Women's Enteprise South East

Free Guide to doing business in tough times

The South East region Business Link is offering a free 24 page ‘Guide to doing business in tough times’.  This booklet focuses on the measures which small and medium sized firms can take in response to the current economic downturn.  The Guide offers practical suggestions in areas such as finance, planning, operations and customers.   

The Guide offers tips and ideas for immediate action and recommends steps to take in the longer term.  It also outlines further sources of information and online web tools available on the Business Link website.  

You can sign up to download the free ‘Guide to doing business in tough times’ at www.businessquestionsanswered.co.uk/guide or phone the Business Link regional marketing team on 01483 713343 to request a copy by post.  

Deborah Wyatt, Business Link, explains, “Because we speak to hundreds of business owners and managers each week, we know that cash flow and finding new customers are top concerns.  This short Guide has been produced with every day business issues in mind and gives some really practical solutions which can be implemented quickly and more ideas to support the business in the longer term.”  

Business owners can also book a business review ‘Health Check’ with a local Business Link Adviser.  For more information, call 0845 600 9 006.

Investment Fund for Women

To help businesswomen access finance, we have lobbied Government for a women's investment fund, which was announced in the Enterprise Strategy and launched in November 2008.  It is being run by Capital for Enterprise Ltd (CfEL).

The Aspire Fund, as it is called, is a co-investment fund that is not designed to be accessed directly by businesses.  CfEL are only looking for approaches from either lead investors or investment readiness providers.  All direct enquiries from businesswomen should therefore be directed to Business Link (phone 0845 600 9006) in the first instance.

Aspire Fund applicants will either need to be directed to the fund through an investment readiness programme (which can be accessed via Business Link), or first secure private funding which the Aspire Fund could potentially match.  To enquire further into the fund itself, please contact Melanie Perkins at CfEL on 0114 206 2145, or click here.  

Network Online with Enterprising Women

Enterprising Women started in 2006 in response to a recognised need to unlock and stimulate the economic potential of women's entrepreneurship.

Enterprising Women supports women to start up in business, achieve sustainability and growth, and increases engagement with Business Link. To find out more visit the website at www.enterprising-women.org

Anyone can be a member of the community if you are a woman already running your own business, or planning to start your own business. We welcome you wherever you are in the UK! Some of our activities are only available in particular regions, but they are growing all the time. You can join here.

You can also receive a copy of the Enterprising Women newsletter. If you are a member you will get it automatically. If not, go to the past newsletter page here and put your email address in the blue block on the right.