Training female entrepreneurs: lessons from the FEIW project

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline the authors' experiences of designing and implementing an enterprise development programme for female entrepreneurs. The programme targets those women who already have a business and wish to grow it further. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the motivation for the programme and the range of issues which is encountered in its design and delivery. It concludes with a brief assessment of lessons learned. Findings – In addition to the importance of design and focus, the experiences of the Female Entrepreneurship Ireland-Wales (FEIW) project indicate the need for appropriate programme presentation and marketing; networking and mentoring aspects are also hightlighted. Research limitations/implications – As this is a pilot project with flexibility to adapt to the needs of the participants, it is not possible to apply a robust evaluative framework, although such a framework will need to be developed in due course. That said, the qualitative data collected pre-, during and post-programme delivery offer valuable insights to the needs of female entrepreneurs; this learning may be incorporated into the design of future programmes. Practical implications – The FEIW programme is essentially a pilot initiative and is delivered in only two regions. Thus, it is difficult to generalise findings. Originality/value – As a case study, the experiences of the FEIW project contribute valuable empirical evidence regarding the design and implementation of an enterprise programme for female entrepreneurs.