Take a leap towards entrepreneurship this new year

With hopefully a bit of down time over the Christmas period, women across west Wales are being encouraged to explore a free digital platform which helps turn business ideas into a reality.

The opportunity is part of a project run by Chwarae Teg, Simply Do, funded by NatWest, and supported by Big Ideas Wales, as they work together to make more women entrepreneurs across the nation.

Simply Do is providing its online platform, AWEN (All Women Entrepreneurial Network) – which women can look at any time – https://sdi.click/makeithappen. It’s an open idea community, where women can explore their early-stage business idea from the comfort of their own home. They can show their support for early-stage ideas created by other, like-minded women and get-started on their own idea in as little as 5-minutes.

Businesswoman Lottie Summer, who runs Wild Coast Styling and has a base in Cardigan, is hoping that this resolutions time of year will have many women thinking about taking a business idea one step further. Lottie said: “I’d always had goals, dreams and plans of what I wanted to do for a job, how I wanted to live my life and what I wanted to create but until last year, I never had the courage to really pursue that. But then Covid came along and ripped out my comfort blanket from right underneath me and I realised that actually…it’s okay, it’s not as terrifying as I thought it would be.

“So, I decided that this was my time. This was my chance to really go for all those things that I want. I have to say, you would not believe the opportunities that come your way when you start to believe you’re worthy of something and that you can live the life you desire.

“For any women mulling over the idea of their own business I’d say why not just take a look at the platform and see what support is there. You have nothing to lose and possibly everything to gain!”

Emma Tamplin, Collaboration Manager, Chwarae Teg, said: “I think it’s the perfect time, especially looking to the start of a new year when people often reassess what they really want to be doing. There will be many women out there who have always dreamt of running their own business but never quite known how – well that’s exactly who the platform is for.”

Lee Sharma, Chief Executive, Simply Do, said: “Our platform at https://sdi.click/makeithappen is a safe, digital space where ideas can spark, and innovation can flourish. If women take a look now who knows where they will be this time in 2022!”

Visit https://sdi.click/makeithappen to benefit from the tailored information and support.