By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 13:41, Monday, 25 June 2012

A wig-making company run by a cancer survivor in Carlisle is just one of the firms that could benefit from Government support for women in business.

Sandra Jones

Women stand to gain after Cumbria was chosen as one of five areas that will receive up to £2 million funding for Rural Growth Networks to help female entrepreneurs in remote areas.

The Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership will benefit from funding to provide support to tackle the barriers that businesswomen face in the area.

Inspiring women in the region, who could benefit from this assistance, include:

• Sandra Jones, owner of Wigsense, on Birchdale Road, Belle Vue, Carlisle, which offers clothing, prosthetics and accessories to cancer victims and others in need;
• Susanna Donovan, who turned her recipe for a pepper sauce inspired by her home country Trinidad into her business No Joke;
• Sally Fielding, whose Sally’s Cottages lettings agency in Keswick expects to take £2.5 million worth of bookings this year; and
• Jackie Kirkpatrick, who set up and expanded Appleby Bakery from a small shop to an award-winning supplier.

Home Secretary Theresa May revealed almost 5,000 female mentors have joined the Government’s drive to kick-start growth by encouraging more women to start or build their own companies.

Mrs May said: “Women are vital to Britain’s economic future and the support of a mentor will help even more of them fulfil their true potential.

“The Government is working hard to help women make the most of their talents, but we cannot act alone. I’m delighted by these mentors’ commitment to helping budding businesswomen succeed – and to making Britain prosper.”

Lynne Featherstone, equalities minister, said: “Britain has many talented women who will thrive as these Rural Growth Networks give them the tools they need to launch or develop their own businesses.

“Women are about half as likely as men to become entrepreneurs and we need to harness their untapped skills. Living in a rural area can also present specific challenges that these projects aim to address.”

First published at 11:27, Monday, 25 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk