A well-received scheme providing entrepreneurial coaching for women in Suffolk and Norfolk has been ramped up in response to growing demand.
MENTA - a not-for-profit business support organisation operating across the two counties - launched a series of sessions tailored to the needs of aspiring female entrepreneurs in September.
The WoMENTA project is aimed specifically at women and aims to give them the knowledge, skills, practical support and confidence to help them either start their own business or side-hustle or help their start-ups to thrive.
The free programme included training, one-to-one support and insights from female entrepreneurs sharing their experiences.
MENTA says since January it has seen a 15% year-on-year rise in enquiries from women looking for new business support.
The WoMENTA project has already seen more than 80 women take part and has now been extended across Norfolk and Suffolk.
New sessions, new topics as well as some face-to-face events are planned for the new year.
Business owner and MENTA coach Heidi Franklin said: "Having started my own business, having made mistakes and needing to deal with the work/life balance issues that many women have to face, I have embraced the opportunity to share my experiences with the next generation of female entrepreneurs.
"We deal with the blockages some of us face and celebrate the drive women in business have"
The extended WoMENTA programme now includes "sixty second pitching" helping women to gain a clear understanding around what to put in and leave out and how to structure pitches for maximum impact. The project also offers a session in understanding who their customer is.
A marketing skills session provides information about what they need to consider including logo and branding, how to make engaging adverts and website creation option. as well as how Google or search engine optimisation works. There are also online sessions as well as face-to-face events.
Sessions and support are free of charge as MENTA is working with NatWest Business.
To sign up for the package of new business support, email 121@menta.org.uk
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