Several female go-getters from Coventry and Warwickshire are among the first to take part in the launch of a pioneering £50,000 programme of support aimed solely at executive businesswomen.

The 10-strong group from across the region will each benefit from a range of vital support designed to increase the bottom line performance of women-owned firms.

Delegates at the launch included a former ‘Apprentice’ contestant, a lawyer who runs an all-women, family-friendly firm of solicitors and a golfing fan who arranges women-only events.

Organised by the Women’s Business Development Agency (WBDA) and Business Link in the West Midlands, the High Growth Business Acceleration Programme was launched with a recent weekend-long business ‘retreat’ at
The Walton Hotel in Wellsbourne.

Ex-Apprentice star Jo Cameron from Leamington Spa now runs her own training and event and professional speaking company, High Performance Academy.

“Women are very modest,” she said.

“We’re often overheard but we have a lot to say in a typical male-oriented board room that can be ignored.

“The ethos of my company is to empower women and help them overcome adversity, based on my own personal experiences.

“I’m an engineer by trade and worked for MG Rover but when I left I had a lot of time to think about my next move. After the Apprentice, I sought sponsorship and started my own business.

“I now employ five people and turnover £200,000 and have plans to expand. This programme is great for me. I get a chance to meet other like-minded women, maybe attract some new business and get the support of a one-on-one mentor.”

The programme, aimed at female-led companies expecting to turn over at least £200,000 over the next two years, includes personal one-to-one mentoring and workshops on specific business needs, such as finance, marketing and IT, and growth.

Each woman has access to 12 hours’ personal business mentoring and the chance to attend further networking and business events.

Sandra Garlick runs an all-female firm of solicitors De Marco Hunters in Bagington, Warwickshire. She set up the firm specifically to enable her partners and staff to work flexibly from home if they needed to support their young families.

She said: “I used to work for a much larger firm of solicitors in Birmingham but I wasn’t allowed the freedom of working from home and there was no allowance made for working mother employees. So I left and started my own business.

“We’re doing really well and hope to expand.”

Other delegates included Helen Wilkes who runs her own executive ladies’ golfing business, Stiletto Golf in Kenilworth.

“I’ve spotted, and capitalized on, a niche in the market: women who want to relax and play golf in the company of other women,” she explained.

“Since I became involved with Business Link and WBDA, I’ve expanded my business to cover Warwickshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and, very recently, Staffordshire.

“I’ve worked in a men’s world all my life. I’ve been the only woman on the team when I worked in IT for the financial services.

“I just had enough and left. Working for myself is much better.”

Caroline Smith from Rugby also worked for a large, male-dominated firm – for 13 years. Now she runs Oakley Media Ltd, a design agency she has started from scratch, largely as a result of previous good reputation in the industry.

“We’ve been able to keep overheads down and business is doing well, “she explained.

“I was always good at the creative side of things but I was never very sure-footed about finance and accounting, which is where my Business Link courses came in handy.

Sophie Howe is one half of a mother and daughter team running a multilingual translation company, Comtech in Leomington Spa.

Her mother Isabella Moore launched the company in 1981 and sold it 21 years later – only to buy it back with her daughter last year.

“I was a management consultant in London at the time so when the firm went up for sale it seemed like a great idea to go into business with my mother, and another shareowner.

“I’m getting a lot out of the course, and it’s been great to get the chance to meet like-minded women running small businesses, like ourselves. Accessing the support and advice has also been really helpful because I’ve only been doing this for 18 months.”

Chief Executive of Business Link, Alison White, added:

“Research demonstrates that well over 80% of women-owned businesses wish to grow, but most of these identify significant barriers which, certainly in the UK, are not being addressed by current mainstream support.

“The programme brings like-minded women together and provides them with all the help and support they need to achieve their high growth aspirations in business.

“The emerging role of women in business is a real opportunity to enhance dramatically the regional economy and at the same time, act as a catalyst for other regions to follow.

“WBDA’s woman-friendly approach forms an important part of the project.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about WBDA can contact 024 76 236 111 or email admin@wbda.co.uk

Alternatively, contact Business Link in the West Midlands on 0845 113 1234, email www.businesslinkwm.co.uk or email info@businesslinkwm.co.uk