Enterprise

Women’s enterprise

Women’s enterprise in the East Midlands is growing fast. In 2009 25% of the self-employed workforce in the region were women – compared to just 13% in 2004.

This success follows an ongoing programme of activity to support female entrepreneurs across the region. This started with the launch in 2005 of emda’s Women's Enterprise 2020 Action Plan – which set out how the region was working towards more businesses being started by women. Since then other support has included an annual Women in Business Conference, regular updates of the Directory of Business Support for Women and the Women of Worth Awards – launched in 2007.

To find out more see the Womens's enterprise page

Disability entrepreneurship

There are 6.8m disabled people of working age in the UK of which 20% are self-employed and the East Midlands working age disabled population stands at over half a million. The potential GVA of this population, if only 1.9% started a business would be over £200m which would make a significant contribution to the regional economy. 

As part of emda’s role in improving the prosperity of the East Midlands a piece of research has been undertaken to understand and encourage greater entrepreneurship amongst disabled people.

To find out more see the Disability Entrepreneurship page