CROWDFUNDING

Visit our new crowdfunding platform 

Become a member

Sign up for FREE and become a member of the Women’s Business Centre.

Gain access to business tools such as our business directory and series of webinars.

What is the Women’s Business Centre?

The Women’s Business Centre is here to help you bring your business idea to life and flourish as a business owner.

It is run by Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES), a research-led, not for profit Community Interest Company which has been championing women-led and women-owned businesses since 2011.

Get Started

Cover all the steps you need to start your business

Find Inspiration

Explore the journeys of our business role-models

Learn and Grow

Boost your business skills with expert advice and support

Join In

Connect with our women’s business community for help and sharing

Get Started

Find Inspiration

Learn and Grow

Join in

Get Started

Cover all the steps you need to start your business

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Cover all the basics

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Follow our definitive guide

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Build confidence to take the plunge

Find inspiration

Explore the journeys of our business role-models

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Meet our Women's Enterprise Scotland Ambassadors

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Real stories, real businesses, real lives

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Learn from their challenges and successes

AI basics for business

Learn and Grow

Boost your business skills with expert advice and support

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Covering every aspect of running a business

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From the basic help to specialist guidance

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We're with you as you grow your business

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Join in

Connect with our women’s business community for help and sharing

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Become a member for free access to all content

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Join the conversation on our Forum

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List your business in our Business Directory

Start-up Checklist

You want to start a business, but where DO you start? How do you know when you’re ready to take the plunge? Work through our Start-up Checklist and the Women’s Business Centre will be with you every step of the way. It’s your definitive guide to making sure you’ve covered all the basics before starting your own business venture.

A business idea

You’ve got skills, experience and the ambition to run your own business. What’s the big idea?

A plan

You might have heard of a business plan – what is it and what goes into it?

Find your advisors

At some stage in your business you’ll benefit from speaking to business advisors and professionals. Here’s where to start.

Know the law

Start up and run your business responsibly by understanding your legal obligations as a business owner.

Money matters

How will you fund your business and is it eligible for a grant or other financial support?

Sales and marketing

How are you going to make sales and how will your target customers find out about your business?

Digital skills

Being able to use online skills to run or support your business has never been more important.

Networking

Online or face-to-face, networking is easier and much less awkward than you might think!

Mentoring

A helpful way of gaining advice and support, from which you can benefit at various times during your business journey.

Our Latest Blog Articles

News, Business Tips, and Stories. Here’s the latest from our blog

Crowdfunding Case Study Beira

Crowdfunding Case Study Beira

Beira stands as a testament to Scottish craftsmanship, intertwining sustainability and luxury to birth beautiful, functional, and limited-edition luxury womenswear. Redefining fashion by ethically remanufacturing discarded luxury fabrics and trims, offering a unique blend of style and...

Crowdfunding Case Study TL Tech

Crowdfunding Case Study TL Tech

Caroline Laurenson is co-founder of TL Tech, a specialist smart home installer that helps people to maintain their independence in their own homes using affordable off-the-shelf hardware that they customise for each person’s needs Her company also develops its own software for Amazon Alexa...

An introduction to Crowdfunding

An introduction to Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has really grown in popularity over the years as an innovative way to help people find the money they need – from hundreds of pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds – to start up and grow their business.  Before we talk about the different types of crowdfunding options available...

Spotlight on our Ambassadors

Mentoring doesn’t have to be face-to-face or one-to-one. We provide tips and advice from women in business. Here are a few examples:-

Clothing manufacturing has always been my dream. With the initial launch of my own brand Siio in 2018 supported by Women Ambasadors through my journey, I took the leap with all the risks and started a Clothing Manufacturing business, Sap-kreations Ltd.  

Juliet Ibhanesebhor
Founder, Sap-kreations Ltd

When Felicitas Betzl’s parents began their lifelong love affair with Scotland, this German digital dame could not have imagined that one day she’d be setting up home and business in the Athens of the north.

Felicitas Betzl
Founder, Serps Invaders

Pheona was entrepreneurial from a young age, but overcoming the challenges of moving to a different country sparked a brilliantly bright business.

Pheona Matovu
Founder, Radiant & Brighter

Member’s Business Directory

Here is a selection of the businesses we have in our Business Directory. Visit the full directory to see our member businesses from across Scotland.

Lily Blanche

Lily Blanche is an award-winning jewellery business specialising in photo lockets, engraved necklaces and personalised birthstone jewellery. Our 2,4 & 6 photo lockets in silver and gold allow you to keep your loved ones close to your heart & our cutting edge technology and expert engravers mean can transform your locket necklace into a unique gift.

Supernature Oils

We produce multi award-winning cold pressed rapeseed oil and Infused oils on our family farm just south of Edinburgh. The most awarded cold pressed rapeseed oil in the UK, supplying retail, foodservice to hotels and restaurants, and online at www.supernature.uk.com

Jo Macsween Leadership Coaching

Becoming a great leader is much easier with the help of people who have walked in your shoes. I am a leadership coach and facilitate peer groups for CEOs, MDs and Business Owners. I work across all sectors, primarily private.

Academy of Enterprise Education

AEE was developed by specialist academics to design and deliver practical enterprise education programs for industry, academic institutions and individual learners. The aim, to bridge the gap between theory and practice and provide impactful enterprise education for all.