Business support group Female Emerging Entrepreneurs (FEE) was launched in 2006 by Etta Cohen, managing director of Leeds-based women’s networking group Forward Ladies, together with entrepreneur Deirdre Bounds, who founded Leeds volunteer travel firm i-to-i, and Sharon Cain, managing director of Harrogate-based of Quest PR.

Run under the Forward Ladies umbrella, FEE operates three groups, two of which meet in Leeds.

It is based on the successful formula operated by Vistage International, the world’s leading chief executives’ organisation, which brings together groups of business leaders for intensive monthly development sessions where members act like each other’s non-executive directors.

FEE members are predominantly owner-managed companies from wide-ranging sectors.

The women attend bi-monthly, two-hour sessions at law firms Eversheds and Lupton Fawcett in Leeds and at The Old Swan hotel in Harrogate where they discuss their businesses and share experience and advice in what is described as a “safe and confidential” environment.

Susan Hanson, director of Leeds-based coaching and career management company BSH People, said the lives of women running small, owner-managed businesses could be lonely.

She told the YEP: “Through FEE I am part of a team and can speak frankly and in confidence about the state of my company.

“I meet highly motivated businesswomen who might have already faced similar problems in their own marketplace, and who give genuinely sincere advice to help me.”

Every FEE group has a chairwoman that facilitates the sessions.
One of the Leeds groups has been jointly chaired by members Jenny Eugene, Susie Morrell, Nicola Prior, Deborah Siswick and Frances Wells.

The facilitator for the second Leeds group is Sharon Cain with Jane Fowler, from strategic business development consultancy Munro Connections, running the third group in Harrogate.

Sharon, who is a member of Vistage International, said: “The need for managing director and director development has never been greater.

“In the current economic climate, success and growth will be determined by outstanding delivery of goods and services – mediocrity is not an option.”

Sarah Robertson, a director of Leeds-based branding and communications company Creative State, who joined FEE in January 2008, added: “FEE gives the members of the group an opportunity to process business issues, and for me this has involved making a key decision about taking on staff, an issue I might not have been able to discuss at such depth with anyone prior to joining.

“This is a group that I trust and that motivates me. It’s about inspiring each other and helping people make good business decisions, whatever stage they’re at.”

Etta Cohen, who has powered Forward Ladies from obscurity to a high-profile and dynamic networking forum with thousands of members across the North East and the North West, says that demand for more FEE groups is intensifying.

“As the credit crunch bites, we are seeking to double the number of FEE groups over the next 18 months to ensure that our members’ companies not only survive the economic storms, but emerge stronger and more successful.”

For more information on joining FEE contact Etta Cohen on 0113 366 3055 or visit www.forwardladies.com.

Read the article on Yorkshire Evening Post.

It’s a family affair

“It made sense to start my own business, something I had planned to do from a young age,” says Sarah. As much as she was enjoying her job, with further full time education ruled out, it already seemed time enough to strike out on her own. It was in her blood after all:

“Business is in my family,” she says. “Not creative services – my brother runs a finance company, and my dad was a hotelier – so different lines of work, but similar in terms of ambition. With my experience, and the help that’s available to young people in business, it seemed like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Design crimes

It was while hunting around for a little inspiration from other fledgling businesses that Sarah stumbled across what would be her main target market. “I’d had a look around at various businesses that had started up – at how they were marketing themselves,” she says. “It occurred to me that there was a lack of good design out there. After speaking to some people who had spent hundreds and thousands of pounds on things that they didn’t really need at such an early stage I thought, ‘this is a really good market to get into.”

Start me up

Sarah saw the perfect way to capitalise on this gap she had spotted by offering a complete starter package: “I not only do graphic design, developing a logo or brand identity, but I do web design as well. The design is then carried across a variety of different mediums, ensuring consistency. That’s what young businesses need, and there’s a lack of out there. They’re going to various different people for a range of different services, whereas here you can come toCreative State and benefit from the full range.

“I think having a professional looking website is a huge thing for a business in this day and age. More and more people are using the internet, and generally speaking, if a company has got a professional looking website then it’s perceived to be professional. If their image is consistent across everything else – their print design and their stationary – it’s seen that they care about their image.”

Go with what you know

Sarah initially set about establishing her first business relationships by falling back on the things she new best. “I started off with three clients,” she says. “I had an interest in property and I’d worked in financial services, so the people I initially targeted – from a revenue perspective – were using me for my other areas of expertise. From there, the confidence and kudos she gained allowed her to try new approaches. “Since then things have really snowballed,” she says. “From referrals and networking, my client base is now around 30 people. I regularly go to networking events, which has been good for meeting people. It doesn’t always generate direct business, but certainly going out and doing the whole face-to-face thing has got me more established.

It’s not the size that matters

With her own brand, site and identity getting a makeover for a new launch on its first birthday in June, does Sarah have any plans of trying to net bigger clients anytime soon? “I do want to,” she replies, “but it’s certainly not in my plan for the foreseeable, because – for one thing – I enjoy working with the smaller businesses. I get so much satisfaction out of creating something for someone like me, and seeing them be happy with their new brand identity or website. It’s almost like starting lots of businesses over and over again. That’s enough satisfaction for the moment.”

® 2006 Channel 4 Television Corporation

Sarah Jane Robertson originally set up her business in Edinburgh with the aim of helping established and new businesses get online. She creates new images for companies and revamps a tired logo or brand. Sarah was helped in business by the BT scheme, which encourages young people to use e-commerce to boost their start-up companies.

The BT awards scheme, now in its sixth year, is run by Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) which helps young people aged 18-25 to set up and grow their businesses. Via the initiative, BT Scotland is investing a total amount of £50,000 in new or young Scottish businesses this year.

Sarah Jane left school at 17 and joined Scottish Life in their marketing department, training as a web author. Over a five year period she developed skills in online marketing, e-business and print and graphic design. With a wealth of contacts in financial services and her industry experience, Sarah set-up Creative State.

Her aim is to help the small one-man business to compete online and offer a more professional image. “Small businesses such as independent financial advisers and property consultants are highly skilled in their roles, although their branding and marketing materials do not often reflect this”, commented Sarah.

Sarah’s clients include everyone from an interior designer and a local handyman to photographers and local bands. Sarah added: “I focus on smaller clients as I have more in common with them and can relate to their businesses and needs, including helping them to maintain their websites. I don’t encourage them to buy products they don’t need or set them up and leave them to it. I ensure they have the best products which are cost effective for the stage of their business.”

Alan Bonas, head of communications for BT Scotland, said: “The internet is for everyone and all businesses, no matter their size, can benefit from modern, high speed communications. Sarah has spotted a gap in the market and is offering a quality service at an affordable price to her target audience. We welcome the chance to recognise such innovation through the BT Scotland E-ntrepreneurs project.”

PSYBT Chief Executive Mark Strudwick added: “Sarah is a great example of a young person who is able to take her industry experience and turn it into a successful business. The experience of taking those first steps in business will be with her for the rest of her career.”

Ends

Further information:
BT Scotland press office: 0800 0850 660 or Margaret Gibson and Louise Cochran of PSYBT on 0141 342 5942. You can also check out the PSYBT website at www.psybt.org.uk.