Female Entrepreneurs To Receive Vital Mentoring Support

Female business owners across the UK will soon benefit from additional mentoring support, Women and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson will announce this evening, during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Women and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson is set to announce the launch of a £150,000 fund to create mentoring events for women entrepreneurs tonight at the 2014 Mentorsme Awards for Excellence in Women's Enterprise Mentoring. The 'Meet A Mentor' scheme will link both start-up and established female-led businesses with mentors.

The first 'Meet a Mentor' event will take place at the Kensington Roof Gardens on 19 November to coincide with Women's Entrepreneurship Day. It is already oversubscribed but a total of 12 events will take place across the UK before March 2015. The events will be delivered by the UK Sector Skills Body for Enterprise and Enterprise Support (SFEDI) and the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IOEE).

'It is vital that we support female entrepreneurs,' Jo Swinson will say this evening. 'There are more female-led businesses in the UK than ever before, and we know that if women were setting up and running new businesses at the same rate as men, our economy could benefit from 1 million more entrepreneurs.

'Mentoring is key to this. It helps to build confidence, develop key business skills and provides a network of contacts for those starting out,' she will add.

For more information on attending the 'Meet a Mentor' events, visit the website. 

If you fancy having your own career mentor, apply for our @Work Mentor scheme now. Each month, Marie Claire is introducing a successful and inspirational woman, who could help turn your career around. From TV and Marketing to Fashion and even Engineering, we've got you covered. Check out our current Mentors HERE and APPLY NOW.