Enterprise Nation launches Scottish Festival of Female Entrepreneurs

Today we're delighted to announce that following the huge success of our Festival of Female Entrepreneurs in Bristol over the past eight years, we are launching a Scottish version to help more women start and grow sustainable businesses.

The launch follows research that showed women make up only one third of all entrepreneurs across the UK and still face higher hurdles to entry than their male counterparts, partly because of access to funding.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are 94,900 self-employed women in Scotland, but when you look at Scottish men, the figure doubles, with 183,300 working on a self-employed basis.

Emma Jones MBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: "The tide has got to be turning in the small business world for women.

"The Festival of Female Entrepreneurs offers them the chance to learn how they can start, take on staff, increase trade and expand into new markets.  And crucially it offers them the confidence and contacts they need to achieve that success.

"Getting involved in this key festival is part of our own expansion plan, taking the experience and expertise Enterprise Nation has developed and honed over ten years to new areas and audiences.

"We're delighted to be bringing our flagship event north of the border at last."

The event, which has been a sell-out success in Bristol for the past eight years, will be run in collaboration with Women's Enterprise Scotland and will take place on Friday 7 June at The Hub in Edinburgh.

Over the years, the Bristol-based festival has carved a reputation for delivering inspiring speakers, energising advice and enthusiastic networking aimed at helping women as they seek to take their business to the next level.

This event is set to be no different and kicks off with keynote speakers including Lesley Eccles of daily fantasy sport firm FanDuel, the founders behind baby and toddler accessory company Cheeky Chompers, Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne of Genius Foods, Julie Grieve, founder of tourism app Criton and Erikka Askeland, former business editor of the Press & Journal and business correspondent at The Scotsman.

Chair of Women's Enterprise Scotland and a successful entrepreneur in her own right, Professor Lynne Cadenhead said: "Our job at Women's Enterprise Scotland is to shine a light on the female founders running amazing businesses across the country.

"A number of them will be sharing their story at this Festival event and, in so doing, inspiring others to do the same. This kind of celebration of female enterprise - at all levels - is to be welcomed."

Fin Wycherley, Edinburgh-based founder of Supersize Media, who will be speaking at the event said: "This is fantastic news for Scotland's army of female entrepreneurs!

"Over the past 12 months, I've worked with Enterprise Nation to deliver advice to founders at the Amazon Academy and as part of a national partnership with TSB which sees digital advisers based in branches offering support to small businesses.

"This is yet another step in Enterprise Nation delivering support in Scotland offering founders of all backgrounds the practical information and inspirational guidance needed to succeed."