Prowess Publications
This section includes the publications which Prowess has produced, or which have been produced in collaboration to raise awareness of the needs of women entrepreneurs. These reports are designed to drive forward change and to offer an assessment of the current status of women's enterprise support.
Please click on the document title to begin downloading a copy. All downloads will open in a new browser window. If you have any problems, please email Prowess admin@prowess.org.uk for help and advice.
All of the documents listed are available in hard copy should they be required. Please email admin@prowess.org.uk to request the relevant copies.
State of Women’s Enterprise in the UK - a major new report provides a comprehensive picture of the rate of business start-ups and growth, the sectors from which women are leaving employment, and policy recommendations on how national and local government can further support women’s enterprise. (pdf 1MB)
Prowess, Nov 2007
Women-friendly incubation environments and managed workspaces: for women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) (Prowess in partnership with UK Resource Centre for Women in SET). Includes practical recommendations for developing women friendly incubation environments focussing particularly on how growth SET businesses. (Pdf 359 KB)
Prowess, UKRC, June 2007
Under the microscope: Female entrepreneurs in SECT (Science, Engineering, Construction and Technology) (Prowess in partnership with UK Resource Centre for women in SET) Includes the findings of the first UK survey of women in SECT also features 20 inspirational case studies. To order bulk or individual hard copies contact: admin@prowess.org.uk(Pdf 1MB)
Prowess, UKRC, June 2007
South West Directory of Business Support for Women (South West of England Regional Development Agency in partnership with Prowess). Directory of regional business support organisations and networks in the South West. Includes case studies of local female business owners and tips on growing your business. If you would like to order a hard copy please email: womensenterprise@southwestrda.org.uk It is also available as an online searchable database at: www.southwestrda.org.uk/womensenterprise
Prowess, SWRDA, June 2007
Stairways to growth: supporting the ascent of women's enterprise in the UK Written by Dr Rebecca Harding, Executive Director GEM a Prowess/GEM report presenting an overview of female entrepreneurship in the UK with policy recomendations for more sustained growth (Pdf 861 KB)
Prowess/GEM, Nov 2006
Enterprise for All: progressing the agenda A report by the Enterprise for All Coalition (EfAC), written by Andrea Westall, October 2006. The report calls for an inclusive enterprise culture, adequate resourcing and a client-centered approach to business support. (Pdf 1.36 MB)
Enterprise for All Coalition, Oct 2006
Prowess Strategic Business Plan 2006 - 09 The business plan sets out Prowess' strategic aims and objectives and policy goals for the next three years. (Pdf 289KB)
Prowess Strategic Business Plan 2006 - 09 - Annexes Includes supplementary information on Prowess' policy objectives and the strategic environment for women's enterprise. (Pdf 287KB)
East of England Directory of Business Support for Women Directory of regional business support organisations and networks within the East of England. Includes case studies of women who have started businesses and top-tips for starting and growing your own business. (Pdf)
(East of England Development Agency in partnership with Prowess March 2006)
Business Support with the 'F' Factor - A multi-lateral approach to providing Female - Friendly business support to all women This report's objective is to ensure that every woman in each region has access to high quality Female-Friendly business support from pre pre-start up stage onwards. (Pdf, 486KB)
Prowess Oct 2005
The Regional State of Women's Enterprise in England This report is the first comprehensive overview of women’s enterprise in England at the regional level. It sets out a baseline showing the extent to which women are active in enterprise at the regional level and outlines the relevant strategies of the nine Regional Development Agencies. To request a copy of the full report please email admin@prowess.org.uk (Pdf, 2.36 MB)
Prowess, June 2005
The Regional State of Womens Enterprise in England - Executive Summary only (Pdf, 41KB)
Prowess, June 2005
A Manifesto for Women's Enterprise A Manifesto of Prowess's key policy objectives. Full of key statistics and recommendations, it is an excellent lobbying tool to promote the economic case for women's enterprise. (Pdf)
Prowess, March 2005
South East England Directory of Business Support for Women 2005
Directory of regional business support organisations and networks within the South East of England. Includes case studies and top-tips for starting and growing a business. (Pdf)
South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) in partnership with Prowess 2005
East Midlands Directory of Business Support for Women 2005
Directory of regional business support organisations and networks in the East Midlands. Includes case studies and top-tips for starting and growing a business. (Pdf)
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in partnership with Prowess 2005
Women-Friendly Incubation Environments and Managed Workspaces Theaim of this report is to look at ways in which business incubation environments can be tailored to meet the needs of both female and male business owners and highlights examples of current best practice. (pdf)
Prowess and UK Business Incubation, February 2005
Show Us The Money: The State of Women's Enterprise Support (pdf, 661kb)
Prowess report on the need for a coherent funding strategy for women's
enterprise support - includes specific policy recommendations.
Prowess, Oct 2004
Bridging
the Enterprise Gap (pdf, 178kb)
Prowess report on the persistent gap between the number of women and the number
of men who start their own business in the UK. Contains policy recommendations
and practical ideas for making business support more accessible to women.
Prowess, Oct 2004
US
Study Trip Report - Washington DC, Women's Entrepreneurship (pdf,
232k)
Prowess report on a study trip of key officials and members to
Washington DC, to review what could be learnt from the remarkable
growth of women-owned businesses in the United States.
Prowess, June 2004
Who Benefits? The Difficulties for Women in Making the Transition
from Unemployment to Self-Employment (acrobat pdf, 1.2Mb)
File
one (front cover)
File
two (main document)
Written by Dr Susan Marlow - De Montfort University, Andrea Westall
- New Economics Foundation and Erika Watson, (Prowess 2003)
More information www.neweconomics.org or
e-mail: info@neweconomics.org
A
Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise (acrobat pdf, 650k)
DTI - Small Business Service 2003
Ref: DTI/5000k/04/03. URN 03/867
The Framework has been written by the Small Business Service's (SBS) Ethnic
Minority and Women's Enterprise Unit, with assistance from Prowess. It has
been developed to provide a collaborative and long-term approach to the development
of women's enterprise in the UK.
More information: www.sbs.gov.uk or email: womensenterprise@sbs.gsi.gov.uk
Restricted
Access:Women-owned businesses in profile (acrobat pad, 300k)
Prowess (in association with the Federation of Small Businesses) 2002
Professor Sara Carter, Dr Stephen Tagg and Jackie Brierton.
Based on survey responses from more than 18,000 FSB members including 1,750
women-owned businesses.