Female entrepreneurship is on the rise in the UK, and The University of Manchester continues to support female entrepreneurs at a grassroots level.
The Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), based within the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) once again hosted their annual She’s the Business event last week with phenomenal success. Taking place virtually for the first time, the event reached over 400 budding-entrepreneurs and female leaders from across campus and the Greater Manchester area, who came together to listen and learn from a range of exceptional businesswomen.
In tune with MEC’s ethos of ‘Entrepreneurship for All’, the event offered learning opportunities for all participants, regardless of their confidence with entrepreneurship. For some, She’s the Business was about learning more about being enterprising and developing their entrepreneurial mind-set. For others, it was about exploring ways to promote and grow their own businesses.
The variety of workshops and talks enabled participants to build confidence, learn new skills and broaden their networks. Manchester student and She’s the Business delegate Besa Musama said: “The event was insightful and fun. I was able to network and receive invaluable advice from some amazing women in business. It has given me the confidence and motivation to keep pushing forward in my own business.”
She’s the Business closed on a high as the spotlight shined on Marilyn Comrie OBE, Founder and CEO of LeaderGen and Director of Manchester-based social enterprise The Blair Project. Marilyn joined MEC Director Lynn Sheppard in a fireside chat, offering inspirational insights into her entrepreneurial journey and her top tips for success.
Giving her best advice for budding entrepreneurs, Marilyn commented: “Find the thing that you love - it will be what keeps you going through the tough times. Unless you are passionate about it, you won't want to continue."
Jessica Grocutt, Enterprise Officer at Masood Entrepreneurship Centre said: “The team and I are committed to supporting all students to develop their entrepreneurial skills, giving them the opportunity to explore a career as their own boss. We know, however, that 1 in 3 of our entrepreneurs is female. She’s the Business is about encouraging more women to get involved in enterprise and offer them the inspiration, a dedicated space and platform to consider starting a business as a genuine career route.”
She’s the Business is organised by the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre and kindly sponsored by partners Bruntwood Works and DWF.