A new Peer Networks programme is being launched in Gloucestershire by GFirst LEP and The Growth Hub to support the county’s female business leaders and help them achieve success.
The Growth Hub has already supported more than 100 county business people through its peer networking groups, but new data prompted it to forge a women-only cohort.
Alison Everest, business psychologist, coach and mentor, will be leading the Female Leadership Peer Networks group through the fully-funded 16-week programme.
Everest said: ‘Female leaders still remain a minority in many industries, so being a female business leader can sometimes be an isolating experience.
‘And whilst the Covid pandemic has impacted all businesses, research has shown that women have been disproportionately affected, with female run organisations often in sectors more vulnerable to economic instability and now experiencing a higher rate of closure as a result.
‘The Peer Networks programme provides a great platform for participants to engage with other business leaders and owners of SMEs, exploring the challenges and opportunities they face, and discussing and sharing different approaches to problem solving.’
The programme is funded by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and includes one-to-one mentoring from specialist advisors.
Business leaders must be running companies of at least more than one year old, have no less than five staff and a turnover greater than £100,000.
The female leadership cohort programme will start as soon as it reaches its maximum of 11 business leaders.
The Growth Hub is also seeking business people for new cohorts representing manufacturing and professional services, and places remain in groups covering health and social care, tourism and visitor economy and cyber.
For more information, visit thegrowthhub.biz/peernetworks .
By Andrew Merrell
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