Inspiring Women Programme

Inspiring Women is a business support programme specifically designed to help women in London start and establish their own businesses, as well as grow and sustain existing early stage businesses.

Support is provided through one to one sessions with experienced Advisers along with a range of business webinars and mentoring. All the services delivered under this scheme are FREE of charge as they are part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Find out below how you can access either:

1. A 3 month Inspiring Women Start Up Programme (not trading or registered).

2. The Inspiring Women Business Growth Programme (if you are already running an early stage business which has been registered for less than 42 months).

1. Thinking About Starting a Business?

Apply for the Inspiring Women Start Up Programme

This scheme offers a FREE package of support specifically designed to help women in London start their own business. It is delivered through a range webinars and access to our expert Business Adviser over a 3 month period. This includes help with:

Creating a vision for your business
Researching your market
Exploring your business model
Learning about the skills and mindset required to start your business
Understanding legal requirements
Peer mentoring with like-minded people curious about starting a business
Action planning on how to grow and sustain your business.

To Apply

To be eligible to apply for the next 3-month Inspiring Women Start Up Programme, you must be a woman and:

Be resident in a London borough
Be thinking of starting a business to be based in a London borough
Have a business idea, but not have already registered your business with HMRC or Companies House, or be trading. (If you have registered your business or are trading, you can still benefit from our Inspiring Women Business Growth Service for existing businesses, see 2. below)
Be able to commit to the 3 month period of the course - an average of around 10 hours a week.
Not already be receiving support through other programmes
Not have registered a business / run a business in the last 42 months (from the date of acceptance on this course

The next 3-month programme will commence with a webinar on 27th January 2021. For more details and to apply download, complete and return the Application Form here by 10am on Tuesday 19th January 2021.

To gain an overview of what's involved in starting a business, you may also be interested in attending our FREE Smarter Start Introduction to Starting a Business webinar.

2. Running an Early Stage Business?

If you running an early stage business, which is under 42 months old and based in London, you can apply to receive dedicated support through our Inspiring Women Growth Programme, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The scheme includes a range of free support including expert one to one business advice and a range of Business Growth webinars (12 hours worth of support in total). Get expert help to:

Create a business recovery and resilience strategy

Develop and review your business model

Promote your business effectively: develop a marketing strategy - including online marketing - and using social media.

Understand your finances: help with financial forecasting and cash-flow

Get to grips with environmental management

Human resources: recruitment process, staffing policies and procedures

Are You Eligible?

To apply for the Inspiring Women: Business Growth Service, you must be a woman and:

Have a business which is registered with HMRC or Companies House less than 42 months old at the time of acceptance for Business Growth support under this programme
Be running your business from a London borough
Commit to receiving 12 hours business support (this can be made up of a mix of one to one advice sessions and business webinars).
Not already receiving support through other programmes

How to Register for Inspiring Women Business Growth Programme

To make an appointment with one of our Business Advisers for a business review email .

There is no deadline to apply for the Business Growth service, you can apply at anytime, however, there are limited places available until the end of the Inspiring Women Programme in December 2021.

The Inspiring Women Programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund