Business for WomenBusiness for Women

In 2009 Herbert Smith launched a collaborative project with Argent/King's Cross Central to provide targeted support to female entrepreneurs who wanted to start or grow their businesses in the King's Cross and wider Camden area. The Business for Women programme is being 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 criteria for being selected 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 will receive a small grant toward the running of their business, membership of a local work space and networking organisation called The Hub, free use of a premiere event space in the local area and potential pro bono support from the King's Cross Business Action Group businesses.

Our four entrepreneurs in the 2009/2010 programme are:

  • Catherine Borowksi

  • Mia Caldwell

  • Jo-Anne Carlyle

  • Candy Lam Baker