AWE Making a Difference

Fully funded online and face to face sustainable business courses for women

Last chance to apply for Sofa Sessions .

Thinking of starting a business that helps people or the environment? Want to grow your income and impact? Need space and structure to update your strategy?

If you’re in the early stages of a project, we’ll help you develop the skills, confidence and networks you need to take your next steps in Sofa Sessions and practical Nuts & Bolts courses. Established social entrepreneurs can find space to develop and grow their business on our Residential Accelerators. You’ll be in a safe and supportive group, learning from each other. This is practical learning – no textbooks in sight, and you don’t need any qualifications. People on our programmes become 39% better at business skills & improve their networks by 44% in one year, on average (source: annual report 2020-21).

What have I learned from the AWE programme? So many different things ranging from how to develop my ideas, how to plan around them, how to market, how to use social media better, how to manage money better both personally and professionally, how to move things forward, where my weaknesses lie and lots more.

What’s on offer?

For women who live in Somerset and surrounding areas, applications are open now for Sofa Sessions and Nuts & Bolts workshops. If you’re interested in our Residential Accelerators running in Hampshire and Cornwall please use the form below to let us know and we’ll be in touch soon. Read on to find out more about course content, eligibility, start dates and application deadlines.

Sofa Sessions

This online group training and coaching course will help you get started with a new community business, whether or not you’ve decided on the idea you want to develop. This is an ideal way to turn a community or voluntary project into a social enterprise. You’ll get a chance to absorb programme info before the 3 friendly and informal weekly sessions start, on 15 March 2023. The sessions cover:

• Exploring your purpose and developing an idea for an enterprise
• A look at mission, vision and values, and the basics of getting started
• Crystallising your idea with group feedback

Apply for Sofa Sessions – deadline 8am on 15 March 2023

Nuts & Bolts

This course will teach you the practical skills to run a business that helps the community or the environment, and how your work can achieve positive change. The topics covered in three online sessions are:

• Understanding the market
• Customers and competitors
• Building your brand
• Managing money and risk
• Improving personal effectiveness

Apply for Nuts & Bolts – deadline 8am on 15 March 2023

Andrea’s intro

Award winning facilitator, Andrea Gamson, gives a flavour of what to expect on Sofa Sessions and Nuts & Bolts courses.

Residential Accelerators

Join one of our two day accelerator courses focussing on how to increase impact or grow your business. Overnight accommodation is available without charge.

Fill out our enquiry form if you’d like to be considered for either residential course. We’ll get back to you with info and updates as soon as they’re released.

Peer Networking and Mentoring

We can help establish supportive professional relationships for people who attend our Weekend Residentials to help their businesses thrive.

Get in touch if you want to find out more about any course content and joining: [email protected] or  020 3905 3535

Express your interest

Please use this form to let us know you’re interested in

• Sofa Sessions or Nuts & Bolts in Somerset and surrounding areas
• Weekend Residentials accelerators for people living or working in Cornwall, Dorset and Devon.

• Name*
• Address*
• Email*
• Phone Number*
• Year of Birth*
• Ethnicity*
  IndianPakistaniBangladeshiChineseAny other Asian background (Asian or Asian British)CaribbeanAfricanAny other Black, Black British, or Caribbean backgroundWhite and Black CaribbeanWhite and Black AfricanWhite and AsianAny other Mixed or multiple ethnic backgroundWhite English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or BritishIrishGypsy or Irish TravellerRomaAny other White backgroundArabAny other ethnic group
• Employment Status*
  Employed Full-TimeEmployed Part-TimeSelf-employedNot employed but looking for workNot employed and not looking for workHomemakerRetiredStudentPrefer Not to Answer
• Briefly describe your business / community project idea:*
• Has your business / project started operating yet?*
  YesNo
• If YES - what stage is it at?
• If you are a business, have you registered with a governing body?*
  Companies’ House / Charity Commission / as a Sole Trader etc
• Do you have any personal constraints or barriers that might affect you attending this programme or receiving our support?*
  Please indicate YES or NO. If YES, please provide details.
• Do you have any learning or access requirements that we should be aware of?*
  Please indicate YES or NO. If YES, please provide details.
• How did you hear about this programme?*

Accelerating Women’s Enterprise (AWE) is a collaborative project to help women living either side of the English Channel to increase their skills and develop their business ideas and knowledge.