News

WIN YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND PUBLICITY PACKAGE WORTH £120,000!

2010 will be a special year for one aspiring entrepreneur thanks to  Coventry City Council, CV One, Mercia and the Coventry Telegraph who, in a unique move, have teamed up to offer a city centre shop along with a  publicity package free of charge for one year! 

Entrepreneurial mums on the increase

15% of UK mums have already started their own business, and a further one in 10 aspire to do the same.  A survey of 1,286 mums by BT Business via Netmums website suggests that ‘mumpreneurs’ have the potential to become a greater entrepreneurial force during this decade.  62% of mums surveyed said choosing the hours they work was the reason they wanted to start-up their own venture, while 50% wanted a better work/life balance and 38% said they liked the idea of being their own boss.

New research highlights the growing enterprise gender gap in the West Midlands

Creating the conditions that allow women to start and grow their business, exploit their ideas and ensuring they have access to high quality support is vital if the West Midlands is going to bridge a widening gender gap when it comes to entrepreneurial activity.

WBDA's Women's Enterprise Festival

The Women’s Business Development Agency has hailed Women’s Enterprise Day in Coventry as a huge success.

Women’s Enterprise Task force release GROWE report

The Women’s Enterprise Task Force’s (WETF) final report, Greater Return On Women’s Enterprise (GROWE), is published today – Women’s Enterprise Day – with the majority of its recommendations already underway.

Government proposes increased maximum penalty for data misuse

The Government has launched a consultation on its proposals to increase the maximum penalties for those who are convicted of misusing personal data, which could mean up to two years imprisonment. The consultation is open to both individuals and representative bodies and will close on 7 January 2010.

Banks welcome female entrepreneurs

Female business owners are charged the same as male counterparts for bank loans, are better at repayment and viewed as lower risk, new research reveals. 

Tender - WECOE Final Evaluation

The Women’s Enterprise Centre of Expertise (WECOE) in the West Midlands is a two year project funded by AWM to support women’s enterprise through the “development of effective women-friendly business support policies, infrastructure and enterprise culture across the West Midlands region.”
WECOE is inviting quotes for an independent final evaluation of its activities.  The deadline for submission is 28 Sept 10 AM and up to £20,000 is available for the work.
To recieve a copy of the specification please contact Melissa Dreyling, WECOE Research and Evaluation Manager, on
07515 597 590 or melissa.dreyling@wecoe.org.uk

Small businesses hit with new banks charges

Small business organisations have accused high street banks of imposing a range of new charges for borrowing money. A spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) told The Times that the banks are using tactics designed to "rake in more money" from small firms, such as reviewing loans every three to six months and charging a review fee each time. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Forum of Private Business (FPB) said that the issue of bank charges is "overtaking" the availability of credit as a cause for concern among its members.

Local female owned businesses get a FREE helping hand!!!

Despite the recession many women are taking the route of self-employment as a career option. The business women below acknowledged their journey was made so much easier with all the free help and guidance they received from the Women’s Business Development Agency (WBDA).