Enterprise Public Relations

 MEDIA RELEASE       PROW / 06 / GEM / Regional East       Issued: Thursday 30 November 2006

The East of England is leading the drive forward in women’s enterprise according to new research from Prowess, the UK’s leading women’s enterprise organisation. East of England registered a 300% increase in the proportion of women of working age who were starting their own businesses over the four years from 2002, the best regional increase in the country.

The East of England performance was the most notable example of a trend which saw women in rural areas being significantly more entrepreneurial than their urban counterparts. Substantial numbers of rural-based women are exploiting business opportunities, partly helped by access to new technologies, as well as engaging in necessity enterprise as the rural economy shifts from an emphasis on agricultural production.

East of England is reaping the rewards for its positive approach to women’s enterprise exemplified by the Enterprising Women programme which is funded by the East of England Development Agency and the European Social Fund. Enterprising Women delivers free training and support specifically designed to help women-owned businesses across the Eastern region. Despite its reputation for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, the region has traditionally lagged behind other UK regions in the number of women-owned businesses but innovative responses are turning that statistic around.

Despite the positive trend in East of England the Prowess research shows that work remains to be done in tackling entrenched barriers to start-up faced by women across the UK, such as under-capitalisation of ventures, low levels of self-confidence and the visibility of appropriate role models. Prowess is urging a greater national policy focus from Government and more cohesion across the regions, particularly in the light of radical changes to the business support environment - and that these should be priorities of the emerging Women’s Enterprise Task Force. The report was commissioned by Prowess with the support of HSBC in order to gauge the current levels of female entrepreneurial activity by geography, age, ethnicity, and to look again at barriers to growth.

“Despite some notable progress made over the last three years in the growth of women’s enterprise in the UK, we now need a much greater push at national and regional levels,” says Prowess Executive Director, Erika Watson. “The report highlights the importance of support and training that is as sustained and patient as women are themselves in their approach to business. The East of England provides an object lesson in what can be achieved with the proper focus of resources. If we’re to release successfully the undoubted potential of women entrepreneurs, this example needs to be matched by a consistent and sustained policy commitment from Government”.

 MEDIA RELEASE       PROW / 06 / GEM / National        Issued: Monday 13 November 2006Ref: National Women’s Enterprise Day – Wednesday 15 November 2006

 London UK: New research finds that considerably more effort will be needed to increase women’s business ownership in the UK, with a more sustained approach to policy required from Government.

 A greater commitment to women’s enterprise policy and practice is being called for by Prowess, the UK’s leading women’s enterprise organisation, as it launches its latest research into women’s enterprise in the UK. Prowess is calling for a long term and sustained commitment from government at all levels as the momentum generated over the past three years is in danger of petering out. In particular, Government focus on the 18-24 age group appears to be failing young women. This new report finds that young women in this category are the least entrepreneurial of all age groups and just one quarter as entrepreneurial as their male counterparts.

“Stairways to Growth: Supporting the ascent of Women’s Enterprise in the UK” will be presented by Prowess on Wednesday 15 November, National Women’s Enterprise Day, at a reception in the House of Commons.

Evidence from the research carried out for Prowess by Dr Rebecca Harding, Executive Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) (based on a survey of 32,000 people in the UK), shows that women are driving enterprise in the rural economy, and that women are more successfully exploiting technology suited to a new style of enterprise. It also points to significant entrepreneurial activity in the Black African and Caribbean female population.

However, work remains to be done in tackling the entrenched barriers to start-up, such as under-capitalisation of ventures, low levels of self-confidence and the visibility of appropriate role models. Prowess is also urging a greater national policy focus from Government and more cohesion across the regions, particularly in the light of radical changes to the business support environment - and that these should be priorities of the emerging Women’s Enterprise Task Force.

The report was commissioned by Prowess with the support of HSBC in order to gauge the current levels of female entrepreneurial activity by geography, age, ethnicity, and to look again at barriers to growth.

