High Growth Business Acceleration Programme

Women’s High Growth Business Development Programme enters its second year

A group of 10 business women from across the West Midlands are set to benefit from a highly successful business development programme, designed to help women in business achieve their high growth aspirations. The programme run by the Women’s Business Development Agency, supported by Business Link West Midlands, was launched last year and the second year of the programme will roll-out in Birmingham from January 23rd 2010.

A high profile launch took place to announce the High Growth Programme last year and this year’s programme is of equal importance due to the significant role women owned businesses will play in helping our regional economy to recover and close the £13bn productivity gap evident in the West Midlands compared to the rest of the UK.

Joy Hunter, Deputy Director of the Women’s Business Development Agency, said: “We are delighted to be embarking on the second year of our High Growth Programme. The women entering our programme this year will receive a package of support including workshops, residential events, networking opportunities and importantly a personal business mentor to work with them during the course of the programme."

Two of last year’s participants found the programme very useful - Susan Noori from Media Art Limited explained, “The High Growth Programme was an exceptional experience in my business career from every aspect including personal development, confidence building, providing business knowledge and support, and learning from other women’s experiences. The most advantageous part of the programme for me was working with a business mentor on a one-to-one basis. Above all, it provided me the opportunity to come across and get to know many wonderful and like minded women.

Sophie Howe from Comtec Translations said “I found it a very interesting and valuable experience. It provided the opportunity to gain much-needed information on sales and marketing, finance and business strategy. I was also able to meet a group of like-minded women who I could learn a lot from. I have kept in touch with a number of the women on the programme and I now subcontract work to Caroline Smith from Oakley Media Ltd who was also on the programme.”

This year’s candidates also expect to gain a lot from the programme. Sarah Mayo-Evans, Partner at Peach Recruitment LLP said “I am hoping to develop skills in leadership and management, marketing and finance to develop the business and increase my level of confidence too. “

Business Link West Midlands – the regional business support agency knows how important women owned businesses are to our regional economy. Lorraine Holmes, Chief Executive of Business Link WM, working alongside other support agencies is tasked with helping to increase the number of women owned businesses and to support them achieving higher growth.

“This programme addresses the specific areas women owned business can focus on to have greater impact on business growth. It also provides women taking part with a great support network of like-minded individuals to exchange ideas with and it’s really pleasing to see that new business opportunities and new working partnerships have come out of last year’s programme and we expect to see these opportunities increase as we move on with the programme.”

For more information and details about the next High Growth Programme please contact the Women's Business Development Agency on 024 76 236 111