Women into Enterprise From July 2007 to June 2008 there were 3.8 million self-employed people in the UK, less than a quarter of these were women. We at PNE want to break down the barriers women face when starting up in business and so have dedicated this area entirely to aspiring women entrepreneurs. You will find case studies of women who have successfully started up in business talking about their achievements, as well as the problems they faced. You will find all the information you need about how PNE can help you to set up in business, from Business Planning & Accessing Finance to Support when your business is established. Current News Mum-preneur starts up online lifestyle boutique A MUM-PRENEUR has swapped the high-powered world of TV and film to start a business inspired by the birth of her daughter. Laura Rutherford, who was a script editor for Working Title Films on big screen productions including the Ali G Movie, opted for a complete change of career after becoming a mum to baby Bella last year. She set up Gateshead-based Sweetie Home – an online lifestyle boutique designed for busy people who don’t have time to go looking for home, mother and baby gifts – after her own problems finding presents for friends while coping with the change in lifestyle. She said: “The pace of modern life means that a lot of people need to juggle a career, housework, family and friends all at once – leaving precious little time for anything else. “Any parent will tell you that trying to tackle a bustling shopping centre, complete with buggy, bottle and child is no mean feat. In fact, even without the extra distractions of a toddler that has absolutely no interest in scented candles or Beyonce’s latest album, trying to pick that all-important gift for a loved one or friend is really hard.” She and daughter Bella test everything that the website sells. It includes sections for the home, as well as mothers and young children. She said: “I discovered and fell in love with internet shopping following the birth of our daughter, it’s so convenient. “Sweetie Home offers customers a range of gift ideas, to suit a variety of pockets and at a time that is convenient for them – not dictated by normal store opening hours. “I wanted a website that was like bringing your favourite shop into the comfort of your own home and with it, a fabulous collection of gifts to be loved and cherished. “When I’m sourcing goods for the site I keep in mind something William Morris once said, ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful’. I know if I can combine the two then I’m on to a winner.” The business is now dispatching orders overseas as well as to the UK and Ms Rutherford is aiming to become as well-known as a certain ‘yummy mummy’ mail order fashion brand. “I would love to become the next generation Johnnie Boden,” she said. (Source: nebusiness.co.uk, 14th December 2009) How can PNE help you to start up? Business Support assists with the planning and preparation side of setting up in business. A Business Counsellor is available for you to come in and have a chat with, telephone or email regarding your business idea or any issues you have with setting up your business. We have a comfortable and easily accessibly central Newcastle office with the option, if you require, to talk with a female Business Counsellor. It is important that you go through the process of writing a Business Plan as this helps you to establish whether your business idea is a viable one and can assist you with gaining the necessary finance to get started, if this is required. PNE can assist you with the creation of a Business Plan including a Cash Flow Forecast and may be able to help you to access funding from Business Link to part cover the cost of this assistance. We can provide you with information on where to source finance that is available for new start up businesses, if this is required, and we will also provide you with information on how to declare yourself as self-employed. There are also FREE business workshops for you to attend to further increase your business knowledge. Read Case Studies of clients Business Support has assisted
For information regarding Business Support please call 0191 230 6409 or email bss@pne.org Depending upon your circumstances the PNE Loan Fund may be able to assist you in gaining the finance you need in order to start up your business. The scheme will accept applications up to a maximum loan of £5,000 to cover the cost of start up and is available through submission of a Business Plan with Cash Flow and completion of an application form. However, you must accept that ‘going through the process’ does not guarantee that finance will be available Read Case Studies of clients Loan Funds has assisted with financing their business start-up
For information regarding the Loan Fund please call 0191 230 6401 / 0191 230 6403 or email loans@pne.org What’s available once you have started? PNE has a number of services that may be useful to you once you have started up in business. North East Workspace (NEWS) provides incubator accommodation small businesses, employing across three sites in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead. These sites are: ‘Silicon Alley’ Pink Lane , Newcastle upon Tyne and Westgate Road , Newcastle upon Tyne. ‘Woods Pottery’ and the ‘ Steenberg Building’, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne ‘Design Works’, Felling, Gateshead For information regarding Workspace please call 0191 230 6407 or email workspace@pne.org PNE IT Services provide fast, reliable support on installing, connecting, protecting, upgrading and fixing computer related equipment and offer a range of website services for small businesses located in Tyne and Wear. So whether it’s kitting out your new office, networking or helping with your security issues PNE IT can help. For information regarding PNE IT please call 0191 423 6228 or email itsupport@pne.org Shell LiveWire aims to help young people, between the ages of 18 and 30, explore the opportunites available to start their own business as a real and viable career option. Its objective is to provide support and access to guidance for young entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs. LiveWire currently has a competition running which aims to give away £1,000 to a new business (In first 6 months of trading) For information regarding Shell LiveWire please call 0191 423 6229 or email enquiries@shell-livewire.org As well as what PNE can offer there are other organisations out there that are specifically available to help women who have their own businesses. These businesses offer a range of help from networking opportunities to one to one help and support and financial assistance. Below you will find a document detailing such organisations but this is not exhaustive so be sure to keep you eyes and ears open for other avenues of support out there. ‘Women’s support organisations North East’ Case Studies Follow the link below to read case studies on a number of Women Entrepreneurs who PNE have helped to take the steps to become Self-employed.
More information If you would like to discuss any of the information mentioned please do not hesitate to contact a member of the PNE Enterprise team who will be happy to help.
If you are of an organisation that may have information relevant to women either thinking about self-employment or are already self-employed then please get in touch with Melissa Middleton, who will be happy to put some information regarding your service onto this web page. Melissa Middleton | Case Study Angel Cupcakes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne  Suzanne Noble and Amanda Pearce Suzanne Noble and Amanda Pearce came to PNE for help with setting up their business, ‘Angel Cupcakes’, to sell cakes for a variety of occasions and events. more >>Quote Martyn Hudson, Youth Integration and Project Co-ordinator, North Of England Refugee Service (NERS)
As a direct result of PNE’s support in presenting an outcomes approach to funding bodies, we secured a grant of £300k |
