A LOCAL enterprise agency has been awarded over £20,000 in grant funding from RBS, the parent company of Ulster Bank, to help develop female entrepreneurship.
Dungannon Enterprise Centre received the support from the RBS Inspiring Women in Enterprise fund for its Innovate- Her Mid-Ulster programme, an initiative designed to encourage women into business.
The InnovateHer programme is a first for this region — bringing women’s networking and skills development together in one tailored programme.
Project highlights will include mentoring and the Inspire Me master class, where participants will have the opportunity to meet with experienced female entrepreneurs to hear their start-up stories.
Shauna Burns, head of Mid- Ulster & Fermanagh Business Centre, Ulster Bank, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Dungannon Enterprise Centre and evidence of their strong support for local innovations.
“Through our BusinessWomenCan initiative, Ulster Bank has been a proud supporter of female entrepreneurship and I’m confident that this funding will help in the development of strong local businesses in the future.”
Twenty-five women from the Dungannon, Cookstown and Magherafelt council areas, will be able to explore entrepreneurship, developing business ideas and pitch them to experts.
Each will create a feasible business model and develop key skills and will gain practical experience through off-site visits to entrepreneurs’ premises.
Denise Murtagh, business development manager, Dungannon Enterprise Centre, said: “Women taking part in InnovateHer will benefit from RBS Inspiring Women in Enterprise funding by being able to create their own opportunities and learn the skills and knowledge to take advantage of them.
“The funding will pay for master classes and experiential learning experiences through ‘off-site’ best practice visits to role-model entrepreneurs.”
The programme aims to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice for women, as the gender gap in Northern Ireland entrepreneurship shows no signs of closing.
Contact Denise Murtagh on denise@dungannonenterprise.com