Our last Startupnow Day on September 28th 2010 was purely an Approval Committee panel due to the high number of women that were ready to present their business proposals. 5 women presented their business ideas and were ready to get their businesses up and running once funding has been approved.
There were Startupnow Days held in the woman’s estate at Send, East Sutton Park, and Holloway Prisons during October .
If you are interested in becoming a mentor and attending our next mentor training day on the 17th September 2010, please contact Mari Simpson on 01730 818337.
Following our pilot Startupnow for Women Day on the 28th April we held our first full scale event at St Ethelburga’s in Bishopsgate, London on the 6th July. 35 women were invited and the day was run in a very similar way to April 28th but with the addition of workshops throughout the day from a variety of organisations. The day was a great success and the feedback we have received since from clients, partner organisations and potential funders has been very positive. Below is the schedule for the day.
Startupnow Day for Women at St Ethelburga’s on July 6th, 2010
11.00 Registration for prospective clients and time to visit partner stands. Prospective clients will be asked to fill out a questionnaire if they have not already and will be given the opportunity to book a slot with a business adviser.
11.45 Introduction of the Startupnow for Women project followed by a short presentation on self-employment.
12.00 2 “Dragons’ Den” style business presentations from potential clients.
12.30 Short presentation from a Startupnow peer mentor.
12.45 Lunch – Clients will have the opportunity to visit our partner stands and discuss courses that may be of interest. Those who booked to see a business adviser will do so throughout lunch and afterwards at their allocated times.
15.00 Feedback to clients who presented their business idea.
15.30 Tea and “DaCosta” cakes. A chance for clients to talk to Startup peer mentors and further appointments with business advisers.
16.30 2 “Dragons’ Den” style business presentations plus short presentation on Mentoring.
17.00 Drinks and canapés and chance for Mentor networking.
17.30 Feedback to clients and Closing Remarks.
Workshops in The Tent at St. Ethelburga’s throughout the day
Ann-Marie Lewis – S.H.E. – talking about her course “Getting to know you and your child”.
Ellie Whitfield – Clean Break – games and discussion about the variety of courses on offer.
Startup has been awarded £288,238 by the Big Lottery Fund towards its new Startupnow for Women project. This grant means Startup can continue to reduce re-offending by giving women who have been in prison the opportunity to become self-employed. Over a year, 240 women will have access to personal and business advice with at least 60 going on to set up their own business.
Since 2006 Startup has given over 500 male and female ex-offenders business advice and mentoring with 105 going on to successfully launch a business. Businesses started include gardening, personal training, hairdressing, web design and even a Buddy Holly tribute act! Startup works with a wide range of selected partners to deliver its results.
Startup’s simple but unique approach of offering individually tailored business advice, covering basic start up business costs and mentoring for up to two years has resulted in a reoffending rate of less than 5%, versus the 65% national average.
So far, Startup has been funded by foundations and private support. This grant enables Startup to expand its operations; we hope it will also persuade the new government to back a major expansion of the men’s programme, which saves £9 of taxpayer’s money for every £1 invested.
Juliet Hope, CEO of Start Up, added “It’s wonderful that the Big Lottery understands the value of the work that we are doing and is supporting the Startupnow for Women project so generously “
The Big Lottery Fund distributes half of the National Lottery good cause funding across the UK. The Fund aims to enable others to make real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.
For Further information please contact: Juliet Hope: 07918680011 or jhope@startupnow.org.uk