Enterprise champions put Women on the Map – (and on the App)

Two North East enterprise champions are urging more women to consider going into business with a free event designed to offer them business support and showcase female entrepreneurs.

Meryl Dodd and Jane Shaw, of County Durham enterprise development organisation, Blue Sky Think, have helped dozens of women set up their own businesses via the two-year project they are delivering, Durham Creatives, which offers a series of supportive workshops, one-to-one business coaching and mentoring.

Now the pair are organising the Putting Women on the Map event to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, which will feature a craft market, with beautiful jewellery, accessories and upcycled furniture, alongside free enterprise workshops for budding business owners.

Putting Women on the Map, which will take place at Durham Town Hall, has been designed to help and support women in County Durham as they look to turn their enterprising ideas into money making ventures or simply showcase their fantastic businesses.

The event is being run in conjunction with Durham Women Rising, the Durham BID team and Durham County Council’s business development arm, Business Durham.

Meryl said: “This is a great opportunity for people to come along and buy beautiful products created by women across the North East; to hear their stories and find out more about setting up their own businesses in a relaxed and approachable setting.

“We’ll be running workshops which will make owning their own business go from a dream to reality and they’ll also be able to find out about the untapped funding resources which might be available.”

As well as the market and workshops, women will be encouraged to visit female traders in the city and hear their stories via a Durham BID Women on the Map App which will highlight go-to shops and restaurants in the city. Jane said their stories would be inspiring to others.

Jane said: “What’s nice is that the retailers are really keen to share their stories and inspire other women.”

“People sometimes think to run your own business you need to be working full time; have staff or huge amounts of start up money and be working outside the home, which is not the case.

“We know from experience, as mothers who have run our own businesses, that it is possible to have a successful business and a family.”

Jewellery designer Kate Gorman, of Durham City, a mum-of-two who set up her business six months ago with the help of Durham Creatives, is already selling her work at a boutique in St Pancras Station, London, and in Sorella, in Durham City.

Kate, who will be showcasing her work at the craft event, said: “It was quite scary launching my own business but the support from Jane has really helped me.

“I’m now trying to build my sales and I’m enjoying chatting to customers and finding out which are their favourite pieces. People who wear my jewellery tend to get into it. They say it gives them a lift, makes them feel happy, and what can be a better reason for starting your own business than that?”

The hugely successful Durham Creatives project has already helped dozens of businesses start up in the North East since it was launched in September 2012. The programme is being funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) money, the County Durham Economic Partnership and Business Durham.

Putting Women on the Map will run at the town hall in Durham City on March 8 from 10am – 3pm. To book onto a workshop contact jane@blueskythink.co.uk

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