Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

1
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

• Charlotte Haglund
• Ewa Ryhr Andersson
• Ruth Livesey

2
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

• Who are we?
• 10 EQUAL Development Partnerships operating
  across Europe
• Diversity of experience
• Mechanisms to support women entrepreneurs at
  different stages

3
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

• What is our purpose
• To increase the number of women entrepreneurs
• To contribute to the empowerment of women
  entrepreneurs
• To share good practices transfer skills and
  knowledge amongst advisers and promoters
• To develop a cultural understanding of the
  different situations facing women entrepreneurs

4
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

• Working in themes
• Mentoring
• Networking Exchange
• Finance
• Business Incubation
• Statistics
• Policy Development

5
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

• Activities have included
• Joint conferences workshops
• Workshops for business advisers
• Training for women entrepreneurs
• Exchange visits between women entrepreneurs,
  network co-ordinators, business advisors
• Study visits

6
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe Strategic
Framework for Womens Enterprise

• Government publication (Small Business Service,
  Department for Trade Industry)
• Launched in May 2003 after extensive consultation
• Workshop for European Partners in June 2003

7
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

• A series of Blue Books are being produced
• A Network Co-ordinators Guide
• A Guide for Successful Transnational Exchanges

8
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe
9
Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

• Is it useful to work at a transnational level?
• What are the key benefits?
• Who can benefit from this approach to work?
• What are the potential dangers?
• Ideas for future transnational working!

10
External evaluation findings

• Initial investment
• Partnership procedures
• Understanding interpretation
• Development of personal relationships
• Exchanges between entrepreneurs
• Unexpected benefits and added value