Eleven not-for-profit organisations have each received grants worth between £5k and £45k and will use the money to run programmes designed to support and train women who want to establish their own businesses.
The programmes will provide targeted training, knowledge development, mentoring, peer support and a range of other ideas to help build and develop the key skills needed to set up and run a successful business.
Joined up support
One of the winners, Joined Up Food (JUF), was recently founded to help entrepreneurs who want to set up their own restaurants or market stalls. JUF will engage over 300 women to support and mentor them in building successful businesses in the food industry.
Julie Bundy says “I was so excited when I heard JUF was selected for funding support from RBS Inspiring Enterprise. We now have the financial resources to offer a service that will give women the confidence and knowledge to compete in the business world.”
The full list of winners is as follows;
- Centa Business services: The Centa WISE Project, Camden and Islington
- Colchester Business Enterprise Agency (Colbea): Women’s Work - Small Steps - Big Change, Colchester
- Dagenham Bangladeshi Women & Children's Association (DBWCA): Increase Participation of Minority Ethnic Women in Enterprise, Dagenham
- East Thames: Mums Mean Business, London
- iSE (Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs): Flying Start, Birmingham
- MLB Learning Solutions: Mothers Empowered to Enterprise (ME2E), North London
- Nishkam Civic Centre (NCA): Senior Women's Enterprise Empowerment Project (SWEEP), West Midlands
- Westminster Enterprise Centre (a division of Paddington Development Trust): Joined Up Food (JUF), Paddington
- Passage from India: Moving Enterprises Forward, Glasgow
- Saheliya: First Steps into Business, Edinburgh
- West Wemyss Community Development Trust (WWCDT): Dreamers and Doers, Fife
More than 170 organisations submitted applications for funding to run programmes for women in enterprise. Winners were chosen by a judging panel including a public vote, with almost 5,000 people taking part.
Building skills
RBS Inspiring Women in Enterprise has been designed to encourage more women to explore enterprise, build their skills, start up and succeed in business and by 2015 we aim to inspire and enable 20,000 women to explore and unlock their enterprise potential. The grants will go to organisations who support women into enterprise through dedicated programmes.
Since its launch in October 2012, Inspiring Women in Enterprise grant funding has supported 34 organisations in total. As these organisations start to implement their programmes, they will help and support thousands of women on their entrepreneurial journey.
See the Inspiring Enterprise website for further information on the grant funding.