“Despite some notable progress made over the last three years in the growth of women’s enterprise in the UK, we now need a much greater push at national and regional levels,” says Prowess Executive Director, Erika Watson. “The report highlights the importance of support and training that is as sustained and patient as women are themselves in their approach to business. If we’re to release successfully the undoubted potential of women entrepreneurs, this also needs to be matched by a consistent and sustained policy commitment from Government”.

Simon Wainwright, Head of Business Banking for HSBC Bank says: “We are proud to be sponsoring this report which shows women entrepreneurs are already making a significant and growing contribution to the sector. However they remain under-represented in the SME world - doing more to encourage women to consider enterprise as a career choice is not just about equal opportunities, it also makes economic sense”.

“Stairways to Growth” recommends the following action:-

• That the Women’s Enterprise Task Force, announced in November 2005, swiftly provides national policy guidance at a time of rapid change in the business support environment.

• That the Government commits long term to women’s enterprise development. “Stairways” between different levels of policy making across relevant Government departments are called for.

• That training in all aspects of enterprise and business growth be provided as women who have received such training at school or university are two and a half times more entrepreneurially active than those who haven’t.

• That a policy focus on understanding the needs of young women in the 18 – 24 year age range becomes a priority as this will help close this significant gender gap in entrepreneurial activity.

Social Enterprise Coalition - National News Release

STRICTLY EMBARGOED

21.00 Wednesday 25 October 2006

London, UK: Winners of the 2006 Enterprising Solutions Awards provide a model for business in the 21st Century

Sunderland Home Care Associates was named Overall Winner of the 2006 Enterprising Solutions Awards co-hosted this evening by Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector and Rt. Hon Margaret Hodge MBE, DTI Minister of State for Industry and the Regions.

The Awards - run by the Social Enterprise Coalition on behalf of the Small Business Service, RBS and NatWest, in association with the Cabinet Office, Defra, Social Enterprise Magazine and The Observer - recognise and celebrate the best social and community enterprises that are passionate about social change.

Sunderland Home Care Associates is owned by its 170 employees who provide a range of care packages and services to major clients in the area. The judges applauded their ability to translate the social enterprise ethos into a strong business model which is now being replicated elsewhere. Receiving the £10,000 prize on behalf of all at SHCA Margaret Elliot, Director of Care Services said: “Naturally, we are delighted to have won such a prestigious Award. All of our Workers in our Social Enterprise provide a high quality service to vulnerable people and it is a boost to everyone to be recognised in this way.”

The New Social Enterprise Award went to Green Estate Ltd, based in some of the most deprived wards in south Sheffield. Their profitable management of public parks and garden sites has enabled growth to 45 staff based on a mission to transform open space from a liability into a productive asset.

Receiving the £5000 prize on behalf of all at Green Estate Ltd, Sue France chief executive said: “We are thrilled to have won this National award which could never have been achieved if we hadn’t had so many successful local examples in Sheffield to have built out from. Just surviving the transition from grant funding to becoming a self supported business still firmly on track with delivering the mission, had been achievement enough. I hope though, that good news stories like this helps to raise the local profile of the ‘not for profit’ sector.”

The other winners named were:

Galeri Caernarfon Cyf (Gwynned, Wales). A Development Trust with a 14 year record of social, economic and environmental projects which recently opened the ‘Galeri Creative Enterprise Centre’. The centre houses a flexible 400 seat auditorium, which also doubles up as a cinema, several rehearsal and practice studios, art space, café bar, rooms for hire, conference facilities and 27 enterprise units. Other projects include property development which currently house 31 commercial units and 6 residential units. These units provide employment space for 86 people.

SCA Group (Southampton) is a large scale provider of day-care and home-care services as well as dental care provision in Southampton’s areas of high social deprivation. Over 40 contracts with 6 local authorities have enabled SCA to expand into training provision of NVQs in Care, and to open three dental clinics which serve 20,000 patients. Several more clinics are planned.

