Confidence, networks and the opportunity to step away from day-to-day pressures can be just as important as finance when growing a business, female entrepreneurs told delegates at the Driving Innovation Showcase in Northampton.
The panel discussion, chaired by Debbie Lewis, Entrepreneur Accelerator Manager at NatWest, focused on InspireHER, a programme delivered by South Midlands Growth Hub and funded by West Northamptonshire Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Designed specifically for female-led businesses, the initiative combines practical workshops, peer learning and networking to help founders overcome barriers to growth.
Speaking at the showcase, held at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery on Thursday 9 July, Samantha Hunter, Partnerships and Events Manager at South Midlands Growth Hub, said the programme recognised that women often face different challenges when growing a business, particularly around confidence, access to networks and visibility.
The second InspireHER cohort supported eight female-led businesses, with 89 per cent of participants reporting increased confidence, 78 per cent making changes to their business following the programme and every participant saying the workshops met their needs.
Among those sharing their experiences was Sarah Yates, founder of SEN-ED Kitchen, who said InspireHER helped transform an ambitious vision into a practical plan for growth.
“It was a really big vision,” she said. “The programme helped me break that down into something achievable.”
Helen Russell, founder of The RightTrack, said the programme gave business owners the opportunity to reflect on the many different roles they are required to perform.
“You suddenly become the accountant, the marketer, the salesperson and the person delivering the work,” she said.
“InspireHER gave me clarity. It helped me work out what I should focus on and what I could do differently.”
For Rose Hall, founder of Postbox Party, the greatest benefit came from connecting with other women experiencing similar challenges.
“I’d lost quite a bit of confidence,” she said. “Being around inspiring women helped rebuild that confidence and gave me the belief to keep growing.”
The discussion explored how leadership, resilience, collaboration and peer support can play an important role in business growth alongside access to funding, with participants sharing honest experiences of the challenges of running a business.
Samantha said creating lasting relationships between participants had become one of the programme’s most valuable outcomes.
“We wanted to create space for women to access tailored support, peer learning and practical tools for growth,” she said.
“The most powerful impact comes from the people behind the numbers.”
The panel concluded that many of the programme’s biggest successes had come after the workshops ended, with participants continuing to collaborate, share expertise and support one another as they develop their businesses.
Image: Debbie Lewis, Entrepreneur Accelerator Manager at NatWest (left), chairs the InspireHER panel with Rose Hall of Postbox Party, Helen Russell of The RightTrack and Sarah Yates of SEN-ED Kitchen during the Driving Innovation Showcase at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery.
