smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Women looking to start their own business now have a dedicated web resource designed to help them start up and stay in business.

The Women Business Centre has been launched by Business Link for London and provides free practical business advice with a view to encouraging more women to set up businesses on their own.

‘We expect that the Women's Business Centre will prove to be quite a hit,’ enthuses Judith Rutherford, chief executive of Business Link for London. ‘It has been especially designed to cater for women who want to succeed in business. Our research shows that start-ups owned by women often require alternative forms of support, for example, how to run a home-based business.’

The Women Business Centre provides visitors with:

• A range of free detailed guides offering advice and guidance on a comprehensive range of issues faced by businesswomen
• Directory of women's organisations and networking groups in the London area
• Events & workshops in London
• Case studies of successful women in business
• 'Ask an Expert' - questions from women answered by women
• An interactive online diary of one of the Capital's successful businesswomen
• Awards & competitions that businesswomen can enter

The service is available at www.businesslink4london.com/WBC

Later on this month is the Women into Business National Conference, held by Scottish Enterprise and Business Gateway. One of the main speakers is Jacqueline Gold, the driving force behind Ann Summers and Knickerbox.

‘I am delighted to be speaking at the Women Into Business Conference,’ says Gold. ‘Anything I can do to help inspire other women to succeed in business can only be a good thing. We need more successful women entrepreneurs and business leaders because as we know women make better bosses and businesses than men!’

The event includes workshops on: turning ideas into opportunities; setting your business up for success; knowing your market; and funding for start-ups. For those already up and running there are seminars on taking your business to the next level; funding for growth; selling for success; and professional presentations.

The event takes place on Sunday 27 November at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Visit www.scottishbusinesswomen.com/event for more details.

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