Joint sponsor of programme - funding, use of German Gymnasium, tailored business support, hosting regular business breakfasts
Herbert Smith and Centa
King's Cross Business for Women
In 2009 Herbert Smith and King's Cross Central launched a project to provide targeted support to female entrepreneurs who wanted to start or grow their businesses in the King's Cross area. The Business for Women programme has been run on our behalf by Centa Business Services, the local enterprise agency.
Four entrepreneurs were selected via a selection process that involved candidates preparing a comprehensive business plan. From the business plans we selected a shortlist of eight entrepreneurs who were asked to pitch to a judging panel comprising representatives from the three project partners. The selection criteria were that businesses were pre-start or recent start-ups, that the entrepreneurs had a commitment to both the local community and to being a role model for other female businesses and, crucially, that their businesses were viable and were judged to have long term potential.
Each entrepreneur received a small grant toward the running of their business, membership of a local workspace and networking organisation called The Hub, free use of a premiere event space in the local area and potential pro bono support from the two sponsor companies and their business partners.
Our four entrepreneurs were: Catherine Borowksi; Mia Caldwell; Jo-Anne Carlyle; and Candy Lam Baker.
Four businesses are still operating.
Candy has featured in Russian Vogue and her tights are now sold in a number of London boutiques.
Alongside a growing consultancy business, Mia has developed an electro-corrosion monitor prototype and is pitching to investors for funding to put the prototype in to production.
Catherine has launched Britain's Top Model competition and has been offered additional investment to expand her business.
Jo-Anne has found new premises and is working on a plan to develop a hub for psychotherapists who share the same ethos.
All four entrepreneurs felt the programme genuinely supported their business. They felt they benefitted from the business plan preparation stage, meeting other entrepreneurs, receiving advice on legal, financial and business strategy issues, receiving a cash injection and membership of the Hub.
The business partners and Centa also learnt more about what type of support entrepreneurs require at this stage in their development. This information will help inform future programmes.
© 2008 King's Cross Central Limited Partnership. All rights reserved. Legal information.