Enfield Borough Council: Congratulating Female Entrepreneurs

Enfield congratulates female entrepreneurs.

Twenty one female entrepreneurs were recognised as ‘Inspiring Women’ when they graduated from an intensive six month business training, mentoring and advice course run by Enterprise Enfield. The 2015 RSA Trust Inspiring Women Programme participants graduated at a lunch and presentation ceremony held at the Royal Chace Hotel in Enfield where they were presented with their graduation certificates by Councillor Alan Sitkin, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Business Regeneration and Neil Isaac, Assistant Director for Economic Development at Enfield Council.

The RSA Trust Inspiring Women Programme, delivered by Enterprise Enfield, is now in its eighth year - and has helped over 150 women looking to start their own businesses. The scheme, which is predominantly funded by The RSA Trust, provides women with a unique opportunity to develop their business and personal skills to enable them to start up and run their own businesses successfully. Participants learn about all aspects of running a business including business planning, raising finance, bookkeeping, marketing, website development and social media. In addition, the programme covers areas of personal development such as presentation skills and selling to decision makers - enabling participants to gain the confidence required to achieve their dreams.

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Business Regeneration, Cllr Alan Sitkin said: “Enfield Council is doing everything it can to encourage women to start up new businesses in the borough by facilitating excellent training and business support. In addition to supporting gender equality, it’s about targeting practical assistance and advice to women in Enfield who want to work for themselves.

“I would like to congratulate Enterprise Enfield which has worked, for a number of years now, offering help to many local women who are now running their own successful businesses, and look forward to meeting this year’s successful candidates.”

Nine participants in this year’s programme have already registered their businesses and started trading, others have imminent start dates. Four participants have also already managed to secure funding for their businesses through the Start Up Loan Fund. Following the development of her robust business plan under the Inspiring Women Programme, Enfield resident, Laura Paton, applied to the Fund and secured the finance she needed to set up her own Transport Consultancy, she says:

“I am now a transport consultant with a business plan, a think tank of potential ideas and an unrivalled support network of friends, colleagues and business advisors - and it’s all thanks to The RSA Trust Inspiring Women, Enfield Enterprise and the Start Up Loan Fund. It really has been an inspirational journey for me and my fellow participants!”

Holistic therapy, health care, art sales, administration, tuition, kitchens and bathrooms and beauty therapy are just some of the other types of businesses 2015 participants have already started through the programme.

Applications for the next Inspiring Women Programme will be available to download from the Enterprise Enfield website in September - the course will commence in January 2016.

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