Bulky Bobs (Liverpool) handles bulky household waste collection, reuse and recycling projects for several local authorities in the North West. Commercial viability is combined with social impact in the form of an innovative 12 month training programme for the long term unemployed as well as sales of pre-loved goods to low income shoppers. The company diverts thousands of tonnes of material every year from landfill by using environmentally efficient processes and resources, including the running of a bio-diesel enabled logistics fleet.

Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP congratulated everyone: “The winners of the Enterprising Solutions Awards clearly demonstrate that by taking a truly entrepreneurial approach to solving social and environmental problems they can make a huge impact to communities across the United Kingdom and beyond. I am pleased to see social enterprises succeeding in every area of the economy - ensuring people everywhere reap the social, environmental and economic benefits these businesses can bring.”

Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector, said: “The Enterprising Solutions awards celebrate the incredible work of Britain’s social enterprises at a time when the sector is growing in recognition. These are inspiring people who are attempting to move us towards a fairer world through new means: businesses founded for a social purposes which reinvest their profits.

“We are in the foothills of what the social enterprise movement can achieve - and today’s award winners are shining a light on the way ahead.”

Jonathan Bland, Chief Executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition added: “The winners show how social enterprises create wealth, reinvigorate local communities and address environmental challenges. They demonstrate how it is possible to put communities in control, empowering staff, customers and other stakeholders; giving them a voice and influence which leads to some fantastic results. Above all they show how this dynamic way of doing business can come with up innovative solutions to tackle some of the big issues facing our society today and offer a model for business in the 21st Century.”

 London, 11 October 2006: ‘Enterprise for All’ championed by new Coalition of leading business support and finance organisations in its first report.

Equality of opportunity to start and grow a business is not yet a reality and means wasted talent according to a group of leading UK business support organisations. The Enterprise for All Coalition (EfAC), whose members represent hundreds of professional enterprise advisers, now provides a single voice into government on behalf of individuals who will need supporting into business if the government is to meet its targets on enterprise and economic growth. A number of key recommendations for Government and the RDAs are presented in London today at the launch of the Coalition’s first report “Enterprise for All – Progressing the Agenda”.

The Enterprise for All Coalition comprises organisations which currently help tens of thousands of individuals into business each year. However, this work could be jeopardised unless the recommended action is taken. A Minister with an ‘Enterprise for All’ portfolio is being called-for by the group which involves the BTEG (Black Training and Enterprise Group), CDFA (Community Development Finance Association), NFEA (National Federation of Enterprise Agencies), PRIME (Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise), Prowess (Promoting Women’s Enterprise Support) and SEC (Social Enterprise Coalition).

Speaking on behalf of the group, Jackie Brierton of Prowess said: “for the first time, six national organisations have come together with one clear message; if gender, age, ethnicity, finance or location hold enterprising people back, we still need central and regional government resources and political will to make a lasting difference. We believe the acceptance of our recommendations will significantly help government to achieve its economic and social goals, and we look forward to working with senior officials to make this happen.”

“Enterprise for All – Progressing the Agenda” has been commissioned by the Coalition ahead of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and provides a valuable insight into the issues faced by potential entrepreneurs in some sections of society. Authored by independent policy analyst Andrea Westall, the report describes the policy context in which business support has previously been delivered, describes the economic and social benefits of greater participation by marginalised individuals beyond increasing GDP and points out the continuing difficulties in achieving this goal. Drawing on a survey of Coalition members, the report goes on to consider why and how government should be involved.

The report has been strongly supported by Community Development Banking at Nat West and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Andrew Robinson, Head of Community Development Banking said: “we know that there are plenty of talented entrepreneurs in the most hard-pressed local communities but without the right level of support their ideas go nowhere. We hope the strong working relationships we have already built with Coalition members in these communities and across other groups can continue through well resourced and coordinated business support.”