Businesswomen link up at event

JUDITH TONNER

More than 60 female entrepreneurs attended an event to help break down barriers and open up access to business finance as they bid to start or develop their own businesses.

The “closing the female funding gap” event run by Lanarkshire Women in Business was the second event in a yearlong pilot initiative involving North and South Lanarkshire Councils, Business Gateway Lanarkshire, New College Lanarkshire and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Attendees heard from keynote speakers Kathleen McShane, of Cumbernauld- based Bavarian

Bakehouse, and Wishaw woman Jo-Anne Chidley of Beauty Kitchen UK – who spoke about their respective start- up, growth and funding journeys.

They also learned about grants, loans, crowdfunding and equity from nine organisations each given fiveminute pitching slots – DSL business finance, Scottish Edge, Business Loans Scotland; Digital Development loan fund, North and South Lanarkshire Councils, Lending Crowd, Scottish Enterprise, Gabriel Investment Syndicate and Clydesdale Bank/Virgin Money.

Lanarkshire Women In Business launched in September and aims to boost the number of self-employed women in the county beyond 25 per cent. North Lanarkshire Council enterprise manager Yvonne Weir said: “Having relatable and inspiring role models prepared to participate and share honest accounts of the challenges and opportunities they have faced is vital.”

She added: “We are keen to highlight the different motivations and life events that can prompt women to consider self- employment, and also wanted to increase visibility of the many finance and funding options out there.”

The group’s next business event will take place in March.

For details, contact Caroline Brown or Siobhan Quinn by emailing businesssupport@northlan.gov.uk or calling 01236 638945.

Having relatable and inspiring role models participate is vital