Businesswomens project launched (From Western Telegraph)

Businesswomens project launched

WOMEN are to be given additional support to become their own bosses through a new project unveiled by Chwarae Teg, the independent organisation created to promote the role of women in the workforce in Wales.

Womens Enterprise Wales/Menter Merched Cymru will provide support to women who want to explore the issues of self-employment and setting up in business. The new venture is managed by Chwarae Teg and funded by the Welsh Development Agency and the Objective One programme.

Launched at Aberystwyth by Elin Jones AM and Sian Lloyd Jones, WDA executive director-business support, the new project will create opportunities for women to build self-confidence and learn assertiveness skills, as well as providing assistance in generating business ideas.

The project is designed to underpin the implementation of the Business Birth Rate Strategy for Wales within the Entrepreneurship Action Plan for Wales - Implementation Plan, which aims to support the creation of 21,000 new business start-ups between 2000 and 2006/2007.

It has been clearly identified that women are under-represented in the field of enterprise, said Tricia Wargent, project manager.

Womens Enterprise Wales will provide inspiration, guidance and support to help women consider self-employment. A range of measures including access to pre-start up services and training, which will include confidence building and assertiveness skills, will be provided.

Also involved will be a wide range of business development partners throughout Wales.

The first stage of the project will cover the Objective One area of West Wales and the Valleys.

A further bid for Objective Two funding is designed to enable the extension of the project to cover all of Wales.

Speaking at the launch of the project, the WDAs Sian Lloyd Jones said: Womens Enterprise Wales will tackle head-on the issue of under-representation of women in the Welsh economy.

This is a project which can make a real difference to Wales. There is no way that we can have a prosperous Wales if half the people are left out - and this initiative will enable women to begin to play their full role in the economic life of Wales.

Womens Enterprise Wales now has a complete team of staff in place. The projects four regional offices in North West Wales (Bangor), Mid West Wales (Aberystwyth), South West Wales (Swansea) and South Wales and the Valleys (Caerphilly) will cover the Objective One area of Wales with support from the WDA and ERDF funds.

Ms Wargent added: The project is one of a range introduced into the region in order to stimulate new business growth and strengthen the Welsh economy. We want to help bring womens business ideas to surface and tap into the wealth of talent that exists out there.