Assistance for Women in Franchising
There are increasing numbers of organisations, companies, and government agencies who provide help and support to women entrepreneurs. Their goal is to improve and grow the number of female franchisees and franchisors operating in the UK and Ireland.
With 20% of start-ups failing in their first year of business, franchising reduces these risks considerably for women. The failure rate of starting your own business through franchising is much lower than that of starting a small business in the UK. or Ireland
With this safe and easy concept of franchising, and the numerous support services and organisations available, women entrepreneurs are becoming one of the fastest growing business segments in the UK and Ireland.
The British Association of Women Entrepreneurs
The British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE) is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1954, to encourage the development of women entrepreneurs based in the UK and to promote British entrepreneurship world wide.
It is the British representative body for the world association ‘Les Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises Mondiales’ (FCEM). FCEM, with the English translation of the ‘World Association of Women Entrepreneurs’, is an international association uniting women business owners. Founded in France in 1945, the FCEM network includes over 60 different countries from five continents.
BAWE represents the international association at the United Nations in New York. It also has representatives in the European Union in Brussels, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and the OECD in Paris.
What does the BAWE do for women in business?
- It creates a supporting environment for women entrepreneurs through informal and formal networking measures.
- It holds national and international conferences and meetings, as well as award ceremonies to bring members together to share, grow, and support each other.
- The association encourages business expansion by mentoring and training, providing access to capital, and providing marketing opportunities on its online website.
BAWE is an opportunity for Women in Franchising to join an international community of experience, information, assistance, and support.
Women Into The Network
Women Into The Network (WIN) is one of the leading women’s business networking organisations in the UK. The organisation has been in operation since 1999, helping to break down the barriers for women in the workplace.
WIN is a community of woman in business with over 2000 members. Membership is open to women starting their own business, expanding existing businesses, and women who want to lead change in the workplace. It offers support and advice to women interested in the franchising industry, and helps lead them in the right direction.
Women Into The Network’s online website is an excellent resource for contact information, news, events, statistics, and research about women in business in the UK.
Prowess
Prowess (Promoting Women's Enterprise Support) is an Association of individuals and organisations who aim to support women in business in the UK. Prowess is a non-profit organisation, established in 2002.
Its website allows members to make contacts and connect with other business women and supporting businesses. It provides access to specialist support and consultancy services to help women start and grow their businesses. These business support providers work in a high quality, woman friendly way. Information on events, research, news and business can be found on their website.
Women with special needs:
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was introduced in 1995 with the aim of ending discrimination against disabled people. It prohibits the exclusion of individuals with disabilities from employment opportunities.
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) introduced a Code of Practice which includes guidelines for employers. To comply with this law, franchisors must meet the goals of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and follow the established requirements, ensuring the equitable treatment of women with disabilities in franchising.
The Disability Discrimination Act gives qualified individuals with disabilities the right to protection against discrimination, from private employers, employment agencies, labor unions, and the government. The DDA guarantees equal opportunities for disabled individuals in the terms of employment, applications, interviews, training, promotion, transfers, benefits, and dismissal.
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