Rural Business Women in the North East
first to be Consulted
Women's Enterprise is increasingly becoming recognised as a major contributor to the UK economy. Since the launch of the Department of Trade and Industry's 'Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise' last year, support organisations throughout the country have been concentrating efforts to encourage and help more women than ever before into running their own business.
In North East region, support organisations are taking the drive for greater female entrepreneurship very seriously and an extensive consultation process is about to begin. As part of this process it is important that the views of women setting up and running enterprises in rural areas, as well as the views of rural business support agencies, are taken into account. Hence the consultations kick off with an open event in Alnwick, Northumberland on September 27th.
The event is an opportunity for business support agencies to meet up with women in business to look specifically at how women's enterprise can be supported and development encouraged in rural areas. One of a number of events in the North East, the consultation findings will be fed in to several strategic processes. The event is backed by Dinah Bennett of 'Women into the Network' and will be used by One north East to help develop their strategic plans for enterprise. Blue Horizons' Jackie Waring; currently working for The DTI's Small Business Service, and with PROWESS, and One North East to look at how the region can best organise support to women in enterprise; will also be supporting this and the other consultation events.
The Strategic Framework makes the following broad recommendations for women's enterprise support and the implementation of these will be considered in each consultation:
- Development of appropriate, integrated and accessible business support, combining quality mainstream and targeted approaches.
- Access to networking opportunities.
- More innovative and holistic approaches to business finance (eg microcredit group lending).
- Improved liaison and cross-referrals between high-street banks and business support providers.
- Affordable access to childcare provision and recognition of broader caring responsibilities.
- Flexible business support provision, recognising the needs of part-time businesses.
- Improved liaison and cross-referrals between business support agencies and Jobcentre Plus.
- Development of case studies featuring women entrepreneurs in a range of business sectors, and a database of appropriate role models.
- Personal development and confidence-building incorporated into business training and advisory services.
Anyone wishing more information on the Sept 27th event, should contact:
Julia Lyford, NNWN, c/o Police House, Embleton, Northumberland NE66 3UW,
fax 01665 576163, email: Julia@nnwn.org