LAST year Women in Business, with the 11 local councils and Invest NI launched its 'Yes You Can' programme to support and encourage women to start-up businesses.
It was a hugely successful with engagement with more than 1,200 women, and running alongside were many other great programmes and schemes to encourage and support people to take that scary step into business.
People saw the support available and made the leap of faith. Some left the full-time jobs, others invested their savings, in some cases their families and friends' savings, and they worked all the hours possible to get their dream going. We told them to “go for it” we encouraged them “yes you can”.
But now, given Covid 19, where is the support and rallying call now for our Start–Ups 19?
Is it right that they get absolutely no support, because they have only started, might not have a year's accounts, might not show any profits, might have had to close their business, and have no income at all now? No, it is not right.
We encouraged Start-Ups 19, and to abandon them now is wrong. It is morally wrong to jettison these entrepreneurs and equally wrong is the potential damage to our start-up ecosystem for many years to come if we do not find a way to financially support them.
Our recent Women in Business survey of our self-employed members revealed that female entrepreneurs are being hardest hit. Due to the added caring responsibilities that tend to land with women, many had no choice but to close or put their businesses on hold. It is vitally important that these women get financial help now and post Covid-19 to restart their businesses.
We have seen the introduction of the Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme, but there is an alarming gap in support for new entrepreneurs. Some of our members commented:
:: “As a self-employed sole trader – I started my business in September 2019 – I am one of these people who are totally left behind by the government in terms of financial assistance.”
“Government URGENTLY needs to support self-employed businesses that have been forced to temporarily close.”
“When I was starting my business the message from government was about encouraging people to be entrepreneurial, but you really have to question what Rishi Sunak’s message is to the newly self-employed – is it that they are not worth a penny of financial support?”
It is clear that there is a gap in support here. On behalf of all the new start-ups, Women in Business asks Economy Minister Diane Dodds and her department to deliver financial support now to Start-Ups 19 and to develop and deliver a post Covid-19 "Re-Start Your Business" grant programme.
We will continue to lobby on this issue while we deliver for our members with a new online schedule of events to be enjoyed from the comfort of their own home. We will continue to connect our members with a community of other outstanding individuals, supporting their professional development as they adapt to the current climate and encouraging them to try something new and have a reason to finish the day with a smile!
We have scheduled a range of webinars that will cover business topics delivered by renowned industry experts, intimate networking opportunities to give members an opportunity to meet new individuals, share experiences and ensure they are still able to make new contacts, and wellbeing sessions that will help them manage their health during this difficult time of isolation. For full details visit www.womeninbusinessni.com.
:: Roseann Kelly is chief executive of Women in Business
