A HAMPSHIRE entrepreneurs' guidance group is offering free training and mentoring to support women in setting up enterprises and community projects.

School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Hampshire is joining the Accelerating Women’s Enterprise (AWE) project to help more women grow their own businesses to transform the local economy.

According to The Unilever Foundry research, currently just 17 per cent of start up companies in the UK have been founded by women which SSE Hampshire is keen to change, with the support of Winchester based charity Action Hampshire.

The county organisation has teamed up with various partners across the UK and France to support women in developing innovative, creative solutions that are valuable to people and the economy.

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Nikki Prentice-Jones, head of SSE Hampshire, said: “SSE Hampshire is delighted to be a partner in this project to be able to support women in Hampshire with the opportunity to explore and grow their enterprise ideas through this programme. This benefits society in the long term as we encourage women to develop ideas, products and services that address current social and environmental challenges, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive economy.”

The AWE Making a Difference project will entail free online and face-to-face social enterprise training workshops, for women to trial their entrepreneurial ideas. With the support of tutors, experts, mentors and fellow participants, the programme will cover the basics of creating an idea, business planning, managing finances, marketing, generating an income, using social media, getting registered, measuring impact, and more.

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There will also be financial assistance available to those who need help with childcare, carers and travel costs, to reduce financial barriers that might otherwise prevent people from taking part.

The local programme, coordinated by Action Hampshire, is hoping for 40 participants, taking part online and in face to face workshops in Southampton.

The funding for the project is provided by Interreg (EU funder) and match funding partners, including Hampshire County Council Leader’s Community Grant Fund, Gentian Development Group, Paris Smith Solicitors and Hampshire County Councillor Grants from Cllr Adrian Collett and Cllr Tanya Park.   

Nick Ekins, CEO of the Gentian Development Group said:  “We’re really pleased to be involved as a partner of the Accelerating Women’s Enterprise programme in Hampshire. Gentian is a very entrepreneurial local business building and investing in developments for the future. We hope our support will help develop a very successful cohort of entrepreneurs who in turn will go on to run their own highly rewarding businesses.”

In the last three years the AWE programme has supported over 700 women across the UK and France in creating their own businesses.

To apply for the AWE programme, email Alison Bridge at alison.bridge@actionhampshire.org. SSE Hampshire is also looking for female mentors to help participants throughout the programme.

For more go to the-sse.org/courses/awe-making-a-difference-2/.