and enterprise enables more women to become economically empowered – particularly in disadvantaged communities. It is an economic and a social issue – and never more so important than at the present time.” ENDS
Media contact: Louise Third, Integra Communications: 0115 912 4350 / 07773 288342
Media interviews: Several speakers including Erika Watson, Executive Director of Prowess, and Sylvia Phillips, Prowess Chair based in the North West are available for press and broadcast comment or interview.
Editor Notes:
Prowess is a network of 350 organisations which provide business support services to over 180,000 women. They also assisted over 15,000 new businesses to start in 2008. www.prowess.org.uk Risk and Reward: The 6th Annual International Conference will be on 4-5 March 2009, at the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool.
Host sponsor is the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
The Her Business Centre based in BusinessWorks, Newham, London is an example of the Women’s Business Centres mentioned in the release. It is a flagship centre providing uniquely tailored, professional services in a supportive and inspirational environment – offering real options for women wishing to improve their lives through employment, developing a business or education and training.www.herbusinessuk.co.uk
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