Women typically have higher risk-awareness than men.
They are also more cautious about starting or scaling up a business, limiting their willingness to risk their livelihood on an uncertain venture.
There have been a number of recent studies identifying that access to funding, suitable mentorship and a strong network are key requirements of female entrepreneurs. As the recent Rose Review found, women are 55% more likely than men to cite fear of going it alone as a primary reason for not starting a business.
Women are also less likely to believe they possess entrepreneurial skills: Only 39% of women are confident in their capabilities to start a business compared to 55% of men. This is a perceived gap in ability, rather than an actual gap in skill sets. In addition, many of the women too often credit other people for their success and dismiss their own achievements.
Her Biz is a free women's business support programme in Hastings.
Support for people thinking about starting a business has reduced significantly in the last year, and here fewer than 6% of working age women are currently engaged in early entrepreneurial stage activity in comparison to over 10% of men, the need for targeted, specific support is even more important.
To make entrepreneurship more accessible for women and to increase support for female start-ups locally, Let’s Do Business, the local Growth Hub and NatWest have teamed up to provide a new business support programme Her Biz for women based in East Sussex to overcome some of the barriers they face when thinking about taking the plunge.
Win £1000 to help set up your business!
The course in Hastings runs over 3 group sessions with talks by inspiring female entrepreneurs including; Sarah Jones, Director and Founder of Wilderness PR and Sarah Richard, Founder of Girls that Scuba, the world's largest female scuba dive community, based in Hastings, as well as further one-to-one mentoring sessions with our expert business advisers. The group will be approx. 10-15 women.
All the services delivered under this scheme are FREE of charge as they are part-funded by NatWest and the European Regional Development Fund.
You can be employed, unemployed or have already started your business.
Her Biz is an inspiring female business support programme designed specifically for women based in East Sussex to start and establish their own businesses. You can be currently employed or unemployed or already have a business, as long as you haven't registered yet with HMRC.
The programme includes help with: creating a vision for your business, learning about the skills and mindset required to start your business, defining your target market, developing a marketing plan, social media and PR, everything financial, plus much more.
Closing date to apply is 19 June.
By the end of the course, you will have increased your confidence, developed your business skills and created a business plan. On completion, the applicant with the most promising business plan will WIN £1000 towards the cost of setting up their business.
Useful links
Explore the below to find out more about how Locate East Sussex can help you.
About us Funding for your business
Meet our inspirational women of East Sussex 2019
To coincide with International Women’s Day 2018, we wanted to recognise some of the incredible women in the county today. From creatives, entrepreneurs, businesswomen, educationalists and charity leaders to influencers and community activists, these are just a few of the incredible people who make our communities such dynamic and interesting places to live, work and study.
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