networks and support for under-represented groups: successful support of rural businesswomen - polly...

Our mission is to have a positive impact by doing everything possible to help female led businesses in rural areas of the UK to start, thrive and grow and to celebrate the important contribution they make to the sustainability of rural economies and communities.

Helping Rural Business Succeed

Rural Women

Women are part of the solution in their potential to contribute to rural economies and drive the renewal of those economies

Self employment can be a solution for rural women wishing to enter the Labour Market

Innovators, leaders, facilitate change and aspire to positive impact

 Business Income and its Contribution to Farm Family Income  Additional Farm Income

Supplement (%)

% of women

surveyed

0 –25 44

26 –50 19

51 –75 8

>75 29

(Source: Warren-Smith and Jackson 2004)

Valley View Farm

Sally Robinson Farm Cottages

Sally Robinson Amplebosom.com

Sally Robinson Amplebosom.com Employs 20 people

Exports

Viable farm

Rebecca Rainer

Glebe Farm, large arable, East of England, farms with her brother

Rebecca Rainer

Gluten free bread and cake mixes, now exporting to Saudi Arabia and Dubai

Blakemere Farm

Business as a solution

‘Differences in entrepreneurial activity by urban-rural split are statistically significant overall. Female entrepreneurial activity is higher in the most deprived rural wards than male entrepreneurial activity (6.6 per cent compared to 5.1 per cent). Women are also more entrepreneurial than men in more affluent wards (13.9 per cent compared to just 8.4 per cent of men)’.

Harding, R. (2006), GEMUK 2005 report, LBS.

Rural Women

Women are part of the solution in their potential to contribute to rural economies and drive the renewal of those economies

Challenges• Skills/ finance/ access to market• Cultural/ soft barriers• Isolation

Conferences and Events

Seminars and training

Umbrella Marketing

WiRE Networks

WiRE Networks

WiRE Networks

Foot Trails

The mentor, secret millionaire – Kavita Oberi

Emma Heathcoat James

WiRE Model

Network the infrastructure which aids business survival, innovation and growth

Peer support building social capital Local but not parochial Linked to training, specific business

expertise, and R&D Relationship throughout business journey

Key Intervention

NETWORK

CATALYST

To initiate, support and coordinate, to make the connections and keep the relationships live

WiRE

WiRE effective because we act as catalysts, we build social capital and we work with them on their terms throughout their business journey. We enable, catalyse and connect but the agenda and energy comes from the businesses themselves.