Enterprise Enfield's 2023 Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs Celebrate in Style!
Enterprise Enfield’s ‘Inspiring Women’ celebrated their graduation on Thursday 6th July having completed the 2023 RSA Trust Inspiring Women Start Up Programme - a 6-month package of support empowering participants with the business knowledge, skills and confidence to establish their own businesses. All the support is FREE as it is funded by local Enfield based charity, The RSA Trust.
The 19 women graduated with a celebratory lunch and presentation ceremony held at the prestigious West Lodge Park Hotel in Enfield where they were presented with graduation certificates from RSA Trustee, Martin Jewell MBE. They also had the opportunity to hear from former participant, Sharleen Linton, founder of My Vocal Luxury – who inspired the graduates with her business journey and achievements since completing the programme in 2013.
Enterprise Enfield has been delivering successful business support programmes for women for 16 years and during that time has helped hundreds of women looking to start their own businesses. The participants of the 2023 Inspiring Women Start Up Programme were selected from 3 north London boroughs: Enfield, Waltham Forest and Haringey, to receive 6 months' worth of dedicated support through webinars, in-person seminars and the expert advice and guidance from an experienced Business Adviser.
Participants learn about all aspects of running a business including: planning, financial forecasting, marketing, digital marketing and social media – including making promotional videos. In addition, they have an opportunity to build confidence and gain support from the Programme Facilitator/Adviser as well as their course peers.
The types of businesses the 19 graduates are planning to start cover a whole range of sectors including: art, fashion jewellery, events planning, psychology/therapy, dog grooming, virtual assistant, hair treatments, baby clothes and accessories, backpacks, residential care/ assisted living, architectural design, yoga, cosmetics, and food production. Particpant Juliet Saffrey is setting up a Virtual Assistant business, Jules VA, she said:
"It's been really valuable - if I was to do everything we have done in the last few months I would have to take 4 or 5 different courses. I've learnt a lot more than I thought I needed to learn - things I didn't consider, from marketing and how to do research to tax and HMRC. I didn't think I could learn all those things, but I did and I'm really proud of myself.
Initially my focus is to market myself, bring in clients and get my business growing. Long term - where do I see myself in 5 or 10 years from now? I am hoping I have enough clients and affiliates, and associates to work with me - I would like to become a consultant / coach - so I can match virtual assistants with clients - so it's not just me growing - but other people are benefitting from my company."
Enterprise Enfield CEO, Despina Johnson said:
“We are immensely proud of our Inspiring Women graduates this year. Our RSA Trust Inspiring Women Programme empowers women to become enterprise-ready - equipping them with the skills they need to start and run successful and sustainable businesses. It's not an easy course - there is a big learning curve with such a broad spectrum of subjects to grasp - from finance to digital marketing. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to hearing about the women's new ventures and supporting them further through other advice and support programmes we are currently running for existing business owners - such as our E-business Programme."
Subject to funding, the next RSA Trust Inspiring Women Start Up Programme will run from January - July next year - recruitment by application will start in November.