Women in Business: Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Do you run your own business or thinking of starting a business? Following International Women’s Day, this free event on 23 March 2023 aims to inspire, celebrate and support female business leaders and entrepreneurs across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by sharing practical advice, knowledge and real-life experiences.

This event will feature an inspiring line-up of female entrepreneurs talking about their own business journeys alongside finance experts discussing the range of finance options available to grow or start your business.

According to the government-backed Rose Review, boosting female entrepreneurship could add £250bn to the UK economy. The Review identified the main barriers that women face when starting and scaling a business, which include accessing funding. We’ll discuss these challenges, explore the local and national support available and how to access it.

Keynote speaker: Jo Fairley, Green & Black's Chocolate

Jo Fairley is one of the UK's leading female entrepreneurs. After becoming the UK’s youngest-ever magazine editor, at the age of 23, she set out on her entrepreneurial journey in 1991 when (in the middle of a recession), she co-founded the pioneering Green & Black’s Chocolate – now a £100 million a year brand. Having started a business in a recession, Jo is well-placed to help and inspire other companies during difficult times.

Meet some of Cornwall’s leading female business leaders

Hear from a panel of female business leaders from fast-growing businesses who will speak about their own business journeys, the challenges they’ve faced, the support they’ve received and their achievements.

Our panel of female business leaders will include:

• Rebecca Bettin, Former Business Owner and Finance Specialist (panel chair)
• Georgina May, Managing Director, Venton Conference Centre
• Louisa Inch, Founder, Premier Water Solutions
• Lucy Jones, Co-founder, The Cornish Food Box Company
• Amanda Lucas, Founding Director, Babygro

Accessing finance and funding: Meet the experts

Whether you are just starting out or needing investment to grow your business, accessing the right finance is key to success. We'll have a panel of finance experts to talk about the wide range of finance options available to businesses. You’ll learn more about the types of funding available (e.g. loans, grants, equity investment), what options suit different types of businesses, what investors are looking for and get your questions answered.

Our panel of finance experts include:

• Jackie George, Business Finance Specialist, Access to Finance (panel chair)
• Rachel Thomson, Business Manager, SWIG Finance
• Anna Staevska, Investment Manager, The FSE Group
• A representative from NatWest
• Kirsty Miles-Musgrave, Operations Manager, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub
• Zoe Rees-Oliver, Project Funding Manager, Crowdfunder

Q & A – Your chance to put your questions to our panel of experts.

Support for your business

You’ll find out how the Access to Finance programme can support your business as well as some useful tips on managing your business finances in the current economic climate:

• Heather Coupland, Programme Manager, Access to Finance

Networking opportunity

You’ll have the chance to network with other local business owners and make connections.

This event is for established businesses, start-ups, scale-ups and entrepreneurs based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Places are free, but please book your place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. You do not need to be a current or past client of Access to Finance to attend this event.

This event is being held at Falmouth Golf Club, Swanpool Road, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5PR – which boasts picturesque views across Falmouth Bay and free onsite parking.

This event is being hosted by the Access to Finance programme, which is designed and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice and fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Host or Publisher Access to Finance