The first ever purpose built Women’s Business Centre in the UK celebrated its launch on the 2nd of
May 2008. Over 150 guests enjoyed champagne and cake in the Businessworks centre to mark the event. Speakers on the
day included Stephen Timms MP, Jackie Brierton, Director of the Women's Enterprise Centre of Expertise and Sarah Anderson
CBE, successful businesswomen and Non-Executive
Director of Jobcentre Plus.
Situated in Newham
College’s brand new Businessworks centre in East Ham, the Women’s Business Centre has been created to meet
the new Government Enterprise strategy proposing the piloting of Women’s Business Centres across the UK.
It builds on the huge
success of the college’s Her Business project. In the last six years the Her Business team have helped over 500 women start their own business. In January 2006 European Regional Development funds were secured to develop a Women’s
Business Centre to embed and mainstream the current provision of business support service to local women. The team are currently working with over 2,000 women.
Their work has enabled
women from some of the poorest households in Britain to be encouraged and supported by other women to take charge in their
lives, gain confidence, move into new areas of employment and self employment, grow their business and be better prepared
to overcome the many barriers that women experience in reaching economic and social independence.
Speaking at the launch,
Di Gowland, Director of Newham College’s Centre for Innovation and Partnerships said, “Through our work with women entrepreneurs, we have witnessed the
growth in self esteem and self confidence our services have brought. Our intention with the Women’s Business
Centre is to provide a service that transforms women's lives.”
For more information, contact Andrew Mitchell at Newham College: andrew.mitchell@newham.ac.uk or telephone 020 8522 5702
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Notes to editors:
- Photographs of the event are available from andrew.mitchell@newham.ac.uk. All images should be credited to Michael Cockerham.
ii. The Women’s Business Centre is part of the Centre of Innovation and Partnerships at Newham College.
The centre delivers training and coaching to women starting and growing new businesses. Some courses and services delivered
at the Women’s Business centre are:
- Incubator units available for hire
- Training suite
- Surgeries by professionals such as accountants and lawyers
- Great value membership packages
- Training and workshops in NLP and Business topics
- One to one Business coaching and Business advice & support
- Ongoing access to Business advice
- Her Business was an ERDF-funded project targeting women throughout Newham.
The project supported an increased rate of business start up by women from ethnic heritage groups, and helped make these businesses
sustainable through a programme of coaching, advice and networking. The project ran from 2003-2006.
- Businessworks is the home of the Women’s Business Centre, Newham College’s
Employment Service and Talent’s At Work team. Supported by London borough of Newham’s Workplace, Businessworks
aims to provide effective support to those seeking to enhance their employability skills, including self-employment.
Businessworks
High Street South
London
E6 6ER
Info@cipsonline.com
