The Women’s Business Development Agency has been awarded the contract to deliver specialist women’s enterprise support across the region.

Sally Arkley, director of WBDA, said the new partnership with Business Link would create exciting opportunities for women across the region:

“Often women have a brilliant idea but they don’t have the confidence to turn their idea into a working business.

“Men start 150,000 more businesses in the UK than women every year, but 30% of businesses are now run by women so the tide is turning.

“The WBDA offers practical advice and support to set up a business and then, just as importantly, to keep it growing.

“This agreement with Business Link will allow us to engage with many more women through our programme of tailored workshops and expert mentoring to launch new businesses.

“We are keen to meet women who are just thinking of becoming self-employed, as well as those with young businesses that they want to develop.

“We have dealt with businesses ranging from engineering to corset making.”

Sally is the driving force behind West Midlands Woman, who are providing comprehensive virtual and face-to-face regionwide business support, help, advice, mentoring and training for women wanting to start and grow their businesses.

WBDA are one of three new specialists appointed by Business Link West Midlands to encourage enterprise in the region.  The Prince’s Trust will support 16 to 30 year-old entrepreneurs while Tribal’s Creative Launchpad has been appointed to support the growth in creative industries.

Jill Parker, Director of Enterprise at Business Link West Midlands, said:

“We are delighted to be working closely with the WBDA to provide female entrepreneurs with the specialist advice, guidance and external knowledge they need to become successful.

“In total, we are hoping to boost start-up rates by 20% and this can only be achieved by bringing together the best experts currently available.”

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