Women Scaling Up 2023

The second phase of a unique and successful support programme designed to address the needs of women who are taking their business and career to new heights.

Everyone faces challenges when growing a business, but often, for women, these are different to those facing men. Research shows that woman cite accessing both traditional and venture capital finance, time constraints, balancing caring responsibilities, finding the right mentor and building connections as key barriers.

Women Scaling Up is a unique business support programme which will provide Lancashire female entrepreneurs with the tools, training, experiences and knowledge to scale their business. It will help them to build an amazing team, grow sales 20% year on year, approach finance with confidence, live and lead well and be a role model for future generations.

The programme is being delivered in partnership with Two Zero, the Lancashire County Council-led scaleup business support service, and Role, a Lancashire business growth consultancy with years of female specific support experience.

The 12-month programme starts in June 2023 and will be two thirds funded by Two Zero and Lancashire County Council. This is the second cohort of the Women Scaling Up programme. Building on the strong success of the first cohort last year, the programme will bring together 12 female business leaders who will work in both a facilitated peer group setting and one-to-one with an experienced executive coach, including visioning, profiling, goal setting, resilience work, board skills, workshops and industry specific mentoring.

There will be regular bi-monthly online and face-to-face meet ups, including an overnight residential in a stunning and inspirational setting, where participants will experience knowledge presentations from scaleup experts and leadership trainers. Each participant is also matched with a mentor for one-to-one confidential mentoring. The mentors include board directs and CEOs from top level organisations and senior chairs from government organisations.

By being part of this programme, you will be part of an inspirational scaleup peer group who can learn, grow and achieve together.

Summary

  • Start: June 2023

  • Duration: 12 months

  • Participants: 12

  • Commitment: 44 hours

  • Price: Two thirds funded by Lancashire County Council (businesses to contribute £1,000,)

  • Application deadline: May 5, 2023

Selection criteria

  • Lancashire business

  • Team of 6+ employees. associates and subcontractors

  • Business demonstrating growth and ambition to scale

What does the programme look like?

  • Boardroom masterclasses on key aspects of scale-up including recruitment, action planning and accessing finance

  • DISC profiling of senior team and feedback sessions

  • Executive coaching sessions

  • Residential retreat focusing on leadership, mindset and building resilience

  • Half day outdoor experiential event focused on communication, and goal setting

  • Ongoing facilitated peer group support with other business leaders on the programme

Delivery partner

Role

Programme features

  • The confidence, skills and strategy to turn your growing company into a scaleup

  • Improved communication and leadership skills

  • Executive coaching to help you grow and keep you on track

  • Improved understanding of how to recruit the right team

  • Better understanding and contacts to access external growth finance

  • A mentor who understands your sector and challenges

  • A peer group of supportive women to inspire and share successes

  • Matched with an experienced high-level mentor to help guide you through your business challenges

The application date for this programme has now passed. If you would like to be considered for future Two Zero programmes, please contact us.

Benefits of Two / Zero

FOCUS DIRECTION
FUEL JOURNEY
BUILD FOUNDATIONS
TRANSFORM MINDSET
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