Unlock your business potential with the Women in Business: Entrepreneurial Growth Programme. Designed specifically for female founders with established businesses, this programme empowers you to expand, attract investment, and lead with confidence. Our comprehensive support includes expert training, coaching, and networking opportunities to ensure your business thrives.
Why Join Our Programme?
- Receive bespoke guidance tailored to your business needs.
- Learn from industry leaders and gain essential skills for growth.
- Network with fellow female entrepreneurs, potential investors, and industry partners.
- Develop a clear vision and growth plan while honing your leadership abilities.
Programme Overview
Join a cohort of 16-20 female founders for an intensive two-month programme featuring:
- Workshops: Three workshops covering leadership, growth strategies, and investment preparation.
- 1-2-1 Coaching: 1-2-1 sessions with a carefully matched coach in between each workshop, helping you to cement your learnings and make sure you are ready for the next step.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, investors, partners, and customers.
- Peer-to-Peer Support: Share insights and experiences with fellow entrepreneurs during our networking time within each workshop and through our online support group exclusively for participants.
- Ongoing Support: To further support your growth journey, each participant will receive one year of complimentary Chamber membership and access to our mentoring platform.
Workshop Content
Our workshops, delivered in partnership with our training partner, Elevator, cover:
Workshop 1: You as a Leader
- Defining Yourself as a Leader: Leveraging personal attributes within your leadership role to stay true to yourself while aligning with organisational values and objectives.
- Cultivating Personal ‘Brand’ and Influence: Core principles and practical techniques for building authority and influence within and outside the organisation.
- Building Resilience, Tenacity, and ‘Gravitas’: Practical and mind-set techniques for setting boundaries, maintaining a sense of self, and achieving balance.
Workshop 2: Planning for Growth
- Identifying Blockers and Enablers of Growth: Assessing what drives or hinders growth, including addressing sensitive issues.
- Leveraging the Board Relationship: Understanding the role, remit, and limitations of a board, and how to collaborate effectively.
- Understanding and Deploying Good Governance: Focusing on principles of accountability, integrity, and public trust, and their implementation.
- Understanding Strategic Growth: Examining participants’ current business priorities and projected paths, including setting clear growth objectives, and developing a basic growth plan.
Workshop 3: Investment Planning
- Clarifying Investment Strategy and Planning: Focus on current investment priorities and the decisions behind them, relevant for defining and communicating key messages.
- Understanding Investor/Funder Priorities and Perfecting Your Pitch: Practical methods for writing and presenting a strong pitch.
- Handling Rejection: Leveraging learning from unsuccessful pitches and planning for contingencies.
- Finally, participants will take part in a live pitching session, with feedback provided.
The Finer Detail
- Our workshops will be hosted at 6-8, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 2PF.
- This is open to any female founder business based in Scotland. The following criteria must be met:
- Must be a registered business in Scotland.
- The business must be founded or co-founded by a female.
- Participants must commit to attending all workshops and coaching sessions.
- The business should have a minimum number of 2 employees.
- Workshops 1 and 2 will take place from 9.30am-2.30pm (subject to change). The final workshop (Pitching session) will run until 3pm.
We encourage in person attendance however virtual is an option for those unable to join us at our venue.
Dates:
- Workshop 1: 26/02/25
- Workshop 2: 12/03/25
- Workshop 3: 26/03/25
Apply here
Ready to take your business to the next level? Applications are now open. Please submit an application form here by Wednesday 12th February.
Please note, due to the volume of applications, not every applicant is guaranteed a place on this programme. We will update each applicant on the outcome of their application as soon as possible.
