networks and support for under-represented groups: successful support of rural businesswomen - polly...
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Our mission is to have a positive impact by doing everything possible to help female led businesses in rural areas of the UK to start, thrive and grow and to celebrate the important contribution they make to the sustainability of rural economies and communities.
Helping Rural Business Succeed
Rural Women
Women are part of the solution in their potential to contribute to rural economies and drive the renewal of those economies
Self employment can be a solution for rural women wishing to enter the Labour Market
Innovators, leaders, facilitate change and aspire to positive impact
Business Income and its Contribution to Farm Family Income Additional Farm Income
Supplement (%)
% of women
surveyed
0 –25 44
26 –50 19
51 –75 8
>75 29
(Source: Warren-Smith and Jackson 2004)
Valley View Farm
Sally Robinson Farm Cottages
Sally Robinson Amplebosom.com
Sally Robinson Amplebosom.com Employs 20 people
Exports
Viable farm
Rebecca Rainer
Glebe Farm, large arable, East of England, farms with her brother
Rebecca Rainer
Gluten free bread and cake mixes, now exporting to Saudi Arabia and Dubai
Blakemere Farm
Business as a solution
‘Differences in entrepreneurial activity by urban-rural split are statistically significant overall. Female entrepreneurial activity is higher in the most deprived rural wards than male entrepreneurial activity (6.6 per cent compared to 5.1 per cent). Women are also more entrepreneurial than men in more affluent wards (13.9 per cent compared to just 8.4 per cent of men)’.
Harding, R. (2006), GEMUK 2005 report, LBS.
Rural Women
Women are part of the solution in their potential to contribute to rural economies and drive the renewal of those economies
Challenges• Skills/ finance/ access to market• Cultural/ soft barriers• Isolation
Conferences and Events
Seminars and training
Umbrella Marketing
WiRE Networks
WiRE Networks
WiRE Networks
Foot Trails
The mentor, secret millionaire – Kavita Oberi
Emma Heathcoat James
WiRE Model
Network the infrastructure which aids business survival, innovation and growth
Peer support building social capital Local but not parochial Linked to training, specific business
expertise, and R&D Relationship throughout business journey
Key Intervention
NETWORK
CATALYST
To initiate, support and coordinate, to make the connections and keep the relationships live
WiRE
WiRE effective because we act as catalysts, we build social capital and we work with them on their terms throughout their business journey. We enable, catalyse and connect but the agenda and energy comes from the businesses themselves.