Erika Watson, Executive Director Agenda About Prowess Policy Quality standards

About Prowess The UK Voice for Women’s Enterprise Over 300 member organisations support more than 100,000 women’s business and 10,000 new businesses each year. An independent social enterprise - Board elected from membership Launched October 2002 by Secretary of State. Strategic focus – not delivery.

Members – who are they?

Objectives Policy – national / regional Capacity building – quality standard, training, sharing best practice (events, study trips). Information – ezine, website, case studies, pr etc.

Policy - key achievements Supported Govt to produce the first Govt strategy re women’s enterprise – the Strategic Framework for Women’s Enterprise Supported significant focus on women throughout the Government Enterprise Strategy Some things we have called for/ initiated/ achieved: –Women’s Enterprise Panel/ Women’s Enterprise Task Force –Gender disaggregated statistics for Govt Business Support –RDA focus/ regional WE leadership, including: WE Coordinators, RDA WE group, dedicated strategic WE body in West Midlands, operated by Prowess. –WE Champions/ ambassadors –WEConnect – UKs first female focused supplier diversity initiative.

Vision “To ensure that every woman in each region has access to high-quality female-friendly business support from the pre pre-start-up stage onwards” Women’s Enterprise Task Force Action Plan Vision

Quality standard for excellence in women’s enterprise development Endorsed by Government departments and funders Helps organisations to identify, measure & improve services for aspiring & existing women entrepreneurs Applies to mainstream and targeted business support A network of over 30 organisations in the UK have achieved Flagship so far… The Flagship Award

INCLUSION Outreach and targeted marketing Access QUALITY Established programmes Significant impact Effective partnerships Coherent range of services CLIENT FOCUSSED Segmented market knowledge Listening organisation Regular face to face services Promotion of clients’ businesses EQUALITY Some women-only provision Staff who reflect and understand the target group Commitment to diversity Business Support Standards

Why – benchmarking, solidarity, establishing quality Who? Led by Prowess: Experts from UK, USA, Canada, France, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark & Turkey Widespread consultation Nov – Dec 2008 To be implemented via international lead organisations’ federation. Women’s Business Centres International Quality Standard

Thank you & keep in touch! Erika Watson