Seven ambitious East Lothian business owners recently completed East Lothian Council's Women in Business Growth Programme, a dedicated four-week initiative to help established women-led businesses take the next step in their growth journey.
Delivered by business growth specialist Michelle Brown PR in collaboration with Business Gateway East Lothian, the programme was designed to help women in overcoming the unique challenges they face when growing a business.
From balancing multiple responsibilities and competing demands on their time, to finding the headspace to focus on strategic growth, the programme provided participants with the opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and focus on the bigger picture.
Throughout the programme, participants explored business growth planning, customer profiling, market positioning, branding and marketing strategy, pricing for profit, and identifying new opportunities for sustainable growth. Each participant developed a tailored growth plan, culminating in a final presentation where they shared their ambitions and next steps with the group.
The programme brought together a diverse group of East Lothian businesses, reflecting the breadth of female entrepreneurship across the county. Participants included Chloe Clark and Holly Briggs of GetOut Outdoor Learning CIC, Sarah Wardlaw of Studio Creates, Svetlana Kukharchuk of The Cheese Lady, Caryn Fower of Caryn Fower Advanced Skin Therapy (CFAST), Rosie Creyke of Rosemary Wild, Missy Dale of The Bonnie Wee Bothy, and Mel Sherwood of Mel Sherwood.
While each business was at a different stage of its growth journey, the group quickly developed a strong sense of collaboration, sharing experiences, ideas and challenges in a supportive environment. The discussions were open, honest and insightful, allowing participants to learn not only from Michelle's expertise but also from each other's experiences. By the end of the programme, the cohort had built valuable connections and a network of peer support that will continue beyond the final session.
Rosie Creyke of Rosemary Wild said:
"This programme provided me with so much clarity on the business fundamentals which can often get drowned out with all the noise out there on social media. I was able to benefit from a seasoned business growth expert which gave me the confidence to take big steps in shaping my business. Such a brilliant experience, it set me up with the foundations to grow and grow! Thank you so much."
Sarah Wardlaw of Studio Creates added:
"The programme gave me something that's incredibly difficult to create when you're running a busy business: dedicated time to step away from client work and focus on where the business is going next. The accountability, shared experience within the group and final planning process helped me turn a lot of ideas into a much clearer and more practical plan for the next stage of Studio Creates."
East Lothian Council and Business Gateway East Lothian are proud to have supported this group of entrepreneurs and look forward to seeing their businesses continue to grow as they put their plans into action.
Find Out More
If you're looking to start, develop or grow your own business, get in touch with the East Lothian Council Economic Development team at [email protected] to learn more about the support available and be sure to check out the full calendar of events for East Lothian Business Month.
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