The event follows the successful launch of Lanarkshire Women in Business last month – a brand new initiative designed to boost female entrepreneurship in Lanarkshire.

Closing The Female Funding Gap will take place on Wednesday 27 November at New College Lanarkshire (Coatbridge Campus) from 5.30/6pm until 8pm, with extra time available for networking.

The event’s organisers - North and South Lanarkshire Councils, Business Gateway Lanarkshire, New College Lanarkshire and Federation of Small Businesses – want the event to be as informative and interactive as possible. It will dispel myths, avoid jargon and cut to the facts of the matter in a bid to help make the subject of finance and funding easier for new and existing business owners to navigate.

The event will:

• Spotlight inspiring female-led businesses, with speakers sharing their individual business and funding journeys
• Provide expert guidance and top tips to help boost access to funding
• Improve knowledge and understanding of different funding types (equity, crowdfunding, loans and grants)
• Include the opportunity to network and meet funding partners

The event format will include input from Business Gateway Lanarkshire advisers who will share top tips on the dos and don’ts of how to attract funding.

Yvonne Weir, enterprise manager at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Feedback from our LWIB launch was pretty conclusive. Finance was highlighted as a key area of interest to the women who attended. We have also taken note of findings from the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship which identified ‘low access and awareness of capital’ as a barrier for women in starting and growing businesses.

“This event will focus on closing gaps, both in knowledge around the different funding sources that exist, as well as the skills needed to secure funding. We will be turning the tables, asking a line-up of local, regional and national funding organisations to pitch to our audience of female attendees in seven-minute slots. This will help provide clarity resulting in better-informed funding choices.

“Levels of energy and enthusiasm were high at our LWIB launch. We want this event and future ones to build on that momentum.”

For further information contact Caroline Brown or Siobhan Quinn, Enterprise Development, North Lanarkshire Council Tel: 01236 632863 E-mail: info@businesssupport@northlan.gov.uk