• Starting and growing a business

1. Top tips
   • Generating the idea
   • Taking the leap
   • Raising the money
   • Doing your own PR
   • Your first employee
   • Work/life balance
   • Growing your business
   • Passing the baton
2. Inspiration
3. Videos
4. Great links
5. Support in your area
6. Events in your area
7. Social Enterprise
8. Women in SET
9. B2B Directory

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• Flagship quality standard
• The Prowess Awards

Inspiration

We all need inspiration, and whether you're thinking about starting a business or have already taken the first steps, you can always learn from other people's experiences. We've brought together case studies of women who have started their own business, and each has a different story to tell. They come from a range of backgrounds, their businesses operate in a variety of sectors and they've overcome set backs and challenges to get where they are today. Whatever stage your business is at, even if it's just an idea, their experiences can help you every step of the way.

If you are a female business owner and would like to feature here on our Inspiration page please take 5 minutes to complete our short online questionnaire.

Olivia King-Boateng - Excelsya Women's Business Book Club Olivia researches and publishes information on business resources for women, especially mums. She also sells how-to business books relating to specific industries to help women start their own businesses.

Cally Robson, She's Ingenious! Cally spotted a gap in support for women who are promoting and developing a new invention or product idea

Lesley Anne Rubenstein, LAR Consultancy Lesley Anne built a career from advising other people about starting a business - following redundancy she decided to practice what she preached.

HELEN RHIANNON GILL - HELEN RHIANNON People are interested in reading about young women setting up businesses and making a name for themselves. I have found my local support to be invaluable

Sanchita Saha, CEO & Founder, CitySocialising Sanchita's dynamic social networking site earned her a place on Management Today's 'Top 35 women under 35' list.

Truly Ace Design - Amanda Vlahakis Amanda's graphic design company gives her flexibility in work and an enormous sense of pride in having grown the business from scratch.

Ranbir Sahota, Director, Vitis Public Relations Ranbir's virtual PR company ensures her work/life balance and has increased productivity.

Dee Wright, The Hairforce – Lice Assassins Using their licemeister combs and hoovers, The Hairforce are tackling a problem affecting thousands of families.

Lisa Tse, Director, Sweet Mandarin Through brand leverage Lisa has taken the media by storm.

Angela Kimberley, Angela Kimberley Ltd "If you think you should go out on your own, think about the worst thing that can happen and then you will realise it is not that bad, have confidence and go for it, life's too short!"

Sumita Sinha, Ecologic Chartered Arhitects "I am able to encourage other women into architecture, this is my highlight of owning a business."

Tracey Park and Lisa Houghton, Talking Tots One of the best things about being self-employed is being able to call the shots. When something isn't working we can fix it immediately.

Helen Walker, Water Power Enterprises (h2ope) (CIC) Social entrepreneur Helen Walker believes community ownership is the key to success.

Sade Sangowawa, Inspirational Art Ltd Sade Sangowawa graduated with an MBA and realised that there are not a huge number of jobs in her area of cultural awareness training. The kind of job she could get didn’t match her salary expectations so she decided she was better off starting her own business.

Claire Bennett, Music Bugs Ltd "I've found a way of providing a flexible, home-based business opportunity for women looking to improve their work-life balance. The highlight has been watching the business grow and flourish before my eyes."

Ingrid Blake, The Cyber Sec Following redundancy Ingrid found self-employment offered a fantastic chance to combine work she enjoys with caring for her two sons.

Jacqui Tillyard, Jacqui Tillyard Rapid Results Coach Jacqui always wanted to run her own company so to satisfy her hunger for independence. Using and learning from Neuro-Linguistic Programming, she is now the best coach she ever hoped to be.

Francine Pickering, Smart Women Ltd "Enjoy it - if you're not enjoying yourself, you're in the wrong game."

Kelly Stevens, The Women's Networking Company Know your market! Know your customer!

Carol Wicker, Carol Wicker Ltd Carol used the services of Bizfizz when she needed business support and found them "very helpful"!

Jackie Groundsell, 1230 The Women's Company Go for it, work hard, and benefit!

Mel Henson, Words That Sell "After I had children I wanted a new challenge and also greater flexibility. Working from home gave me the chance to combine both."

Genevieve Moody, The Flying Studio "You need to be committed and have a passion for what you are doing. This will keep you going through the lows and remind you during the highs of why you started in the first place."

Sarah Steel, The Old Station Nursery Ltd "Self-belief and sheer determination will go a long way in making your business successful," says Sarah Steel, last year's winner of the Prowess/Yell.com Inspirational Business Mum Award

Servane Mouazan, Oguntê Ltd "I wanted the freedom to achieve something big based on my own values."

Azita Qadri, Eat Your Cake "I get a real sense of satisfaction by what I have created, where nothing existed a year ago."

Kate Elliott, Kate Elliott Photography Successful freelance photographer Kate Elliott has a straightforward message for starting a business, do what you love to do!

Cary Marsh, Mydeo Cary simply wanted to share home videos with her family, she now runs a highly successful video streaming company and has partnerships with Microsoft, Orange, Tiscali and Canon.

Anne Duncan, Yellowfin "I am a serial entrepreneur and have started many businesses previous to this one. What drives me is the desire to change an industry."

Margot Cooper, Limbs & Things I have always found being a woman an advantage in business. Women are good at multi-tasking and at seeing solutions to things. I think my skills have always complemented my male colleagues.

Moira Upton, TLC Health Screening Ltd "I love the freedom of choosing my own working hours. And I can also choose what services to offer to customers, I’m in control and don’t have to ask anyone else before I can make a decision."

Xenia Horne, MusicMakers UK MusicMakers UK is an agency which books professional musicians to play at events, has doubled turnover in 2003 and owner Xenia Horne has plans to expand her 200-strong network of performers.