Grants/help for women starting small business?

yuffie

I have been at home looking after my daughter for the last three years and am now hoping to start up a small business working from home.
I have heard of women getting grants or help to do this as an initiative to get them back to work after having children but searching on the internet i have drawn a blank.
If anyone has any information on this or could help me with where to start i would be very gratefull.

richt71

The best place to help you is your local businesslink. They offer all businesses free advice on all things related to a new business including grants and special loans. Businesslink are usually listed in your local phone book or yellow pages.

yuffie

Thanks for that will look them up.

Mark7799

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?&domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk

Try that to get details of your local advisors.

May also be worth looking at https://www.j4b.grants.co.uk .

If you are planning on applying for grants you will need to decide what you actually want it for. There are very little 'hand-out' grants available and usually you will need to prepare a business plan (again - business link can help you) to justify why you need the money.

JasonLVC

http://www.wbda.co.uk/

This is the womens business development agency. They're based in the Midlands so they may not go as far as Scotland or Wales but they are definately worth a call and they may be able to point you to a more local organisation.

powerbase

My local enterprise agency runs special events for local business women or local wannabe business women. It's a good opportunity to network.