News

New website for women entrepreneurs

(27 September 2005)

A Durham University-based operation that helps women entrepreneurs has upgraded its service with a new website.

North East networking initiative, Women Into the Network (WIN) have worked with Newcastle-based design company Enigma to create a website that will form the “hub” for women’s enterprise development both in the region and across the UK.

WIN are an organisation who strive to facilitate women’s enterprise development. They currently have over 1500 members, have helped to create over 800 jobs in women-owned businesses and have won several awards, including the UK best practice initiative for supporting women's entrepreneurship. WIN believe that the new site will be seen as a central portal, not only for women in business, but for stakeholders, partners and other support organisations.

WIN’s site has been designed to include a range of interactive facilities, useful resources and interesting research. Retaining many of the original features from the old website such as the popular online directory, WIN have built in additional benefits, such as the national ‘Business Support’ and ‘Inspirational Role Models’ sections. The site is designed to be driven by it’s members, offering opportunities to enhance their profile and develop networking relationships.

Project Manager of the site, Lisa Vickers, Events and Communications Manager at WIN, said,” Although the old website was a great tool to profile members, provide information and promote news & events, the design and structure of the site meant it was not utilised to it’s full potential. The new site offers practical advice to women from all stages of business, a calendar of interesting and thought-provoking events, useful articles and resources, inspirational stories and topical research and policy. The site will offer a more strategic approach to developing women’s enterprise in the region, building on a more collaborative way of working with other organisations, by disseminating and mainstreaming best practice”.

Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast are sponsoring the site. Tim Pain, the agency’s Head of Enterprise and Business Support, said: “The new internet site is a valuable information resource for women getting into business and looking for the proper support to succeed. The previous site helped greatly in getting an impressive number of new women-run businesses off the ground – this one will build on that success.

One NorthEast and Women Into the Network have common goals – making sure women entrepreneurs have access to the correct help and advice not just when they’re about to start up, but also when they’re up and running.”

Visit the site at: www.networkingwomen.co.uk